Cooling device for use in an electric arc furnace

Abstract

A cooling device for use in an electric arc furnace is provided. The cooling device provides a novel and effective method for cooling burners, lances, enclosures, and other devices used in high heat environments, such as in Electric Arc Furnaces. According to one aspect of the invention used in a steel making process in an electric arc furnace, a cooling tube is inserted into a cooling cavity in a burner. Cooling fluid is injected through the cooling tube into the cavity to cool the portions of the burner adjacent the cooling cavity. The cooling fluid is then extracted from the cavity through a concentric space between the cooling tube and the cooling cavity. According to another aspect of the present invention, a cooling fluid distribution flange is provided to distribute cooling fluid to a plurality of cooling tubes to inject cooling fluid into a plurality of associated cooling cavities.

1 . A cooling device for use in a high temperature environment, comprising:
 a first cooling cavity having a first cross sectional area, a first end, a second end, and a central axis between the first end and the second end;   a first cooling tube having a second cross sectional area, a first end, a second end, and a central axis between the first and second end, the first cooling tube being inserted through the first end of the first cooling cavity; and   the first cooling tube being adapted to eject a cooling fluid through the second end of the first cooling tube.   
   
   
       2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the first cross sectional area is larger than the second cross sectional area. 
   
   
       3 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the first cross sectional area is greater than or equal to twice the second cross sectional area. 
   
   
       4 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the second end of the first cooling tube is located a distance from the second end of the first cooling cavity that is less than eight times the hydraulic radius of the first cooling tube. 
   
   
       5 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the cavity is in a combustion block of a burner. 
   
   
       6 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the first cooling cavity is in a burner enclosure. 
   
   
       7 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the first cooling cavity is in a chemical injection lance for use in a metallurgical vessel. 
   
   
       8 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the first cooling cavity has a side wall and the cooling fluid is extracted from the cavity through a space between the first cooling tube and the side wall. 
   
   
       9 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a second cooling cavity having a third diameter, a first end, a second end, and a central axis between the first end and the second end of the second cooling cavity;   a second cooling tube having a forth diameter, a first end, a second end, and a central axis between the first and second end, the second cylindrical tube being inserted through the open end of the second cylindrical cavity;   the second cylindrical tube being adapted to eject a cooling fluid through the second end; and   a cooling fluid distribution section adapted to distribute cooling fluid to the first cylindrical tube and the second cylindrical tube.   
   
   
       10 . The device of  claim 9 , wherein the cooling fluid distribution section comprises:
 a cooling fluid inlet; and   a plurality of cooling fluid distribution holes for providing cooling fluid to the first and second cooling tubes.   
   
   
       11 . The device of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 a cooling fluid extraction section for extracting cooling fluid from the first and second cooling cavities.   
   
   
       12 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a second cooling tube having a third cross sectional area, a first end, a second end, and a central axis between the first and second end, the second cooling tube being inserted through the first end of the first cooling cavity; and   the second cooling tube being adapted to eject a cooling fluid through the second end of the second cooling tube.   
   
   
       13 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the cooling cavity is adapted to receive a plurality of cooling tubes. 
   
   
       14 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the central axis of the cooling cavity and the central axis of the cooling tube are substantially aligned. 
   
   
       15 . A method of cooling a device in a high temperature environment, comprising:
 injecting a cooling fluid through a first cooling tube inserted into a first cooling cavity in a furnace device, the first cooling cavity having a first cross sectional area, a first end, a second end, and a central axis between the first end and the second end, and the first cooling tube having a second cross sectional area, a first end, a second end, and a central axis between the first and second end, the first cooling tube being inserted through the first end of the first cooling cavity; and   extracting the cooling fluid through a first space located concentrically between the first cooling tube and the first cooling cavity.   
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the first cross sectional area is larger than the second cross sectional area. 
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the first cross sectional area is greater than or equal to two times the second cross sectional area. 
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the second end of the first cooling tube is located a distance from the second end of the first cooling cavity that is less than twenty times the hydraulic radius of the first cooling tube. 
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the first cooling cavity is in a combustion block of a burner. 
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the first cylindrical cavity is in a burner enclosure. 
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the first cooling cavity is in a chemical energy injection lance for use in a metallurgical vessel. 
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the first cooling cavity has a side wall and the cooling fluid is extracted from the first cooling cavity through a space between the first cooling tube and the side wall. 
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 injecting the cooling fluid through a second cooling tube into a second cooling cavity, wherein the step of injecting the cooling fluid through the first and second cooling tubes into the first and second cooling cavities are performed substantially simultaneously; and   extracting the cooling fluid through a second space located concentrically between the second cooling tube and the second cooling cavity, wherein the steps of extracting the cooling fluid through the first and second space is performed substantially simultaneously.   
   
   
       24 . A cooling device for use in a high temperature environment, comprising:
 a first cooling cavity having a first cross sectional area, a first end, a second end, and a central axis between the first end and the second end of the first cooling cavity;   a first cooling tube having a second cross sectional area, a first end, a second end, and a central axis between the first and second end of the first cooling tube, the first cooling tube being inserted through the first end of the first cooling cavity;   the first cooling tube being adapted to eject a cooling fluid through the second end of the first cooling tube;   the first cooling cavity being adapted to receive a plurality of cooling tubes;   a second cooling cavity having a third cross sectional area substantially equal to the first cross sectional area, a first end, a second end, and a central axis between the first end and the second end of the second cooling cavity;   a second cooling tube having a fourth cross sectional area, a first end, a second end, and a central axis between the first and second end of the second cooling tube, the second cooling tube being inserted through the open end of the second cooling cavity;   the second cooling tube being adapted to eject a cooling fluid through the second end; and   a cooling fluid distribution section adapted to distribute cooling fluid to the first cooling tube and the second cooling tube.   
   
   
       25 . The device of  claim 24 , wherein the first cooling cavity further comprises:
 a third cooling tube having a fifth cross sectional area, a first end, a second end, and a central axis between the first and second end, the third cooling tube being inserted through the first end of the first cooling cavity; and   the third cooling tube being adapted to eject a cooling fluid through the second end of the third cooling tube.   
   
   
       26 . The device of  claim 25 , wherein the first cooling cavity, first cooling tube, and third cooling tube are axially aligned. 
   
   
       27 . The device of  claim 26 , wherein the first cooling cavity and first cooling tube are aligned substantially coaxially. 
   
   
       28 . The device of  claim 24 , wherein the second cooling cavity is adapted to receive a plurality of cooling tubes. 
   
   
       29 . The device of  claim 28 , wherein the second cooling cavity further comprises:
 a fourth cooling tube having a sixth cross sectional area, a first end, a second end, and a central axis between the first and second end, the fourth cooling tube being inserted through the first end of the second cooling cavity; and   the fourth cooling tube being adapted to eject a cooling fluid through the second end of the fourth cooling tube.