US5244489A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Process for supplying a blast furnace with air enriched in oxygen, and corresponding installation for the reduction of iron ore
Assignee: LAir Liquide SA pour lEtude et lExploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
•
Filing: 1992-06-09
•
Granted: 1993-09-14
•
Expires: 2012-06-09
Abstract
Abstract There is produced by an air distillation apparatus (4) a desired fraction of air from the stream of air leaving at least one blower (3) of the blast furnace, and there is sent to the blast furnace the oxygen produced by this distillation apparatus. The distillation apparatus comprises an air/liquid oxygen mixing column which operates at about 1 bar above the delivery pressure of the blower (3) and which directly produces the oxygen for enriching the air.
Inventors
- 👤 Maurice Grenier
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 18:02
CPC Classifications
C; C21; C21B; C21B5/00; F; F25; F25J; F25J3/00; F25J3/02; F25J3/04; F25J3/04248; F25J3/04284; F25J3/0429; F25J3/04303; F25J3/0446; F25J3/04466; F25J3/04521; F25J3/04527; F25J3/04551; F25J3/04557; F25J3/04593; F25J3/046; F25J3/04612; F25J3/04618; F25J3/04763; F25J3/04769; F25J3/04812; F25J3/04824; F25J3/04866; F25J3/04951; F25J3/04957; F25J2200/00; F25J2200/04; F25J2200/06; F25J2215/00; F25J2215/02; F25J2215/50; F25J2230/00; F25J2230/24; F25J2230/40; F25J2235/00; F25J2235/50; F25J2245/00; F25J2245/50
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
114 words
A method of supplying a blast furnace with air and oxygen, wherein the oxygen is produced by an air separation apparatus comprising a combination of a double column and a mixing column, the method comprising the steps of: compressing a feed flow of air to a first pressure; dividing the feed flow into a first flow and a second flow; sending said first flow to a said blast furnace at said first pressure; sending said second flow to said air separation apparatus at said first pressure; and operating the mixing column at a second pressure higher than said first pressure to produce gaseous oxygen at said second pressure for supplying to the blast furnace.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
114 words
A method of supplying a blast furnace with air and oxygen, wherein the oxygen is produced by an air separation apparatus comprising a combination of a double column and a mixing column, the method comprising the steps of: compressing a feed flow of air to a first pressure; dividing the feed flow into a first flow and a second flow; sending said first flow to a said blast furnace at said first pressure; sending said second flow to said air separation apparatus at said first pressure; and operating the mixing column at a second pressure higher than said first pressure to produce gaseous oxygen at said second pressure for supplying to the blast furnace.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
45 words
The method of claim 1, further comprising: dividing said second flow into a third flow and a fourth flow; sending said third flow at said first pressure to said double column; and compressing said fourth flow to said second pressure for supplying the mixing column.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 2, further comprising: removing liquid oxygen from said double column; and compressing the removed liquid oxygen to said second pressure for supplying the mixing column.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 2, and providing the energy for compressing the fourth flow by expanding isentropically part of said third flow.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 2, and supplying said gaseous oxygen directly to the blast furnace.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 1, and admixing said gaseous oxygen with said first flow of air at said first pressure.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
110 words
A plant for the reduction of iron ore, comprising in combination a blast furnace and an air separation apparatus including a double column having a liquid oxygen outlet connected to a mixing column having an air inlet and a gaseous oxygen outlet, at least one blower supplying a first air conduit leading to the blast furnace and a second air conduit leading to the double column, an air conduit branched from the second air conduit and leading to said air inlet of the mixing column, a compressor in said branched conduit, and a gaseous oxygen conduit leading from the gaseous oxygen outlet of the mixing column to the blast furnace.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
110 words
A plant for the reduction of iron ore, comprising in combination a blast furnace and an air separation apparatus including a double column having a liquid oxygen outlet connected to a mixing column having an air inlet and a gaseous oxygen outlet, at least one blower supplying a first air conduit leading to the blast furnace and a second air conduit leading to the double column, an air conduit branched from the second air conduit and leading to said air inlet of the mixing column, a compressor in said branched conduit, and a gaseous oxygen conduit leading from the gaseous oxygen outlet of the mixing column to the blast furnace.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
32 words
The plant of claim 7, further comprising a cooling turbine for expanding part of the air in the second air conduit and drivingly coupled to the compressor in the branched air conduit.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
28 words
The plant of claim 7, further comprising a liquid oxygen conduit including a pump leading from the liquid oxygen outlet of the double column to the mixing column.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
15 words
The plant of claim 7, wherein said gaseous oxygen conduit opens into the blast furnace.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1996-09-13 | 1997-03-15 | 1997-09-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2000-09-13 | 2001-03-15 | 2001-09-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2004-09-13 | 2005-03-15 | 2005-09-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |