This invention is directed to devices for distributing charging material into an enclosure, and in particular to shielding devices for furnace charging systems.

Systems for charging reaction enclosures, such as blast furnaces, are known. It is known that, when charging such enclosures, it is desirable to distribute the charging material evenly or according to a chosen pattern. To this end, charging arrangements are known in which material is directed into the blast furnace via a movable spout. Figure 1 illustrates such a previously considered system, a movable charging spout mounted on a gimbal suspension system. The movable spout allows distribution of material evenly inside the enclosure, such as a blast furnace or similar reactor.

Such charging systems are required to function in an extremely arduous environment, with, for example, high concentrations of extremely erosive dust, constant high temperatures, and/or regular extreme temperature excursions. The nature of such a charging system requires that moving parts of the system have to be exposed to these conditions. In cases of high operating temperature and regular rapid temperature increases, distortion of metallic structures is very problematic.

Other previously considered distribution methods operating in a different way to the gimbal-top system above have relied on traditional refractory type coverings, attempting to minimise exposed machinery, and grease purging systems.

However, these can be inefficient regarding the prevention of heat or dust excursions. Moreover, as these work in a different way from the gimbal-top system, they do not afford the advantages of a simple, compact and easily controlled distribution system which provides an even distribution of material into the enclosure. The present invention aims to address these problems and provide

improvements upon the known devices and methods.

Aspects and embodiments of the invention are set out in the accompanying claims.

In general terms, one embodiment of a first aspect of the invention can provide a device for distributing charging material into a furnace or reactor enclosure, comprising: a charging chute for directing material into the enclosure, said chute being movable relative to the enclosure throughout a distribution trajectory; a housing defining an aperture, the aperture receiving the chute, and the chute and the housing defining at least one excursion channel from the enclosure; and a chute shielding means, wherein the chute shielding means comprises a plurality of shielding elements arranged to block the excursion channel such that at any given point in the trajectory of the chute, at least one of said elements spans a portion of the excursion channel.

Such a device can provide protection against excursion of heat and/or dust from a furnace or reactor, whilst allowing the chute to function throughout a distribution path or trajectory. The system can therefore maintain reliable function of an even distribution charging system despite the demanding environment.

Preferably, the chute is moveable in at least two dimensions relative to the enclosure. More preferably, the chute is moveable in three dimensions relative to the enclosure.

Suitably, the shielding elements comprise shielding blades. Preferably, the blades are mounted on the charging chute.

In an embodiment, said elements are configured such that, on movement of the chute, the outer edges of the elements trace the outline of a volume, and said elements are configured such that said volume abuts an inner edge of the aperture in the housing.

This allows a minimal annular gap between the shield parts to be maintained during operation. This configuration of elements for the shielding means provides the advantage that distortion of the elements has a minimal effect on the operation of the shield.

Suitably, the elements are configured such that the shielding volume is spheroid.

Preferably, the elements are flexible. This allows distortion of the elements without impeding the movement of the chute.

Suitably, a single blade of the plurality of shielding elements comprises an annular ring around the chute. In one embodiment, the blade is aligned with a plane perpendicular to an axis of the chute.

Preferably, the shielding elements are configured to minimise the distance between: a diameter of a shielding element through the chute between outer edges of the element; and a diameter of the aperture.

In one embodiment, the device comprises barrier means for preventing excursion between the elements of the shielding means, such as ceramic wool infill disposed between the elements.

In another embodiment, the device further comprises means for supplying a fluid coolant between the elements and the housing opposing excursion from the enclosure. This provides cooling, purges dust, and maintains a positive pressure of cool gas in the housing. One embodiment of a second aspect of the invention can provide a shielding device for a furnace or reactor enclosure charging system, the system comprising a charging chute for directing material into the enclosure, said chute being movable relative to the enclosure throughout a distribution trajectory, and a housing defining an aperture, the aperture receiving the chute, and the chute and the housing defining at least one excursion channel from the enclosure, the shielding device comprising a plurality of shielding elements, said elements configured to block the excursion channel of the charging system such that at any given point in the trajectory of the chute, at least one of said elements spans a portion of the excursion channel.

The above aspects and embodiments may be combined to provide further aspects and embodiments of the invention.

The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a diagram illustrating a previously considered movable chute system; and

Figures 2 to 5 are diagrams illustrating a movable chute and shield according to an embodiment of the invention.

Figure 2 illustrates a section through a device (100) for distributing charging material, such as coal, into a furnace or reactor enclosure. The charging material may be any such fuel material, or material to take part in or aid the reaction or melting to occur in the enclosure. The enclosure may be any type of furnace of reactor, such as a shaft or metallurgical aggregate reactor, a blast furnace, a melter gasifier, or a reduction shaft, or similar. The device (100) has a chute (104) for directing the charging material into the enclosure. In this embodiment, the chute is of a frusto-conical profile in two sections, the lower of the two having a greater gradient and thus imparting a greater angular change to the momentum of charging material falling through the chute. In alternative embodiments, the chute may be in a single section, with a different shape, for example straight-sided, or a continuous curve again imparting an angular change.

As shown in Figure 3, the chute (104) can be moved relative to the enclosure, in order to direct the charging material to a different section of the enclosure. The chute can be moved throughout a trajectory or path which can provide a comprehensive coverage of the inside of the enclosure. For example, using a gimbal-top system such as that illustrated in Figure 1 , or as described in EP 1662009, the tip of the chute can be moved to any point within a circular area target range limited by the furthest extent of movement of the two tilting concentric rings. The tilted movement shown between Figures 2 and 3 can thus be repeated in any direction around the chute (104). Note that the Figures omit the upper parts of the housing for clarity; the portion of the aperture 1 10A which appears to be left open at the extreme angle of the chute shown in Figures 3 and 5, is actually blocked by parts of the upper housing, indicated for example by dotted line 1 10B.

The device includes a housing (102) for the chute (104), within which the chute is allowed to move. The housing, which can be mounted on the furnace or reactor, provides at a lower end an aperture (1 10), for example a circular aperture as shown in Figures 2 to 5, through which the chute (104) protrudes, thus providing access for charging material through the upper housing (not shown), through the chute (inside the aperture) and into the enclosure.

The housing (102) and the chute (104) therefore define between them an excursion channel (1 12) from the enclosure. In the embodiment shown in Figures 2 and 3, the gap between the housing 102 (defining the circular aperture 1 10) and the outside of the chute 104 is the excursion channel, that is, a channel through which dust and heat could be released from the enclosure, into the housing or mounting above. In this embodiment, the excursion channel is therefore a cylindrical path around the chute, between the chute and the housing.

The device provides a chute shielding means (106, 108) to prevent such heat and dust excursions. In this embodiment, the shield has a plurality of shielding elements (108), formed as blades mounted on a shield (106) encircling the upper part of the chute 104.

As can be seen in the embodiment illustrated in Figures 4 and 5, the shield (106) itself has a frusto-conical profile, enveloping the upper portion of the chute 104. This upper portion of the chute having the shield, is that portion of the chute which moves within, and into and out of the housing during movement of the chute through the distribution trajectory, as can be seen from Figures 2 to 5.

This shield 106 provides some protection for the housing, narrowing the excursion channel 1 12 to protect against heat and dust exiting the enclosure. However, the shield is limited in this extent, as it must still allow the full range of movement of the chute (104) throughout its trajectory. In order to further narrow or block the excursion channel, the shield 106 would have to have a near perfect spheroid profile, in order to be as close as possible to the inside edge of the housing 102 at each position of the chute, whilst still permitting movement of the chute into and out of the aperture (as in Figure 3).

Such a shield would be extremely difficult, and thus expensive, to produce, and any slight distortion of the shield under the arduous conditions of the furnace or reactor would cause a reduction in performance and likely damage to itself and surrounding parts, requiring an expensive and lengthy shutdown for repair. The shielding means therefore provides a number of shielding elements, in this embodiment in the form of blades (108) mounted on the shield 106, the blades arranged such that at any given point in the trajectory of the chute 104, at least one of the blades spans a portion of the excursion channel 1 12.

As shown in Figures 2 to 5, the blades 108 in this embodiment are mounted on the shield 106, and protrude outwardly from the shield, at an angle roughly perpendicular to the axis of the chute 104. The blades are arranged in parallel at intervals along the vertical extent of the shield, and are formed as annular rings around the shield. In the neutral position shown in Figure 2 (with the chute pointing straight down), the blade rings are aligned with planes perpendicular to the axis of the chute.

As can be seen from Figure 2, in this neutral position, there is at least one blade blocking the excursion channel 1 12; at least one of the annular blades spans the distance between the chute and the housing. In this position, one blade can provide the entire blocking effect, as the annulus of the blade is aligned with the annular opening of the housing, thus blocking the cylindrical excursion channel. In fact, in this position, several of the blades may provide the same or similar blocking effect.

As the chute is moved, for example to a position such as shown in Figure 3, the outer edges of the blades trace a spheroid profile, following the inside edges of the housing 102, such that at each position there is always at least one blade blocking the excursion channel. For example, in Figure 3, the lowest sets of blades on the left hand side of the chute (the side moved up into the aperture by the swing to the left) are providing the blocking effect, moving along or close to the housing 102. The upper blades on the left in Figure 3 are now inside the housing, and away from the inner edge of the aperture 1 10 in the housing. It can be seen that when the chute 104 is angled (as opposed to in the neutral position in Figure 2), on one side more of the upper shield is exposed to the enclosure, and the higher blades provide the blocking effect; on the other side the lower part is exposed, and the lower blades provide the blocking effect. In between these two sides, either of these and/or the intermediate blades provide the blocking effect.

This arrangement has the advantage that any distortion of the blades should not result in the shield/chute system being impeded during movement. This is because any warping of the blades will be unlikely to result in a blade protruding beyond the spheroid profile which traces the inner edges of the housing 102. This in turn is due in part to the blades having as little surface area as possible tracing that arc or profile; only the tip of each blade comes close to contacting the housing. It is also due to the blades being essentially perpendicular to the imagined line of the spheroid trajectory.

In contrast, a perfectly spherical shield as described above, would likely distort in a fashion producing a bend in the material which would protrude beyond this imagined spheroid path. This would in part be due to the shield effectively having all of its surface area along the spheroid path.

One aim of the device according to this embodiment is to minimise the gap between any one shielding element and the housing aperture. This is done by plotting the distribution trajectory spheroid, fitting this as closely as possible inside the housing aperture (the cylindrical excursion channel), and sizing and placing the blades on the shielding means so as to define this spheroid fitting inside the aperture. Typically, the clearance between blade tips and housing can be initially set between 10 and 15mm.

The shielding elements may also be of a sufficiently flexible material that if a particular element does contact the housing 102, rather than impeding the chute, the element will flex, or pivot on its mounting on the shield, to allow passage of that portion of the shielding means past the housing. This allows for any differences in tolerance in manufacture, or any distortion in the system caused by heat, permitting the chute to move freely despite any flaws, and helping to ensure maintenance requirements are kept to a minimum. The material can be a different grade of metal as compared to the shield, or a composite material.

The shielding elements may be of any type providing the advantages described; for example, rather than a set of single ring blades, the elements could be formed of a corrugation of rings along the vertical extent of the shield 106, the outer edges of the corrugations forming blades. The elements can also be formed of a series of ribs of generally semi-circular section, along the vertical extent of the shield.

The formation of the elements themselves can be altered, for example a single spiral blade can be used instead of a series of annular rings of blades. The shield (106) could also be replaced, for example by a corrugated, undulating or ribbed sheet, providing the shield and shielding elements/blades in one piece of material. For this of course, the sheet would have to be attached to the chute.

In the specific embodiment, the blades 108 can be set at different angles from those shown in Figures 2 to 5. For example, rather than the annular blades being essentially parallel to a plane, the blades can be set to fan out in a more radial fashion from the shield, the relevant angles preserving the spheroid profile to be traced by the edges of the blades. Some of the blades would thus be of a more skirt-like profile, than a flat blade essentially in a single plane. In this formation, each blade can be set to be strictly perpendicular to the particular portion of the chute shielding means that blade is mounted on.

In an alternative embodiment, the shielding elements can be mounted on the housing instead of the chute itself. The elements would essentially follow the same configuration, but would be slightly larger in overall diameter, and have an outer edge mounted on the housing, rather than an inner edge mounted on the chute. This embodiment would provide the same advantages of any distortion of the element not resulting in the chute being impeded.

The shielding system could be applied equally well to more limited distribution systems. For example, with a chute restricted only to a swinging movement in one plane (for example, only the range of movements indicated by Figures 2 and 3, in one plane), the shield blades could be mounted on either side of a chute, rather than as full rings or skirts. The blades would nevertheless block any excursion channel either side of the chute, as the chute moved through the simple arc trajectory.

The shield and shielding elements can be formed from any appropriate material, such as a metal or composite. The material may be chosen to allow a particular degree of flexibility for the elements, as described above.

The shield 106 may also incorporate vertical ribs (not shown) in order to further block any excursion from the enclosure. For example, when in the specific embodiment the chute 104 is at an angle, the blades (108) will also be angled, and some heat or dust may be permitted along the underside of the blade which is currently providing the blocking effect, and up towards the upper housing. A rib positioned vertically connecting the blades therefore prevents this excursion.

In order to further protect the upper housing, heat resistant packing (not shown) can be disposed on the shield 106 interspaced between or complimentary to the shield elements 108. This heat resistant infill can be of any known type, such as ceramic wool. In the embodiment, the infill closes any further gap between the blades which might allow excursion of heat or dust into the upper housing, whilst still being flexible enough to allow the blades to flex if necessary. The infill can be used in combination with, or instead of the vertical ribs described above. For further heat or dust protection, a nitrogen cooling system (not shown) using a 'curtain' effect over the shield 106 and moving parts provides cooling, purges dust, and maintains a positive pressure of cool gas in the housing.

The shielding system described above may be retrofitted, for example to a chute already employed in a furnace or reactor. In this embodiment, the shield 106 with blades 108 would be mounted on the chute. In the case of a shield 106 already present, the blades 108 could simply be mounted on the shield 106.

It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the invention has been described by way of example only, and that a variety of alternative approaches may be adopted without departing from the scope of the invention, as defined by the appended claims.