The present document describes a smelting apparatus for smelting metallic ore. The smelting apparatus comprises a furnace having a continuous curved wall and end walls defining a longitudinal volume having a longitudinal axis in a horizontal direction. The continuous curved wall has a lowermost area. The longitudinal volume is divided in at least three longitudinal layers comprising a top layer within which gasified fuel is combusted for creating a hot gas composition at a temperature sufficient to release, from the metallic ore, at least molten metal and slag, a lowermost layer at the lowermost area for holding molten metal, and a mid-layer above the lowermost layer in which the slag accumulates. The present document also describes processes using the smelting apparatus for producing ferrous and non-ferrous minerals from a metallic ore.

The present document describes a smelting apparatus for smelting metallic ore. The smelting apparatus comprises a furnace having a continuous curved wall and end walls defining a longitudinal volume having a longitudinal axis in a horizontal direction. The continuous curved wall has a lowermost area. The longitudinal volume is divided in at least three longitudinal layers comprising a top layer within which gasified fuel is combusted for creating a hot gas composition at a temperature sufficient to release, from the metallic ore, at least molten metal and slag, a lowermost layer at the lowermost area for holding molten metal, and a mid-layer above the lowermost layer in which the slag accumulates. The present document also describes processes using the smelting apparatus for producing ferrous and non-ferrous minerals from a metallic ore.

Methods and systems for determining a feed rate (unit mass/unit time) of metallic scrap material in real time being charged to an electric arc furnace (EAF) is provided, in which the methods and systems determine the speed of the metallic scrap material in real time and the volume of the metallic scrap material in real time. The methods and systems also classify the metallic scrap material via a machine learning model based on digital images of the metallic scrap material and assign a density to the metallic scrap material. The feed rate is determined based on the speed and volume of the metallic scrap material and the assigned density.

Methods and systems for determining a feed rate (unit mass/unit time) of metallic scrap material in real time being charged to an electric arc furnace (EAF) is provided, in which the methods and systems determine the speed of the metallic scrap material in real time and the volume of the metallic scrap material in real time. The methods and systems also classify the metallic scrap material via a machine learning model based on digital images of the metallic scrap material and assign a density to the metallic scrap material. The feed rate is determined based on the speed and volume of the metallic scrap material and the assigned density.

A process and a plant for preheating a metal charge fed in continuous to an electric melting furnace through a preheating tunnel provided with a horizontal conveyor, wherein the metal charge is hit, in countercurrent, by the exhaust fumes or gas leaving the electric melting furnace and by jets of gas ejected through a plurality of nozzles positioned on the hood of the tunnel. The nozzles are arranged in groups interspaced from each other in a longitudinal direction with respect to the tunnel, and generate a small-scale turbulence or inject small fast gas jets that can penetrate the main gas stream passing through the preheating tunnel, and simultaneously generate a “horseshoe vortex” structure composed of a descending central gas flow (“downwash”), and ascending flows (“upwash”) close to the side walls of the preheating tunnel, which enable a desired circulation of the gases.

A process and a plant for preheating a metal charge fed in continuous to an electric melting furnace through a preheating tunnel provided with a horizontal conveyor, wherein the metal charge is hit, in countercurrent, by the exhaust fumes or gas leaving the electric melting furnace and by jets of gas ejected through a plurality of nozzles positioned on the hood of the tunnel. The nozzles are arranged in groups interspaced from each other in a longitudinal direction with respect to the tunnel, and generate a small-scale turbulence or inject small fast gas jets that can penetrate the main gas stream passing through the preheating tunnel, and simultaneously generate a “horseshoe vortex” structure composed of a descending central gas flow (“downwash”), and ascending flows (“upwash”) close to the side walls of the preheating tunnel, which enable a desired circulation of the gases.

Methods and systems for determining a respective mass associated with respective portions of the respective layers of metallic scrap material deposited into a charging-bucket associated with a batchwise-charged electric arc furnace (EAF) are provided, in which the methods and systems determine the respective masses associated with the respective portions of the respective layers of metallic scrap material based on (a) the respective volume of the respective portions of the respective layers of metallic scrap material and (b) the respective assigned densities assigned by a machine learning classification model based on digital images of the respective portions of the respective layers of metallic scrap material.

Methods and systems for determining a respective mass associated with respective portions of the respective layers of metallic scrap material deposited into a charging-bucket associated with a batchwise-charged electric arc furnace (EAF) are provided, in which the methods and systems determine the respective masses associated with the respective portions of the respective layers of metallic scrap material based on (a) the respective volume of the respective portions of the respective layers of metallic scrap material and (b) the respective assigned densities assigned by a machine learning classification model based on digital images of the respective portions of the respective layers of metallic scrap material.

A dual-purpose sintering furnace including a furnace body having a furnace chamber, a first furnace mouth and a second furnace mouth which are communicated with the furnace chamber, a furnace door hinged to the furnace body and configured for closing the first furnace mouth, a blocking member lap-jointed inside the furnace chamber and configured for blocking the second furnace mouth, a sample stage, an ejection rod fixedly arranged on a sample placement face of the sample stage, a lifting device configured for driving the sample stage to raise or lower, so that the ejection rod pushes the blocking member until the second furnace mouth is opened, and so that the sample stage enters the furnace chamber through the second furnace mouth. The dual-purpose sintering furnace can complete a large amount of sintering as conventional sintering and also implement rapid sintering.

A dual-purpose sintering furnace including a furnace body having a furnace chamber, a first furnace mouth and a second furnace mouth which are communicated with the furnace chamber, a furnace door hinged to the furnace body and configured for closing the first furnace mouth, a blocking member lap-jointed inside the furnace chamber and configured for blocking the second furnace mouth, a sample stage, an ejection rod fixedly arranged on a sample placement face of the sample stage, a lifting device configured for driving the sample stage to raise or lower, so that the ejection rod pushes the blocking member until the second furnace mouth is opened, and so that the sample stage enters the furnace chamber through the second furnace mouth. The dual-purpose sintering furnace can complete a large amount of sintering as conventional sintering and also implement rapid sintering.