Method and apparatus for dephosphorising liquid hot metal such as liquid blast furnace iron

Abstract

A method for dephosphorising liquid hot metal, such as liquid blast furnace iron or liquid metal with a composition equivalent to blast furnace iron. A pouring stream of the hot metal discharges from a vessel containing the hot metal into a refining unit. In the refining unit one or more streams of additives for forming a molten slag and one or more gaseous streams for breaking up the pouring stream of hot metal into molten metal droplets are directed into the pouring stream. One or more of the gaseous streams and/or one or more of the streams of additives includes oxygen in gaseous form or in compounded form, to allow a dephosphorisation reaction between the metal droplets. The oxygen and molten slag during the fall of the molten droplets before collection into a receiving vessel positioned below the refining unit. An apparatus for performing the method.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.