COOLING DEVICE FOR AN ELECTRIC FURNACE OR SUCHLIKE

Abstract

Cooling device suitable to be used in an electric melting furnace (30), or suchlike, in cooperation with the lateral wall of said electric furnace (30) and comprising at least one pair of cooling panels (11a, 11b, 12a, 12b) each provided with a plurality of cooling tubes (13, 14, 15, 16); the electric furnace (30) comprises at the lower part at least one shell (17) to contain the molten metal bath (18) and a jacket (19) above it, in which said cooling panels (11a, 11b, 12a, 12b) are positioned; the tubes (13, 14, 15, 16) provided in the panels (11a, 11b, 12a, 12b) are interspersed with free spaces (20, 21, 22, 23), in such a way that at least in the proximity of any one free space (20, 21, 22, 23) of one panel (11a, 11b, 12a, 12b) there is positioned at least one tube (13, 14, 15, 16) of another panel (11a, 11b, 12a, 12b), and in such a way that substantially the tubes (13, 15) comprised in one panel (11a, 11b) are offset from the tubes (14, 16) comprised in the other panel (12a, 12b),

Claims

1. Cooling device suitable to be used in an electric melting furnace, or suchlike, comprising at the lower part at least one shell to contain the metal bath and a jacket above it, in which there are positioned cooling panels each provided with a plurality of tubes characterized in that said tubes are interspersed with free spaces, wherein at least one of said tubes is positioned at least in the proximity of, or overlapping with, any one whatsoever of said free spaces, in such a way that at least one tube of said at least one panel is offset with respect to another tube of at least one said other panel, wherein each of said panels is fed by a cooling circuit of its own.

2. Cooling device as in claim 1, characterized in that it comprises at least one external panel and at least one internal panel separated by a hollow space.

3. Cooling device as in claim 2, characterized in that said free space is made between consecutive pairs of tubes of the external panel and of the internal panel.

4. Cooling device as in claim 2, characterized in that the tubes that form the external panel and the internal panel have the same external diameter, and the extension of said free space is equal to at least said external diameter.

5. Cooling device as in claim 2, characterized in that the tubes of the external panel and of the internal panel are aligned according to a 25 substantially horizontal direction, therefore each tube of the external panel is vertically offset from each tube of the internal panel, and vice versa.

6. Cooling device as in claim 2, characterized in that the external panel and the internal panel are reciprocally connected by means of connection elements.

7. Cooling device as in claim 1, characterized in that the tubes of one panel are inserted into the free spaces made between the tubes of the other panel substantially forming a double comb structure.

8. Cooling device as in claim 7, characterized in that at least one pair of tubes of one panel is inserted into the free space made between two pairs of tubes of the other panel.

9. Cooling device as in claim 1, characterized in that it comprises at least one 5 other panel located adjacent to, or integrated with, said panels.

10. Electric furnace, comprising a jacket provided with at least one cooling device as in any claim herein before.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0040] These and other aspects, characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of some embodiments, given as a non-restrictive example with reference to the attached drawings wherein:

[0041] FIG. 1 is a lateral section view of a first embodiment of a cooling device for an electric furnace or suchlike according to the present invention;

[0042] FIG. 2 is a three-dimensional view of a second embodiment of a cooling device according to the present invention.

[0043] To facilitate comprehension, the same reference numbers have been used, where possible, to identify identical common elements in the drawings. It is understood that elements and characteristics of one embodiment can conveniently be combined or incorporated into other embodiments without further clarifications.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SOME EMBODIMENTS

[0044] We will now refer in detail to the possible embodiments of the invention, of which one or more examples are shown in the attached drawings, by way of a non-limiting illustration. The phraseology and terminology used here is also for the purposes of providing non-limiting examples.

[0045] With reference to the attached drawings, FIGS. 1 and 2 show a cooling device 10b according to the present invention, suitable to be used in an electric melting furnace 30 or suchlike, in particular in cooperation with the lateral wall of the electric furnace 30.

[0046] The cooling device 10a, 10b comprises at least one pair of cooling panels 11a, 12a, 11b, 12b each provided with a plurality of cooling tubes 13, 14, 15 and 16.

[0047] The electric furnace 30 comprises at the lower part at least one refractory shell 17 to contain the molten metal bath 18 and a jacket 19 above it in which the cooling panels 11a, 12a, 11b, 12b, preferably made of steel, are positioned. The molten metal bath 18 has an upper level above which there is a layer of slag 33.

[0048] According to the present invention, the tubes 13, 14, 15, 16 provided in the panels 11a, 12a, 11 b, 12b are interspersed with free spaces 20, 21, 22, 23, in such a way that at least in the proximity of any one free space 20, 21, 22, 23 whatsoever of a first panel 11a, 12a, 11 b, 12b, there is positioned at least one tube 13, 14, 15, 16 of a second panel 11a, 12a, 11 b, 12b, and in such a way that substantially the tubes 13, 15 comprised in one panel 11a, 11b are offset from the tubes 14, 16 comprised in the other panel 12a, 12b.

[0049] In particular, in the cooling panel 11a and in the cooling panel 12a the free spaces 20 and 21 are made between tubes 13 and 14 located consecutively.

[0050] In the cooling panel 11b and in the cooling panel 12b the free spaces 22 and 23 can be substantially U-shaped and allow to substantially define a double comb structure.

[0051] Each of the panels 11a, 12a, 11b, 12b is fed by its own cooling circuit. See for example the ducts 24 for the entry and exit of a cooling fluid into/from the panel 11b and the ducts 25 for the entry and exit of a cooling fluid into/from the panel 12b. This cooling fluid can be, for example, water.

[0052] In the embodiment of FIG. 1, shown by way of a non-limiting example, the present cooling device 10a comprises at least one external panel 11a and at least one internal panel 12a separated by a hollow space 26.

[0053] The slag accumulates inside the hollow space 26, forming an insulating layer that protects the panels 11a and 12a from consumption and wear.

[0054] As mentioned, this free space 20 is made between each pair of consecutive tubes 13 of the external panel 11a and the free space 21 is made between each pair of consecutive tubes 14 of the internal panel 12a.

[0055] Preferably, the tubes 13 and 14 that respectively form the external panel 11a and the internal panel 12a can have substantially the same external diameter and the extension of the free space 20 and 21 is equal to at least this external diameter. In other embodiments, the external diameter of the tubes 13 and 14 could be different.

[0056] As can also be seen, the tubes 13 of the external panel 11a and the tubes 14 of the internal panel 12a are aligned according to a substantially horizontal direction, therefore each tube 13 of the external panel 11a is vertically offset from each tube 14 of the internal panel 12a, and vice versa.

[0057] Thanks to this disposition, the jacket 19 comprising the cooling panels 11a and 12a appears at the front as a wall complete with tubes 13 and 14, in particular tubes positioned in a substantially horizontal direction and, as mentioned, vertically offset.

[0058] The external panel 11a and the internal panel 12a can be connected to each other by means of connection elements 27, for example hooks or other, in order to guarantee a better structural solidity and in such a way as to promote the anchoring of the slag in order to form a layer of insulating material inside the hollow space 26.

[0059] The connection elements 27 can be made with a material with high thermal conductivity and possibly could be entirely cooled by the circulation of cooling fluid.

[0060] In some embodiments, the connection elements 27 could be inclined, as shown in FIG. 1.

[0061] In the embodiment of FIG. 2, shown by way of a non-limiting example, the present cooling device 10b comprises a substantially double-comb structure.

[0062] In particular, the cooling device 10b comprises a single lateral part formed by the two panels 11b and 12b which substantially interlock reciprocally, forming a double comb structure.

[0063] In this cooling device 10b, at least one pair of tubes 15 of the panel 11b is inserted in the free space 23 made between two pairs of tubes 16 of the other panel 12b.

[0064] Similarly, at least one pair of tubes 16 of the panel 12b is inserted into the free space 22 made between two pairs of tubes 15 of the other panel 11b.

[0065] Substantially, the tubes 15 and 16 of each of the panels 11b and 12b can be directed in a substantially vertical direction and can be connected by means of substantially horizontal connection pipeline segments 28 and 29.

[0066] In particular, the panels 11b and 12b provide at least one connection pipeline segment 31 and 32 which extends substantially along the entire extension of the panel 11b and 12b.

[0067] By means of the cooling device 10b with double comb configuration and with independent cooling circuits of the two panels 11b and 12b, in the event that one of the two panels 11b or 12b accidentally fails, for example following a hole in one of the tubes, and the feed of the cooling fluid has to be closed, the other panel, since it is in direct contact with it, at least partly cools it and therefore allows the cooling to continue, thus allowing a continuation of the production phase of the electric furnace 30, until there is a maintenance slot to replace the panel.

[0068] Of course, as mentioned above, it is understood that the possibility of feeding the cooling panels with independent cooling circuits can also be provided for the cooling device 10a of FIG. 1. Therefore, the external panel 11a will be fed by a cooling circuit of its own and the internal panel 12a will be fed by a cooling circuit of its own.

[0069] Another variant of the present cooling device 10a or 10b could provide for the provision of more than two panels 11a, 12a or 11b, 12b.

[0070] For example, the cooling device 10a could provide another panel 11c, shown in dashed lines in FIG. 1, which provides a series of tubes 13c which are offset with respect to the tubes 13 of the panel 11a, which would be adjacent to and distanced from the panel 11c. The tubes 13c of the panel 11c could be sized and positioned like the tubes 14 of the panel 12a but also in a different way, that is, having different positions and free spaces 20c between two consecutive tubes 13c of greater or lesser extension than, for example, the extension of the free spaces 20. Between the panel 11c and the panel 11a, for example, another protective hollow space would be created. The panel 12c could also provide tubes 13c offset both with respect to the tubes 13 of the panel 11a and also to the tubes 14 of the panel 12a.

[0071] It is also possible to provide more than two panels in the cooling device 10b. For example, at least one of the two panels 11b, 12b could be split and formed by two adjacent panels, each provided with a circuit for feeding the cooling fluid of its own, or other.

[0072] It is clear that modifications and/or additions of parts may be made to the cooling device 10a, 10b as described heretofore, without departing from the field and scope of the present invention as defined by the claims.

[0073] In the following claims, the sole purpose of the references in brackets is to facilitate reading: they must not be considered as restrictive factors with regard to the field of protection claimed in the specific claims.