Top submerged injection lance for enhanced submerged combustion

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016265848-A1
Application number	US-201415028624-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Oct 13, 2014
Priority date	Oct 16, 2013
Publication date	Sep 15, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A lance for top submerged lancing injection in a pyro-metallurgical operation, wherein the lance has at least two substantially concentric pipes, with an annular passage for oxygen-containing gas defined between an outermost one of the pipes and a next adjacent pipe and a further passage for fuel defined within an innermost one of the pipes; the outermost pipe has a lower part of its length, from a submergible lower outlet end of the lance, by which the outermost pipe extends beyond an outlet end of the or each other pipe to define between the outlet end of the outermost pipe and the outlet end of the or each other pipe a chamber with which the passage for oxygen-containing gas communicates; and the lance further includes a defined gas flow-modifying device that is disposed in a lower end section of the passage for oxygen-containing gas.

First claim

1 . A lance for top submerged lancing (TSL) injection in a pyro-metallurgical operation, wherein
the lance has at least two substantially concentric pipes, with an annular passage for oxygen-containing gas defined between an outermost one of the pipes and a next adjacent pipe and a further passage for fuel defined within an innermost one of the pipes; the outermost pipe has a lower part of its length, from a submergible lower outlet end of the lance, by which the outermost pipe extends beyond an outlet end of the or each other pipe to define between the outlet end of the outermost pipe and the outlet end of the or each other pipe a chamber with which the passage for oxygen-containing gas communicates; and the lance further includes a gas flow-modifying device that is disposed in a lower end section of the passage for oxygen-containing gas, adjacent to the chamber, and that is operable to impart an inward flow component, away from the inner surface of the outermost pipe, to oxygen-containing gas passing into and longitudinally within the chamber towards the outlet end of the lance and thereby enhance mixing of the oxygen-containing gas with fuel passing into the chamber from the passage for fuel, the flow-modifying device having at least one inner component of helical form , and an outer component that extends around the at least one inner component, such that the flow-modifying device constrains gas flowing through to the lower end section of the annular passage to a helical flow path, of decreasing cross-section, around the outer surface of the next adjacent pipe.

2 . The lance of claim 1 , wherein the flow-modifying device functions by imparting to the gas flowing longitudinally towards the chamber through the lower end section of the annular passage for oxygen-containing gas, a flow component away from the inner surface of the outermost pipe that in effect is somewhat radial or radial and longitudinal.

3 . (canceled)

4 . The lance of claim 1 , wherein the or each inner component is a helical vane, such that the flow-modifying device is a single or multi-start helical arrangement.

5 . The lance of claim 4 , wherein the at least one vane of the inner component is secured at intervals, or continuously, along an inner helical edge, to the outer surface of the next innermost pipe.

6 . The lance of claim 4 , wherein the at least one vane decreases in width, radially relative to the next innermost pipe, from a maximum width at or nearer to an upper end of the vane.

7 . The lance of claim 1 , wherein the outer component closes the outer periphery of the helical flow path outwardly from and around the next innermost pipe.

8 . The lance of claim 7 , wherein the outer component bridges around and across successive flights of the or each vane.

9 . The lance of claim 8 , wherein the outer component has a frusto-conical inner surface, while its outer surface also is frusto-conical or of another form such as cylindrical.

10 . The lance of claim 1 , wherein the or each vane of the flow-modifying device is secured over, such as to, the outer surface of the next adjacent pipe, such as by welding, either continuously or intermittently, along the length of each vane.

11 . The lance of claim 1 , wherein the outer component of the flow-modifying device may comprise a sleeve or annular housing, and the or each vane is secured to the inner surface of the sleeve or housing such as by continuous or intermittent welding.

12 . The lance of claim 1 , wherein the flow-modifying device includes at least four vanes, such as from seven to twelve vanes.

13 . The lance of claim 1 , wherein the flow-modifying device is adapted to impart an inward flow component to a major proportion of gas flowing down the annular passage for oxygen-containing gas, but defines with the outermost pipe an annular gap through which a minor proportion of the gas is able to pass for flow over the inner surface of the outermost pipe.

Assignees

• Outotec Finland Oy

Inventors

• Reuter Markus
• Matusewicz Robert Walter
• Xia Jiliang
• Jacobson Neil

Classifications

• F27B3/225 Primary

  Oxygen blowing · CPC title

• F27D2003/162

  the fluid being an oxidant or a fuel · CPC title

• C21C5/4613

  Refractory coated lances; Immersion lances · CPC title

• F27B3/22

  Arrangements of air or gas supply devices · CPC title

• F27D2003/169

  Construction of the lance, e.g. lances for injecting particles · CPC title