Production of mineral fibers
AssigneeRockwool International A/S
InventorLeif Moeller Jensen
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present invention relates to a process for the production of mineral fibers and to an apparatus which can be used in such a process. In particular, the process of the present invention comprises: providing a furnace; charging to the furnace mineral materials which comprise iron oxides; melting the charged mineral materials in a reducing atmosphere, such that there is a base zone in the furnace in which molten iron collects, and a melt pool above the base zone where mineral melt collects; removing mineral melt from the furnace and converting it to mineral fibers; and removing molten iron from the base zone. During the process, an additive is released directly into the base zone of the furnace wherein the additive comprises one or more substances selected from oxidizing agents and non-reducing gases.
Claims16
A process for the production of mineral fibers comprising:
- providing a furnace;
- charging to the furnace mineral materials which comprise iron oxides;
- melting the charged mineral materials in a reducing atmosphere, such that there is a base zone in the furnace in which molten iron collects, and a melt pool above the base zone where mineral melt collects;
- removing mineral melt from the furnace and converting it to mineral fibers;
- and
- removing molten iron from the base zone;
- characterized in that, during the process, an additive is released directly into the base zone of the furnace wherein the additive comprises a non-reducing agent.
Apparatus for the production of mineral fibers from mineral materials comprising iron oxide, the apparatus comprising:
- a furnace which comprises a top section, a middle section, and a base section, wherein the top section comprises a mineral material inlet, the middle section comprises a mineral melt outlet, and the base section comprises a tapping outlet through which molten iron can be removed and injection means through which an additive can be injected;
- and fiberizing means which are positioned in fluid communication with the mineral melt outlet and are capable of converting mineral melt to mineral fibers.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.