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 liquid feed for a basic oxygen furnace, a method to obtain the liquid feed and a steel plant producing such a liquid feed, wherein the liquid feed includes a first liquid iron stream of carburised molten scrap and a second liquid iron stream from an iron making process, thereby allowing a maximum use of scrap intake while preparing high quality steel products.

The present invention relates to a melting device comprising a loading shaft (13, 13a) and a tilting device (4) by means of which a furnace vessel (1) with a furnace vessel cover (10) can be tilted into different tilt positions around a tilt axis (5a), wherein the furnace vessel sealing region is formed as a convex, cylindrical mantel section shaped, surface, and the shaft sealing region of the loading shaft (13, 13a) is formed as a complementary concave, cylindrical mantel section shaped, sealing surface, such that sections of the sealing surfaces of the two sealing regions lie mutually opposite one another in the different tilt positions of the tilting device (4) such that the transition region between the loading shaft (13, 13a) and the furnace vessel (1) is at least substantially sealed in all tilt positions of the furnace vessel (1), and to a melting method, in which a bunker container (17, 17a) with charging material (39, 40, 41) is placed in front of the loading shaft (13, 13a) on the loading side, wherein over the further course of this method, the charging material (39, 40, 41) is preheated in the bunker container (17) by furnace gas, and after further transport of this charging material (39, 40, 41) from the bunker container (17, 17a) into the loading shaft (13), this charging material (39, 40, 41) is further preheated in the loading shaft (13) by furnace gas.

A method of starting a molten bath-based process for smelting a metalliferous material is disclosed. The method includes using the heat flux of water-cooled elements in lower parts of a smelting vessel to provide an indication of molten bath temperature during at least an early part of the start-up method and adjusting injection rates of oxygen-containing gas and/or carbonaceous material into the smelting vessel to control the molten bath temperature during start-up without exceeding critical heat flux levels and tripping the start-up method.

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.

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.

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 corrosion resistant alloy, a method for making the corrosion resistant alloy, and a method for using the corrosion resistant alloy are provided. The corrosion resistant alloy includes 13-15 wt. % chromium, 5-7 wt. % nickel, and 2.5-4.5 wt. % molybdenum.

A corrosion resistant alloy, a method for making the corrosion resistant alloy, and a method for using the corrosion resistant alloy are provided. The corrosion resistant alloy includes 13-15 wt. % chromium, 5-7 wt. % nickel, and 2.5-4.5 wt. % molybdenum.

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.