METHOD FOR OPERATING A SHAFT FURNACE

Abstract

A method for operating a shaft furnace, in particular a blast furnace, is disclosed wherein at least one gas is introduced into the furnace. To achieve an acceleration of the reaction processes in the furnace, shockwaves are introduced into the furnace.

Claims

1.-8. (canceled).

9. A method for operating a shaft furnace, comprising: introducing at least one gas into the furnace; and introducing shockwaves into the furnace.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein said step of introducing shockwaves into the furnace is initiated by opening a closable valve.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein said opening step comprises opening the closable valve for less than 6 miliseconds.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein said closable valve is pneumatically controlled.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein said shockwaves are generated from a pressure reservoir having pressurized gas contained therein that has an internal gas pressure of at least 10 bar.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the pressurized gas contained in the pressure reservoir, which is used to generate the shockwaves into the furnace, is a treatment gas required for a reaction process in the furnace.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein said opening step comprises opening the closable valve for a time period between 0.05 seconds and 0.7 seconds.

16. The method of claim 9, wherein said at least one gas is a gas with oxidizing action.

Description

[0030] The invention will be discussed in more detail below on the basis of a drawing, which illustrates merely a preferred exemplary embodiment. In the drawing:

[0031] FIG. 1: shows the schematic construction of a plant for carrying out the method according to the invention.

[0032] FIG. 1 illustrates a schematic construction of a plant for carrying out the method according to the invention. A furnace 1 in the form of a blast furnace has, around its circumference, multiple lances 2 by way of which the introduction of shockwaves or the introduction of a treatment gas into the furnace 1 from the outside is realized. Ideally, the lances 2 are inserted into the tuyeres of the furnace 1. To influence or optimize other reaction zones of a shaft furnace or of a blast furnace, it is possible for suitable introduction lines to be fitted at these locations.

[0033] A dedicated plant 3 for the generation of the shockwaves or for the introduction of the treatment gas may be connected to each lance 2 or introduction point. Depending on the amount of treatment gas required, the shockwave intensity and the size or extent of the furnace, one plant 3 may provide a supply to multiple lances 2 or multiple introduction points. It is thus also possible for a supply to be provided to all of the lances 2 or introduction points by the same plant 3 via a ring line around the circumference of the furnace 1. It should be ensured that the generation of the shockwaves and the introduction into the furnace 1 do not take place at a great distance from one another, because the intensity of the shockwaves decreases with the distance travelled.

[0034] The plant 3 is connected to a supply line 8 which ensures that the plant 3 is supplied with the required amount of gas and the required gas pressure. The gas pressure of the pressure reservoir, in this case in the form of a pressure vessel 6 with associated pipeline, may for example be 10 bar, in particular at least 20 bar or higher.

[0035] The generation of shockwaves or the intermittent introduction of the gas is made possible by way of a fast-opening valve 9. In particular in order to realize the required amount of propellant gas, it is ideally the case that the pressure vessel 6which is where possible charged with a defined pressure by way of a regulation meanspositioned upstream of the valve 9. For this purpose, a pressure regulator 7 may be provided either in a feed line 10 directly upstream of the pressure vessel 6, in the supply line 8, or in a supply line of multiple such plants 3.

[0036] The plant 3 may furthermore be equipped with a regulated system 5 for the additional continuous introduction of treatment gas, said regulated system being situated in a bypass line 11. The required gas volume flow is set by way of a regulating fitting. Alternatively, for the continuous gas flow, use may be madeby contrast to the illustration in FIG. 1of a gas other than that used for the generation of the shockwaves. In this case, an additional feed line is required.

[0037] The plant 3 is connected to a suitable line 4 and to the lances 2 or introduction points such that both the generated shockwaves or the intermittent gas flow and the continuous gas flow can be introduced into the furnace 1.

[0038] The plant 3 is furthermore equipped with an electronic controller 12. In the case of multiple plants 3 being used, for example if each lance or introduction point is equipped with a dedicated plant 3, use is ideally made of an additional superordinate controller.

List of Reference Designations

[0039] 1: Furnace [0040] 2: Lance [0041] 3: Plant [0042] 4: Line [0043] 5: Regulated system [0044] 6: Pressure vessel [0045] 7: Pressure regulator [0046] 8: Supply line [0047] 9: Valve [0048] 10: Feed line [0049] 11: Bypass line [0050] 12: Controller