US 8,540,798 B2 · Systems and methods for recycling steelmaking converter sludge

Abstract

Systems and methods for processing sludge from a fume scrubbing system that scrubs fumes from a steelmaking converter in a manner that separates/isolates a significant portion of the metallic iron particles in the sludge and prepares these particles for convenient handling. In an exemplary system, the system includes separating equipment that isolates metallic iron particles in the sludge and forming equipment that forms the isolated particles into briquettes that have relatively high mechanical resistance that allow the briquettes to maintain their integrity during handling and storage. The high-metallic-iron-content briquettes can be recycled in the steelmaking process, for example, as charging material for a basic oxygen converter or an electric arc furnace. Water used in the system can be recycled and reused within the system, thereby making the system environmentally friendly.

Claims21

Dependent claims

A system for processing sludge from a fume scrubbing system that scrubs fumes from a steelmaking converter, wherein the sludge includes metallic iron microspheres and non-metallic-iron material, the system comprising:

separating equipment designed and configured to process the sludge so as to isolate substantially only metallic iron microspheres from the non-metallic-iron material, said separating equipment including an ultrasonic cleaner designed and configured to remove surficial fines bound to the metallic iron microspheres using at least two differing acoustic-cavitation excitation frequencies so as to create surface-cleaned metallic microspheres;
and
forming equipment designed and configured to receive the surface-cleaned metallic iron microspheres isolated by said separating equipment and form therewith cohesive bodies consisting essentially of the metallic iron microspheres isolated by said separating equipment.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Systems and methods for recycling steelmaking converter sludge

Life of this patent

Systems and methods for recycling steelmaking converter sludge

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims21