The present invention relates to blast lances for gas blowing in metallurgical processes, the blast lance comprising a cylindrical lance core and a refractory casing, wherein the said refractory casing comprises n+1 refractory tubular sections and n or more refractory annular structures, wherein each set of two neighbouring refractory tubular sections is connected via a refractory annular structure, and wherein n is an integer of 1 or higher. The invention further relates to the use and method of production of such blast lances.

The present invention concerns a lance composed of a top lance (1t) and of a sublance (2) coupled to the top lance (1t), which forms a shoulder (1s) between the top lance and the sublance. The sublance (2) of the present invention is provided with a protective device (3) comprising a coupling end (2c) opening to the cavity (2v), wherein, when at rest, the protective device (3) is in an initial configuration characterized by an outer maximum diameter (D3o) which is not more than 10% larger than the diameter (D2) of sublance (2) (D3o≤1.1 D2), when the sublance (2) is coupled to the lance the protective device (3) contacts the shoulder (1s) and is deformed into a deformed configuration, forming a surface impervious to molten metal and slag, which spans over a whole area of the shoulder (1s).

A multiple chamber material-stirring lance and method used to treat molten metal in a ladle, the lance having a stirring gas chamber, and a plurality of gas permeable ports arranged at a terminal end of the gas chamber, and at least one material chamber positioned parallel to the gas chamber and terminating in a plurality of material ports. In use, the multiple chamber material-stirring lance is lowered into the ladle of molten metal, and gas and material are both introduced into a respective chamber and emitted through their respective ports. Stirring gas emitted through the gas permeable ports under a gas pressure between 40 and 600 cfm causes the stirring gas to create a boiling effect in the molten metal, drawing material into the stirring gas bubbles and away from the lance body, improving material dispersion efficiency and thus impurity extraction from the molten metal.

The invention relates to a tilting mechanism for a tilting metallurgical vessel, in particular a converter, around a horizontal axis, comprising a rotatable shaft and at least one tilting drive mechanism for rotating the vessel about the axis, the at least one tilting drive mechanism has a fixed part and a moving part, wherein the moving part of the at least one tilting drive mechanism is directly connected to one end of the rotatable shaft.

A TSL lance has an outer shell of three substantially concentric lance pipes, at least one further lance pipe concentrically within the shell, and an annular end wall at an outlet end of the lance which joins ends of outermost and innermost lance pipes of the shell at an outlet end of the lance and is spaced from an outlet end of the intermediate lance pipe of the shell. Coolant fluid is able to be circulated through the shell, by flow to and away from the outlet end. The spacing between the end wall and the outlet end of the intermediate pipe provides a constriction to the flow of coolant fluid to increase coolant fluid flow velocity therebetween. The further lance pipe defines a central bore and is spaced from the innermost lance pipe of the shell to define an annular passage, whereby materials passing along the bore and the passage mix adjacent to the outlet end of the lance. The end wall and an adjacent minor part of the length of the shell comprise a replaceable lance tip assembly.

The current invention refers to a blowing spear (100) used in the primary refining process for obtainment of steel, developed in such a way to maintain the loading and blowing operational conditions, comprising at the base a copper nozzle (101) to which is welded in its extremity a tube (102), comprising yet a module (125) with cleaning output (103) and positioned above module (125) a steel tube (118) and on its upper extremity, the head (107) that comprises a cooling liquid inlet (115), a gases inlet (116) and a cooling liquid outlet (117), comprising yet the spear (100) in its interior the inner tube (122) responsible for the gas passage and the intermediate tube (123) responsible for the division between the cooling liquid inlet flow and its outlet passing mandatorily through the copper nozzle (101).

A lance (10), for conducting a pyrometallurgical operation by top submerged lancing (TSL) injection, wherein the lance (10) has at least an inner pipe (12) and outer pipe (14) which are substantially concentric. The lower outlet of the inner pipe (12) is set at a level relative to the lower, outlet end of the outer pipe (14) required for pyrometallurgical operation. The lance (10) further includes a shroud (22) through which the outer pipe (14) extends and which is mounted on and extends along an upper portion of the outer pipe (14) to define with the outer pipe (14) a passageway (28) along which gas is able to be supplied for flow towards the outlet end of the outer pipe (14) for discharge exteriorly of the lance (10). The shroud (22) is longitudinally adjustable relative to the outer pipe (14) to enable substantial maintenance of, or variation in, a longitudinal spacing between the outlet ends of the shroud (22) and the outer pipe (14).

An apparatus for removing a blockage in a solids injection lance extending into a direct smelting vessel The solids injection lance has a single inlet coupled to a section of supply line that conveys gas and solids to the solids injection lance and that is upstream and co-axial with the solids injection lance. The apparatus has a tool that extends through the supply line section and the solids injection lance to remove a blockage of solid material and an assembly for advancing the tool through the solids injection lance and the supply line section to the blockage from an upstream side of the blockage.

The present invention concerns a lance composed of a top lance (1t) and of a sublance (2) coupled to the top lance (1t), which forms a shoulder (1s) between the top lance and the sublance. The sublance (2) of the present invention is provided with a protective device (3) comprising a coupling end (2c) opening to the cavity (2v), wherein, when at rest, the protective device (3) is in an initial configuration characterized by an outer maximum diameter (D3o) which is not more than 10% larger than the diameter (D2) of sublance (2) (D3o≤1.1 D2), when the sublance (2) is coupled to the lance the protective device (3) contacts the shoulder (1s) and is deformed into a deformed configuration, forming a surface impervious to molten metal and slag, which spans over a whole area of the shoulder (1s).

A method of removing a blockage in a solids injection lance under normal operating conditions of a direct smelting vessel is disclosed. The direct smelting vessel contains a bath of molten metal and slag and the solids injection lance extends into the direct smelting vessel and has an outlet end that is submerged in the molten slag. The solids injection lance further has a single inlet coupled to a section of supply line that conveys gas and solid feed material to the solids injection lance. The method comprises (a) advancing a blockage-removing tool through the supply line section and through the solids injection lance to an upstream side of the blockage, (b) operating the tool under elevated gas pressure conditions to remove the blockage such that solid feed material and gas are able to flow through the solids injection lance. The method further comprises (c) retracting the tool from the solids injection lance and the supply line section. Also disclosed is an apparatus for removing a blockage in a solids injection lance extending into a direct smelting vessel.