Refining iron in a converter
AssigneeCentre de Recherches Metallurgiques-Centrum voor Research in de Metallurgie
InventorPaul E. Nilles
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Abstract
Molten iron is refined in a converter whose bottom has tuyeres with coaxial ducts. An oxidising gas such pure oxygen is blown through the inner duct while a protective fluid such as a hydrocarbon is blown through the outer duct. During tipping of the converter from a sampling position to an emptying position after the blow, entry of molten metal is prevented by blowing fluids through the ducts, at least one of the fluids being a gas substantially consisting of CO.sub.2. If a corrective blow is necessary after sampling, this may be carried out by blowing an oxidising gas through the inner ducts and CO.sub.2 (alone or with hydrocarbons) through the outer ducts.
Claims5
In a method of refining molten iron in a converter whose bottom contains tuyeres each comprising an inner duct and an outer duct, the method comprising the sequential steps of blowing an oxidising gas into the molten iron through the inner ducts of the tuyeres while blowing a gaseous hydrocarbon as a protective fluid through the outer ducts, tipping the converter in one direction into a sampling position, and tipping the converter in the opposite direction into an emptying position, the improvement comprising blowing a gas consisting essentially of CO.sub.2 through at least the outer duct of each tuyere throughout the tipping of the converter from the sampling position to the emptying position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.