Slag granulation method and apparatus
AssigneeDavy McKee (Stockton) Limited
InventorWilliam Barry Featherstone
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A granulator comprises a rotary atomizer on to which the molten material to be granulated is poured in a stream. The rotation of the atomizer causes the molten material to be ejected therefrom in the form of globules. No fluid jets are used to break up the molten material. The globules pass through an enclosure and partially freeze to form granules which are collected in an annular trough. A gas is injected into the trough to induce a circumferential movement of the granules within the trough towards at least one exit from the trough.
Claims20
A granulator comprising
- an enclosure (6,29);
- a rotary atomiser (1) disposed within the enclosure;
- means (7) for delivering molten material to the atomiser (1) so that, in use, the material is broken into globules without the use of fluid jets and the globules are dispersed with the enclosure and partially frozen to form granules;
- an open-topped trough (10, 22) in which the granules are collected and from which they are removed to the exterior of the enclosure;
- and
- means for upwardly projecting an annular curtain (17, 30) of gas with entrained granules around the atomiser such that the majority of the globules pass through the curtain to reduce their temperature and to reduce the kinetic energy of the granules so formed.
A method of granulating a molten material comprising the steps of
- delivering a stream of the molten material to a rotating atomiser disposed within an enclosure;
- adjusting the speed rotation of the atomiser such that without the use of fluid jets the molten material is ejected from the atomiser in the form of globules;
- providing an upwardly extending annular curtain of gas with entrained granules of frozen globules of the material, said curtain surrounding the atomiser, whereby the majority of the globules ejected from the atomiser pass through the curtain of gas to reduce their temperature and to reduce the kinetic energy of the granules so formed;
- collecting the granules in an open-topped trough and removing the granules from the trough to the exterior of the enclosure.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.