Method for determining sticking and flow properties of particulate solids

• US 6,845,680 B2
• Filed: 12/21/2001
• Issued: 01/25/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Bhp Billiton Innovation Pty., Ltd. (BHP Group Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Bhp Billiton Innovation Pty., Ltd. (BHP Group Ltd.)
• Inventors: Brent, Allon Dudley, Honeyands, Thomas Alexander, O'Dea, Damien, Mayfield, Peter Leonard John, Shook, Andrew, Crawford, Dean Page
• Primary Examiner(s): RAEVIS, ROBERT R
• Application Number:
  US10/451,093
• Publication Number:
  US 20040048385A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,131 Days
• Field of Search: 738/66
• US Class Current: 73/866
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 13/02 Investigating surface tension of liquids
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 19/04 Measuring adhesive force between materials, e.g. of sealing tape, of coating
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/12 Condition responsive control

Abstract

A method of obtaining a measure of the stickiness of heated particulate solids (40) includes pouring a sample of the particulate solids (40) onto a generally horizontal support (12) and allowing it to freely form its own angle of repose. The sample is subjected to a predetermined heat and gas atmosphere regime, and the support is rotated about a generally horizontal axis to an angle (42) where the integrity of the sample (40) fails. The angular position (42) is a measure of the stickness of the particulate solid (40).

Claims

1. A method of obtaining a measure of the stickiness of heated particulate solids, including:

depositing a sample of the particulate solids on a generally horizontal support by pouring the sample onto the support and allowing it to freely form it own angle of repose;

subjecting the sample to a predetermined heating regime and gas a atmosphere; and

rotating the support about an axis having a generally horizontal component to an angular position at which integrity of the sample fails, which angular position is a measure of the stickiness of said particulate solids.

2. A method of monitoring a process involving heated particulate solids, including obtaining at intervals a measure of the stickiness of the heated particulate solids in accordance with claim 1.

3. A method according to claim 2, further including managing and/or controlling said process in dependence on said measure of stickiness.

4. A method according to claim 2 wherein said particulate solids include iron-containing particles, and said heating regime comprises heating the particles to a temperature in the range 400 to 10000°

C. in the presence of an appropriate atmosphere.

5. A method according to claim 4 wherein said iron-containing particles are for direct reduction of the iron therein, and said a atmosphere is a gas mixture containing hydrogen and/or carbon monoxide.

6. A method according to claim 5 wherein said iron-containing particles comprise fines.

7. A method according to claim 4 wherein said iron-containing particles comprise fines.

8. A method according to claim 1 wherein said particulate solids include iron-containing particles, and said heating regime comprises heating the particles to a temperature in the range 400 to 10000°

C. in the presence of an appropriate atmosphere.

9. A method according to claim 8 wherein said iron-containing containing particles are for direct reduction of the iron therein, and said a atmosphere sphere is a gas mixture containing hydrogen and/or carbon monoxide.

10. A method according to claim 9 wherein said iron-containing particles comprise fines.

11. A method according to claim 8 wherein said iron-containing particles comprise fines.

12. Apparatus for obtaining a measure of the stickiness of heated particulate solids, including:

a support for receiving a sample of the particulate solids while generally horizontal, by pouring the sample onto the support and allowing it to freely form its own angle of repose;

means to subject the sample to, a predetermined heating regime gas atmosphere; and

means to rotate the support about an axis having a generally horizontal component to an angular position at which integrity fails, which angular position is a measure of the stickiness of said particulate solids.

13. Apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said particulate solids include iron-containing particles, an said heating regime comprises heating the particles to a temperature in the range 400 to 10000°

C. in the presence of an appropriate atmosphere.

14. Apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said iron-containing particles are for direct reduction of the iron therein, and said a atmosphere is a gas mixture containing hydrogen and/or carbon monoxide.