A process for melting metal parts and casting the melt in at least one mould and a corresponding combined melting and casting furnace plant are described. In the process, metal parts to be melted are brought into a crucible furnace, and a molten metal is produced therein and made ready for casting. A riser tube integrated in a lid of the crucible furnace is heated in a position remote from the crucible furnace, and the lid with heated riser tube is brought into a position closing the crucible furnace, in which the riser tube projects into the molten metal. A mould is arranged on the lid in a casting position above the riser tube, and the molten metal is introduced into the mould from below by pressurising the melt in the crucible furnace. The combined melting and casting furnace plant is designed to carry out such a process.

A furnace roller for a roller hearth furnace has a hollow cylindrical ceramic roller body having an outer oxidic coating. The roller body has outer longitudinal fins and longitudinal grooves that run in linear longitudinal direction of the roller body. The configuration reduces the contact area between the roller body and the blanks to be transported. The furnace rollers are suitable for use in roller furnaces in hot forming lines for the press hardening of AlSi-coated steel blanks.

A process for melting metal parts and casting the melt in at least one mould and a corresponding combined melting and casting furnace plant are described. In the process, metal parts to be melted are brought into a crucible furnace, and a molten metal is produced therein and made ready for casting. A riser tube integrated in a lid of the crucible furnace is heated in a position remote from the crucible furnace, and the lid with heated riser tube is brought into a position closing the crucible furnace, in which the riser tube projects into the molten metal. A mould is arranged on the lid in a casting position above the riser tube, and the molten metal is introduced into the mould from below by pressurising the melt in the crucible furnace. The combined melting and casting furnace plant is designed to carry out such a process.

Methods and systems for training a neural network in tandem with a policy gradient that incorporates domain knowledge with historical data. Process constraints are incorporated into training through an action mask. Evaluation of the trained network is provided by comparing the network's recommended actions with those of an operator. A decision tree is provided to explain a path from an input of process states, into the neural network, to the output of recommended actions.

The invention relates to a plant complex for steel production comprising a blast furnace for producing pig iron, a converter steel mill for producing crude steel and a gas-conducting system for gases that occur when producing the pig iron and/or producing the crude steel. According to the invention, the plant complex additionally has a chemical plant or biotechnological plant, connected to the gas-conducting system, and also energy storage for covering at least part of the electricity demand of the plant complex. Also the subject of the invention is a method for operating the plant complex.

A method for reducing metal oxide containing charge materials (1): reducing the metal oxide containing charge materials (1) in at least two fluidized bed units (RA,RE) by means of a reduction gas (2), wherein at least some of the resulting off-gas (3) is recycled and wherein the metal oxide containing charge materials (1) are conveyed into the fluidized bed unit RE by a propellant gas. Also, apparatus for carrying out the method according to the invention is disclosed.

Provided are a molten steel treatment apparatus and a molten steel treatment method capable of quickly measuring an inclusion adhesion state inside a nozzle during an operation. The molten steel treatment apparatus includes a container, a nozzle equipped in a molten steel tap hole of the container, a liner disposed on a portion of an inner circumferential surface of the nozzle and formed of an ion-conductive material, a power supply for applying electric power to the molten steel and the liner, and a measuring unit for measuring a voltage value or a current value between the molten steel and the liner. The molten steel treatment method includes measuring a voltage value or current value between the molten steel and the liner; and determining a thickness of an inclusion adhering to an interface between the molten steel and the liner by using the voltage value or the current value.

An immersion device is provided for molten metal, as well as a method for making steel. The immersion device allows a trouble free operation. The immersion device includes a measuring head, a carrier for the measuring head, and a lance detachably connected to the carrier, preferably by a detachable tubular connecting element. A gas path runs from the lance to the detachable tubular connecting element. A gas tight connection is provided between a connecting surface of the lance and the detachable tubular connecting element. The tubular connecting element has wipers in the form of fins, which wipe the connecting surface of the lance during attaching and/or detaching the tubular connecting element and the lance.

Apparatus for pre-heating and conveying a metal charge to a container of a melting plant, comprising at least a conveyor channel along which said metal charge is able to advance so as to be delivered to the container, and in which above said conveyor channel at least a hood is disposed which defines a tunnel inside which at least part of the fumes exiting from said container are able to advance. At least a zone of the hood comprises an expansion chamber located above at least a portion of said metal charge, and able to expand and keep said fumes inside it for a minimum desired time of at least 1.5 seconds before they go into contact with the metal charge.

A process for removing sulphur dioxide from the gaseous effluent of a smelter furnace comprising the steps of: providing the gaseous effluent from a smelter; separating the sulphur dioxide from the gaseous effluent to provide concentrated sulphur dioxide and effluent for discharge into the atmosphere; mixing the concentrated sulphur dioxide with a fuel gas; heating the mixture such that the concentrated sulphur dioxide and fuel gas react to form a gaseous product mixture comprising sulphur and hydrogen sulphide; and removing the majority of preferably substantially all of the sulphur and hydrogen sulphide from the gaseous product mixture; wherein the remaining gaseous product mixture is incinerated before being vented into the atmosphere or is recycled into the smelter furnace.