Method of reheating metallurgical products

US6652681B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• L'Air Liquide, Société Anonyme à Directoire et Conseil de Surveillance pour l'Étude et l'Exploitation des Procédés Georges Claude · FR

Inventors

• Olivier Delabroy · Paris, FR
• Remi Tsiava · Corbeil-Essonnes, FR
• Gerard Le Gouefflec · Voisins-le-Bretonneux, FR
• Fouad Ammoury · Massy, FR

Key dates

• Filing date: Sep 7, 2001
• Grant date: Nov 25, 2003
• Expiry date: Sep 7, 2021

Classification

• Technology area (CPC F): Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
• CPC primary: F27B9/36
• WIPO field: Thermal processes and apparatus
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

Method of reheating metallurgical products, in which solid products, especially steel products, are reheated so as to bring them from a temperature substantially below 400° C. to a temperature of at least about 1000° C. by passing them through a furnace having an upstream zone in which the said products are preheated and a downstream zone in which the said products are brought to their final temperature on leaving the furnace, the downstream zone of the furnace being fitted with burners, at least some of which operate with an oxidizer which is air, the smoke (flue gases) generated by these burners flowing as a countercurrent to the products and preheating these products in the upstream preheating zone. According to the invention, at least one burner is placed in the upstream preheating zone of the furnace, this burner being fed with a mixture of oxidizer and fuel, the oxidizer containing more than 21 vol % and preferably more than 30 vol % oxygen.