Mechanical waves generator system in a converter or pyrometallurgical furnace

• US 20030209845A1
• Filed: 05/10/2002
• Published: 11/13/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/10/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Escanaba Holdings Incorporated, Saarland Corporation
• Original Assignee: Escanaba Holdings Incorporated
• Inventors: Rojas, Luis Paredes, Garreton, Alfredo Zolezzi
• Granted Patent: US 6,790,406 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 266/265
• CPC Class Codes: C21C 5/48 Bottoms or tuyéres of converters

Abstract

A system for generating mechanical waves for use in smelting and conversion processes that occur in furnaces and converters for a higher production of refined metals, consisting in an electrical signal generator, transducers that convert said electrical signals in mechanical waves placed on the outer end of air blowing tuyeres and a coupling means between said system and the shell of the converter. The air blowing tuyeres are placed forming an angle less than or equal to 90° with the transducer and the airflow entrance to the interior of the converter, forming a figure with an α angle shape; and the transducer is placed in the direction of the cross axis of the converter pointing towards the α angle of the air blowing tuyere, for applying mechanical waves that travel in a longitudinal direction with the airflow into the converter. The field of mechanical waves allows a higher efficiency in the oxygen reactions within the metal bath and slag, increasing the kinetics of chemical reactions, allowing a quicker homogenisation of the metal bath and reducing notoriously the copper trapped mechanically by the slag, all this leading to a higher production of metal.

Claims

1. A well defined system because it consist in:

a) An electric signal generator;

b) At least one transducer that converts said electrical signals into mechanical waves, placed on the outer end of at least one air blowing tuyere;

c) Coupling means between said system to the shell of a converter or pyrometallurgical furnace;

d) Said air blowing tuyere is placed so as to form an angle equal or less than 90°

with the transducer and the airflow entry to the interior of a converter or pyrometallurgical furnace; and

e) At least said one transducer placed in the direction of the cross axis of the converter or pyrometallurgical furnace, and pointing towards the α

angle of the air blowing tuyere, so as to apply mechanical waves that travel in a longitudinal direction with the airflow to the interior of said converter or pyrometallurgical furnace.

2. A system of claim 1, well defined because the mechanical waves are sonic waves.

3. A system of claim 1, well defined because the mechanical waves are ultrasonic waves.

4. A system of claim 1, well defined because the mechanical waves are infrasonic waves.

5. A system of claim 2, well defined because said pyrometallurgical converter is a Teniente Converter (CT).

6. A system of claim 3, well defined because said pyrometallurgical converter is a Teniente Converter (CT).

7. A system of claim 4, well defined because said pyrometallurgical converter is a Teniente Converter (CT).

8. A system of claim 1, well defined because the field of mechanical waves acts on the metal bath, the slag and the gases in the interior of a converter or pyrometallurgical furnace.

9. A system of claim 8, well defined because the metal bath is white metal.

10. A system of claim 8, well defined because the field of mechanical waves maximises the physical-chemical coupling of said metal bath, slag and gases.

11. A system of claim 10, well defined because the field of mechanical waves allows higher reaction efficiency of injected air, increasing therefore the kinetics of the chemical reactions.

12. A system of claim 10, well defined because the field of mechanical waves allows a quicker homogenisation of the metal bath inside said converter or pyrometallurgical furnace.

13. A system of claim 10, well defined because the field of mechanical waves allows a selective attack on the different components of the slag, reducing notoriously the copper trapped mechanically by said slag.