Abstract
The invention relates to a heat protection assembly (2, 30) for a charging installation (1) of a metallurgical reactor. In order to increase the lifetime of a heat protection shield in a charging installation of a metallurgical reactor, the assembly (2, 30) comprises a plurality of heat protection tiles (31.1, 31.2, 31.3, 31.4) disposed adjacent to each other along a surface The assembly further comprises a plurality of heat protection panels (10, 110), each panel (10, 110) comprising a common base plate (11, 111) to which a plurality of tiles (31.1, 31.2, 31.3, 31.4) are connected, which heat protection panels (10, 110) are configured to be mounted on the charging installation (1) adjacent to each other.
Claims
1. A charging installation of a metallurgical reactor comprising an annular bottom section with a heat protection assembly, the heat protection assembly comprising a plurality of heat protection tiles disposed adjacent to each other along a surface and comprising a plurality of heat protection panels, each panel comprising a common base plate to which a plurality of tiles are connected such that the base plate carries the plurality of heat protection tiles, wherein a gap is provided between adjacent tiles, which heat protection panels are configured to be removably mounted on the charging installation adjacent to each other.
2. The charging installation according to claim 1, wherein the tiles comprise a support structure on which a refractory material is disposed.
3. The charging installation according to claim 2, wherein the refractory material is refractory concrete.
4. The charging installation according to claim 1, wherein the gap is filled with a material which is volatile under the operating temperatures of the metallurgical reactor.
5. The charging installation according to claim 4, wherein said volatile material is cardboard.
6. The charging installation according to claim 2, wherein the support structure comprises a mesh on which the refractory material is disposed.
7. The charging installation according to claim 6, wherein the mesh is hexagonal.
8. The charging installation according to claim 1, wherein spacer members define a space separating the tiles from the base plate.
9. The charging installation according to claim 8, wherein a heat insulation layer is disposed between the base plate and the tiles.
10. The charging installation according to claim 1, wherein each heat protection panel comprises at least one coolant channel.
11. The charging installation according to claim 1, further comprising a casing for a gear assembly and wherein the heat protection assembly is configured to protect an annular bottom surface of the casing.
12. The charging installation according to claim 1, wherein the panel is provided with side flanges, which extend perpendicular to the plane of the base plate to connect the panel to neighbouring panels and/or the charging installation.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
(1) Details of the invention will now be described with reference to the drawings, wherein
(2) FIG. 1 is perspective cut-away view of a first embodiment of the heat protection panel; and
(3) FIG. 2 is a perspective cut-away but of a second embodiment of the heat protection panel.
(4) FIG. 3 is a perspective cutaway view of a charging installation in which the heat protection panel of FIG. 1 is used.
DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
(5) FIG. 1 shows a cut-away view of a heat protection panel 10, which is used for protecting a reactor-side bottom section of a charging installation of a metallurgical reactor. The bottom section to be protected could, for instance, belong to the housing for a gear assembly of a distribution device as described in WO 2012/016902 A1. This bottom section is annular; therefore it can be covered by arc-shaped panels 10. The shape of the panel 10 is largely determined by the base plate 11, which is made of steel. A meandering coolant channel 12 is disposed in the base plate 11 and is covered by a cover plate, which is welded to the base plate 11. The cover plate may have a meandering structure following the meandering structure of the coolant channel 12. If there is a deformation of the base plate 11, there is a movement in the coolant channel 12. With a cover plate closely replicating the shape of the coolant channel 12, it is possible to reduce the risk of the weld between the cover plate and the base plate 11 breaking, as the cover plate will follow the movement of the coolant channel 12. A supply pipe 14 and a drainpipe 15 are connected to the channel 12 and can be used for connection to a coolant supply. The base plate 11 carries a plurality of heat protection tiles 31.1, 31.2, 31.3, 31.4, which form a heat protection layer 30. Each of the heat protection tiles 31 is connected to the base plate 11 via knob-like spacer members 34 is, which are disposed on a mounting strip 33. A hexagonal mesh 35 is connected to the mounting strip 33. The mesh 35 serves as a backbone of the heat protection tiles 31 and provides for structural integrity. The heat protection properties of the tile 31 mainly result from a block of refractory concrete 36 which is cast around the mesh 35. The tiles 31.1, 31.2, 31.3, 31.4 do not touch each other, but are provided with the gap 37 in between. This gap 37 allows for thermal expansion during operation of the heat protection layer 30.
(6) In the production process the mounting strip 33 with the mesh 35 is mounted to the base plate 11 before the refractory concrete 36 is applied. A strip of cardboard 38 is placed between the individual tiles 31.1, 31.2, 31.3, 31.4 to prevent concrete 36 from entering the gap 37. The refractory concrete 36 is then cast around the mesh 35. The cardboard 38 could be removed prior to installation of the panel 10, but this is not necessary. The cardboard 38 will quickly burn away under the operating conditions of the panel 10 and thus can be left within the gap 37, as shown in FIG. 1. The spacer members 34 provide for a space between the tile and the base plate 11, which space is filled with the heat insulation layer 32 composed of ceramic fibers. The heat protection panel 10 therefore is a module which combines three functional layers: the heat protection layer 30 with tiles 31.1, 31.2, 31.3, 31.4 protects against extreme temperatures and also provides thermal insulation, the insulation layer 32 further enhances the insulation effect, while the coolant channel 12 with the pipes 14, 15 provides for active cooling. The panel 10 is provided with side flanges 18, which extend perpendicular to the plane of the base plate 11. These side flanges 18 are provided with a plurality of through-holes 19 and are used to connect the panel 10 to neighboring panels and/or the charging installation. Three eyelets 21 are disposed on the upper side of the base plate 11, which facilitate handling of the panel 10 and by a hoist 41 or the like.
(7) FIG. 2 shows an alternative embodiment of an inventive panel 110. In this case, a simple base plate 111 without any channel structures has been employed, while the heat protection layer 30 and the heat insulation layer 32 are identical to the embodiment shown in FIG. 1. The panel 110 could be used in the case where no active cooling is necessary or it could be combined with a separate cooling system.
(8) FIG. 3 shows a perspective cutaway view of a charging installation 1, which features an annular shaped casing 2 for a gear assembly and a cylindrical support 3 for the gear assembly. The gear assembly, which is not shown here, is used for tilting of a distribution chute of the charging installation 1. The support 3 is rotatably mounted with respect to the casing 2. As can be seen from FIG. 3, a plurality of heat protection panels 10 as shown in FIG. 1 are disposed next to each other along the annular bottom of the casing 2. Bolts 20, which are put through the holes 19, are used to connect each side flange 18 to a radially disposed plate-like mounting member 5 of the casing 2. At the same time, the bolts 20 serve to interconnect the individual panels 10.
(9) As can be seen in FIG. 3, a beam 40 of a gantry crane 41 is connected to the top of the casing 2. The beam 40 is annular-shaped and allows the crane 41 to be moved to virtually any position within the casing 2. FIG. 3 illustrates the removal of a heat protection panel 10, which is lifted by a chain 42 of the gantry crane 41. FIG. 3 shows the chain connected to hoist rings 22, which are not shown in FIG. 1. Alternatively, the chain 42 could be connected to the eyelets 21. By moving the gentry crane 41 along the beam 40, the heat protection panel 10 may be moved to an access door (not shown) of the casing 2, from where it may be removed for repair or replacement. A replacement panel can be installed by a reverse sequence of operations. It is therefore apparent that a replacement of the heat protection panel 10 can be achieved in short time and easily. In particular, there is no need for personnel to work on the underside of the heat protection assembly 4, i.e. near or within the reactor itself. The mounting and dismounting can be done from within the casing 2. This makes the work not only easier but also significantly adds to the safety of the working personnel.
