COOLING SYSTEM FOR METALLURGICAL FURNACES AND METHODS OF OPERATION
First Claim
1. A cooling system for a metallurgical furnace comprising:
- one or more cooling elements each defining a heat absorption section and a heat rejection section, the heat absorption section configured for disposing within a refractory wall of the metallurgical furnace to absorb heat from the refractory wall, the heat rejection section configured to reside outside the refractory wall of the metallurgical furnace to reject heat absorbed by the heat absorption section;
a working fluid contained therein the one or more cooling elements, the working fluid upon heating in the heat absorption section, generating a vapor flow within the one or more cooling elements; and
a coolant flow in contact with an exterior surface of the one or more cooling elements for dissipating heat from the heat rejection section of the one or more cooling elements.
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Abstract
A metallurgical furnace system having a furnace body at least partially defined by a refractory wall and configured for holding a molten metal therein. The system further including one or more cooling elements, each including a working fluid contained therein and defining a heat absorption section and a heat rejection section. The heat absorption section configured for disposing within the refractory wall to absorb heat from the refractory wall. The heat rejection section configured to reside outside the refractory wall to reject heat absorbed by the heat absorption section. The working fluid generating a vapor flow within the one or more cooling elements in response to absorbed heat. The cooling system further including a coolant flow in contact with an exterior surface of the one or more cooling elements for dissipating heat from the heat rejection section. A cooling system for a metallurgical furnace and method of cooling are also disclosed.
17 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A cooling system for a metallurgical furnace comprising:
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one or more cooling elements each defining a heat absorption section and a heat rejection section, the heat absorption section configured for disposing within a refractory wall of the metallurgical furnace to absorb heat from the refractory wall, the heat rejection section configured to reside outside the refractory wall of the metallurgical furnace to reject heat absorbed by the heat absorption section; a working fluid contained therein the one or more cooling elements, the working fluid upon heating in the heat absorption section, generating a vapor flow within the one or more cooling elements; and a coolant flow in contact with an exterior surface of the one or more cooling elements for dissipating heat from the heat rejection section of the one or more cooling elements. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A metallurgical furnace system comprising;
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a metallurgical furnace having a furnace body at least partially defined by a refractory wall and configured for holding a molten metal therein; and a cooling system comprising; a coolant flow in contact with an exterior surface of one or more cooling elements for dissipating heat, each of the one or more cooling elements partially disposed within the refractory wall of the metallurgical furnace to absorb heat from the refractory wall. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method for cooling a metallurgical furnace comprising:
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(a) embedding one or more cooling elements partially within a refractory wall of a metallurgical furnace, each of the one or more cooling elements comprising a heat absorption section disposed in the refractory wall and a heat rejection section residing outside the refractory wall; (b) flowing a coolant over an exterior surface of the heat rejection section of the one or more cooling elements; (c) absorbing heat from the refractory wall in the heat absorption section of the one or more cooling elements to generate via evaporation a vapor flow within the one or more cooling elements; (d) dissipating heat from the vapor flow into the coolant via condensation within the one or more cooling elements and generating a condensed liquid within the one or more cooling elements; (e) returning the condensed liquid to the heat absorption section of the one or more cooling elements; and (f) repeating steps (b) through (e) to provide continuous cooling to the metallurgical furnace. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification