Device for melting down metal-containing material

Abstract

In a method and a device for melting down metal-containing material, preferably fine-particulate metal-containing material, such as sponge iron, in a metallurgical melting furnace ( 1 ), wherein, in an interior space ( 11 ) of the melting furnace ( 1 ), a metal melt ( 5 ) and a slag layer ( 6 ) floating on top of the metal melt ( 5 ) are maintained, the metal-containing material is added by means of a supply means dipping into the slag layer ( 6 ) and energy is added in the form of electric arcs ( 14 ), the metal-containing material is charged directly into the central region (Z) of the melting furnace ( 1 ) by means of at least one charging tube ( 8 ) exclusively serving for conveying material via the charging tube outlet ( 9 ) of the same, the electric arcs ( 14 ) are directed obliquely towards the metal melt ( 5 ) against the central region (Z) of the melting furnace ( 1 ) and the metal-containing material is melted in the slag layer ( 6 ) and a mixed process slag-metal melt is maintained in the region of the charging tube outlet ( 9 ). ( FIG. 1 ).

1 . A device for melting down metal-containing material comprising: 
 a metallurgical melting furnace having an interior space, a metal melt material located in the interior space of the furnace, and a slag layer floating on top of the metal melt material;    at least one charging tube directed into a central region of the melting furnace for exclusively conveying metal-containing material into the central region, wherein the charging tube at a lower end has an opening permanently dipping into the slag layer and wherein the position of the charging tube and the insertion depth of the lower end into the slag layer are adjustable during melting;    a plurality of energized electric arcs directed obliquely against the central region of the furnace with metal-containing material is disposed in the central region whereby an energy centre is formed in the region of the lower end of the charging tube providing a surplus amount of energy for melting the metal-containing material; and    a mixture of slag metal melt formed from melted metal-containing material in the slag layer.    
   
   
       2 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the charging tube is configured as a down pipe.  
   
   
       3 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the metal-containing material is a particulate.  
   
   
       4 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the metal-containing material is sponge iron.  
   
   
       5 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the charging tube is pivotable sideways.  
   
   
       6 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the lower end of the charging tube end is positioned at least 10 mm below the slag layer surface.  
   
   
       7 . The device according to  claim 1 , further comprising a controlling means to adjust the height of the charging tube.  
   
   
       8 . The device according to  claim 7 , wherein the controlling means includes a device for measuring the charging rate of the metal-containing material.  
   
   
       9 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the charging tube has an inside diameter from 200-1500 mm.  
   
   
       10 . The device according to  claim 9 , wherein the charging tube has an inside diameter of 600-800 mm.  
   
   
       11 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the charging tube is manufactured from amorphous carbon.  
   
   
       12 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the charging tube is manufactured from graphite.  
   
   
       13 . The device according to  claim 11 , wherein the outside of the charging tube is coated with Al 2 O 3 .  
   
   
       14 . The device according to  claim 12 , wherein the outside of the charging tube is coated with Al 2 O 3 .  
   
   
       15 . The device according to  claim 11 , wherein the outside of the charging tube is furnished with a water spray cooling system.  
   
   
       16 . The device according to  claim 11 , wherein the outside of the charging tube is furnished with a water spray cooling system.  
   
   
       17 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the charging tube comprise a plurality of tubes cooled by means of water or water vapour.  
   
   
       18 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the obliquely directed electric arcs are inclined at an angle of from 20° to 70°.  
   
   
       19 . A device for melting down metal-containing material, comprising: 
 a metallurgical melting furnace having an interior space, a metal melt material located in the interior space of the furnace, and a slag layer floating on top of the metal melt material;    at least one charging tube directed into a central region of the melting furnace for exclusively conveying metal-containing material into the central region, wherein the charging tube at a lower end has an opening permanently dipping into the slag layer, wherein the position of the charging tube and the insertion depth of the lower end into the slag layer are adjustable during melting, and wherein the charging tube has an inside diameter of at least 300 mm;    a plurality of energized electric arcs directed obliquely at angle from 20° to 70° against the central region of the furnace with metal-containing material disposed in the central region whereby an energy centre is formed in the region of the lower end of the charging tube providing a surplus amount of energy for melting the metal-containing material; and    a mixture of slag metal melt formed from melted metal-containing material in the slag layer.