Method and apparatus for handling slag handling

Slag handling apparatus comprising an upright refractory lined quenching tank for receiving slag at its upper end, a movable swiper bar at said upper end, means for fracturing slag by use of a high pressure jet of water in said tank, a grinder below and communicating with said tank, said grinder having a hopper for receiving slag from said tank and dual rolls for grinding the fractured slag, a first pressure vessel below and communicating with said grinder for receiving ground slag therefrom, a second pressure vessel located below and communicating with the outlet of said first vessel, a first valve between said vessels, a second valve controlling the outlet from the lower end of said second vessel, valved conduit means for selectively venting said second vessel and for selectively equalizing the pressure in said vessels, said conduit means including a stand pipe and a valved conduit communicating said stand pipe with the upper end of said second vessel, said second vessel being substantially larger than said first vessel, a wet silo, and means for transferring slag from the outlet of said second vessel to said wet silo.

A method of continuously handling slag at an elevated temperature and an elevated pressure as it discharges from a furnace comprising the steps of cooling the slag by passing it downwardly through a vertical column of water contained in a quenching tank, grinder, first vessel and second vessel in that sequence, fracturing the slag in said quenching tank, grinding the fractured slag in said grinder, accumulating the ground slag in said second vessel, relieving the pressure within said second vessel while isolating said second vessel from said first vessel, withdrawing the accumulated slag from said second vessel while additional slag is accumulated in said first vessel and the vessels are isolated from one another, and introducing water into said second vessel during said step of withdrawing the accumulated slag.