WO2023097536A1

WO2023097536A1 - Metallurgical furnace and binding system thereof

Info

Publication number: WO2023097536A1
Application number: PCT/CN2021/134709
Authority: WO
Inventors: John Tung CHAO
Original assignee: Jinzhou Tiansheng Heavy Industry CoLtd
Current assignee: Jinzhou Tiansheng Heavy Industry CoLtd
Priority date: 2021-12-01
Filing date: 2021-12-01
Publication date: 2023-06-08
Anticipated expiration: 2024-06-01
Also published as: CN115605717A; CN115605717B

Abstract

A binding system for a metallurgical furnace. The metallurgical furnace includes a furnace shell (10) having a plurality of shell segments (11) which extend vertically and are adjacently spliced to each other in the circumferential direction. The binding system includes elastic devices arranged on an outer circumferential surface of the furnace shell (10) and used to apply a radial elastic constraining force to the furnace shell (10); and limiting devices distributed in vertical joints (12) between the adjacent shell segments (11) to not limit the radial contraction of the furnace shell (10), but only limit the radial expansion of the furnace shell (10). There is no need to adjust the lengths of cables with the intervention of an operator, thus achieving a fully automatic binding system.

Description

Metallurgical Furnace and Binding System Thereof

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present application relates to the field of metallurgy, and more specifically to a metallurgical furnace and a binding system thereof.

BACKGROUND

A basic structure of a metallurgical furnace mainly includes a furnace shell, a furnace space defined by the furnace shell and used to dispose an electrode, and a roof covering the top of the furnace shell. Since the metallurgical furnace has an extremely high temperature in operation, the furnace shell will expand outwards at high temperature in radial direction due to thermal expansion and contract inwards at a low temperature due to contraction. In order to compensate this variation due to thermal expansion and contraction to ensure the overall structural strength of the furnace sidewall, a binding system can be installed on an outer side of the furnace shell.

For example, the inventor of the present application proposed a binding system in WO 2015089622 A1. The binding system mainly includes cables surrounding the furnace shell, and the head and tail of each cable are connected with extension springs. When a radially outwards expansion of the furnace shell exceeds the bearing capacity of the extension springs, the length of the cable can be adjusted. When the radially outwards expansion of the furnace shell does not exceed the maximum elongation of the spring, the binding system automatically realizes a tightening function of the furnace shell.

Although this binding system can automatically realize the function of elastically constraining the furnace shell to adapt to expansion and contraction of the furnace shell in the radial direction within the bearing capacity of the springs, this binding system still needs to be manually adjusted by an operator in cases when the shell movement is greater than the spring bearing capacity.

Therefore, how to provide a binding solution in which there is no need to adjust the length of the cable with the intervention of an operator becomes a technical problem to be solved in the field.

SUMMARY

In view of this, the present application provides a binding system for a metallurgical furnace in which there is no need to make adjustment of the length of the cables with manual intervention of an operator, thus achieving a fully automatic binding system.

According to the present application, such a binding system for a metallurgical furnace is provided. The metallurgical furnace includes a furnace shell having a plurality of shell segments which extend vertically and are adjacently spliced to each other in the circumferential direction. The binding system includes elastic devices, arranged on an outer circumferential surface of the furnace shell and used to apply a radial elastic constraining force to the furnace shell; and limiting devices, distributed between vertical joints between the adjacent shell segments to not limit the radial contraction of the furnace shell, but only limit the radial expansion of the furnace shell. The limiting devices can prevent the furnace shell from excessively expanding beyond the limit of the elastic device and causing elastic fatigue.

Preferably, the limiting devices include first limiting protrusions, each of which radially protrudes outwards from an outer circumferential surface of one shell segment; second limiting protrusions, each of which radially protrudes outwards from an outer circumferential surface of another adjacent shell segment, the first limiting protrusions and the second limiting protrusions being adjacent to each other and being respectively located on two sides of the vertical joints between the shell segments; and limiting members, mounted on the first limiting protrusions and the second limiting protrusions and used to limit relative distances between the first limiting protrusions and the second limiting protrusions in the circumferential direction.

Preferably, each limiting member is relatively fixed to one of the first limiting protrusion and the second limiting protrusion and is used to limit a movement amplitude of the other one of the first limiting protrusion and the second limiting protrusion in the circumferential direction.

Preferably, each limiting member is hung on the first limiting protrusion and the second limiting protrusion and is not relatively fixed to the shell segments.

Preferably, each limiting member includes a hang part which is located above the first limiting protrusion and the second limiting protrusion and supported by the first limiting protrusion and the second limiting protrusion; and a first stop part and a second stop part which are opposite to each other in the circumferential direction and are fixedly connected by the hang part; the first stop part and the second stop part are located on the circumferential outer sides of the first limiting protrusion and the second limiting protrusion respectively in the circumferential direction and are used to stop the movements of the first limiting protrusion and the second limiting protrusion in the circumferential direction.

Preferably, each limiting member includes a cover plate which is fixedly connected with the first stop part and the second stop part and is located on the radial outer sides of the first limiting protrusion and the second limiting protrusion.

Preferably, each limiting member includes a guide part which is fixedly connected with the first stop part and the second stop part and is located below the first limiting protrusion and the second limiting protrusion.

Preferably, a guide trough for guiding the first limiting protrusion and the second limiting protrusion to move in the circumferential direction is formed between the hang part and the guide part.

Preferably, the hang part, the first stop part, the second stop part, the cover plate, and the guide part form an integrated member.

Preferably, anti-falling structures are arranged between the hang part and the first limiting protrusion as well as between the hang part and the second limiting protrusion.

Preferably, a horizontal cross section of the vertical joint between the adjacent shell segments is in a straight line shape or a broken line shape.

Preferably, the elastic devices include first fixed blocks, each of which being fixedly arranged on the outer circumferential surface of one shell segment; second fixed blocks, each of which being fixedly arranged on the outer circumferential surface of another adjacent shell segment, the first fixed blocks and the second fixed blocks being adjacent to each other and being respectively located on the two sides of the vertical joints between the shell segments; and spring members which are extension springs and are connected between the first fixed blocks and the second fixed blocks. Preferably, the elastic devices include tension transmission members which are arranged on the outer circumferential surface of the furnace shell in the circumferential direction in a manner of being connected end to end, two ends of the tension transmission members being respectively provided with connection seats; and spring members which are extension springs and are connected between two adjacent connection seats.

Preferably, the tension transmission members may be cables or curved connection members.

Preferably, supporting seats are arranged on the outer circumferential surfaces of the shell segments; and the tension transmission members are radially supported outwards by the supporting seats in a positioning manner.

Preferably, the supporting seats are provided with rotatable supporting shafts, and the tension transmission members are rotatably supported by the supporting shafts.

The present application further provides a metallurgical furnace which has the above binding system.

According to the technical solutions of the present application, the plurality of shell segments which are adjacently spliced to each other in the circumferential direction form a furnace shell of the metallurgical furnace, and the elastic devices apply a radial elastic constraining force to the furnace shell; when the radial direction of the furnace shell is outwards, the limiting devices distributed in the vertical joints between the adjacent shell segments restrain the radial expansion of the furnace shell when reaching the limit of the bearing capacity of the spring members, so the constraining capacity of the elastic devices can be maintained without the intervention of an operator, thus achieving a fully automatic binding system.

Other features and advantages of the present application will be described in detail in the following specific implementation modes.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings constituting a part of the present application are used for providing a further understanding for the present application. Exemplary implementation modes of the present application and descriptions thereof are used for explaining the present application. In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram of a metallurgical furnace and a binding system thereof according to one preferred implementation mode of the present application;

Figs. 2a-2c are enlarged diagrams of a different cross section of the metallurgical furnace and the binding system thereof shown in Fig. 1 at the position of a limiting member;

Fig. 3 is a three-dimensional schematic diagram of one preferred implementation mode of a limiting member of the metallurgical furnace and the binding system thereof shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged top view of one kind of elastic device of the metallurgical furnace and the binding system thereof shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a schematic diagram of a metallurgical furnace and a binding system thereof according to another preferred implementation mode of the present application;

Fig. 6 is a schematic diagram of another kind of elastic device of the metallurgical furnace and the binding system thereof shown in Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged top view of the metallurgical furnace and the binding system thereof shown in Fig. 5 at the position of a supporting seat;

Fig. 8 is a sectional view along A-A of Fig. 7; and

Fig. 9 is an enlarged top view of a vertical joint between adjacent shell segments of a metallurgical furnace of a preferred implementation mode of the present application.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The technical solution of the present application will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and in combination with implementation modes.

When the metallurgical furnace works, a change in the temperature in a furnace space will cause the furnace body to expand. Previously in the solution of WO 2015089622 A1, restriction to the expansion of the furnace body is realized by cables surrounding the furnace body and springs connected to the cables. However, if the furnace body expands beyond the elastic elongation of the springs, the lengths of the cables need to be adjusted by manual intervention, so it is hard to realize a fully automatic metallurgical furnace binding method. In view of this, the present application provides a binding system for a metallurgical furnace based on a segmented furnace shell.

As shown in Fig. 1, the metallurgical furnace includes a furnace shell 10. A furnace wall (not shown) used to form a furnace space of the metallurgical furnace is arranged in the furnace shell 10. In the present application, the structures of the furnace wall and the furnace space are not limited and may adopt the traditional existing structures. For example, the technical features of WO 2015089622 A1 previously proposed by the inventor of the present application may be taken into the specification of the present application. In order to adapt to the structural thermal expansion and contraction due to a temperature change when the metallurgical furnace is in operation, the furnace shell 10 has a plurality of shell segments 11 which extend vertically and are adjacently spliced with each other in the circumferential direction. In order to control radially inwards and outwards changes of the shell segments 11, in the present application, the binding system for the metallurgical furnace is used to realize automatic constraint and control of the furnace shell 10. This can be realized in a normal operating condition without manual intervention of an operator.

The binding system includes elastic devices and limiting devices. The elastic devices are arranged on an outer circumferential surface of the furnace shell 10 and are used to apply a radial (particularly inward) elastic constraining force to the furnace shell 10 and keep the overall integrity of all the shell segments 11 of the furnace shell 10. Each elastic device will elongate to its maximum length based on its bearing capacity. The number of the elastic device required to meet the estimated total elongation of the circumferential length of the furnace shell will determine the number of the segments required. In order to ensure the elongation of each elastic device does not exceed its bearing capacity, a limiting device to limit the maximum elongation of the elastic device is put in place. The limiting devices are distributed between vertical joints 12 between adjacent shell segments 11 to not limit the radial contraction of the furnace shell 10, but only limit the radial expansion of the furnace shell 10. That is, when the metallurgical furnace expands outwards at an elevated temperature, the furnace shell will be automatically restrained by the limiting devices and will not exceed the radial outward expansion limit.

Specifically, if the metallurgical furnace is heated to expand, the plurality of shell segments 11 that are adjacently spliced with each other are caused to be away from each other. At this time, the elastic devices of the binding system work between the plurality of shell segments 11 to generate a constraining force to the metallurgical furnace to achieve an effect of restraining the expansion of the metallurgical furnace. The limiting devices, on the one hand, play a role of preventing one or several vertical joints 12 between the shell segments 11 from excessively expanding, and on the other hand, play a role of restraining the overall expansion of the furnace shell 10, so as to limit the maximum expansion range of the furnace shell 10 within a maximum elastic fluctuation range of the elastic devices, thus effectively prolong the service life of the binding system and cause the binding system to work within the maximum elastic fluctuation range of the elastic devices. Therefore, the constraining capacity of the elastic devices can be reliably maintained without the intervention of the operator, thus achieving a fully automatic binding system. Furthermore, in the technical solution of the present application, the elastic devices and the limiting devices are separately disposed, so that the limitation caused by the fact that the cables are used to realize the elastic limitation in the previous WO 2015089622 A1 can be avoided, an elastic force for restraining the radial expansion can be realized, and the maximum radial expansion can also be restrained.

The limiting devices may be ropes, metal chains, or lock catches that only limit a maximum distance, connected between the adjacent shell segments 11. In a preferable case, the limiting device is of a structure convenient to remove and maintain. As one preferable embodiment, essentially it is a rectangular ring with two stoppers as shown in Figs. 2a, 2b, 2c and Fig. 3. The first stopper 21 is, for example, inserted in a hole drilled on one shell segment. The hole could be drilled through or not through the shell. The stopper 21 protrudes outwards radially from the circumferential surface of the shell. The second stopper 22 is installed on the adjacent shell across the gap 12 respectively. The rectangular ring 23 has a slot opened at the center with a width allowing to pass through the stopper with two semi-circle at the both ends as shown in Figs2b and 2c or with square ends as shown in Fig. 3. The total length of the slot allows a maximum elongation of the shells. In the beginning the shell segments are put closely together without a physical gap. The rectangular ring 23 is put in place through the two

stoppers

21 and 22 on shell surface. There is a gap between the stoppers and the side of the rectangular ring 23, which defines the maximum movement of the shell segments when the furnace is heated and expanded and it is the maximum gap 12.

In the binding system for the metallurgical furnace of the present application, a horizontal cross section of the vertical joint 12 between the adjacent shell segments 11 may be in a straight line shape (Fig. 2a) or a broken line shape (Fig. 2b and 2c) . The straight-line-shaped vertical joint 12 may be or not be perpendicular to the circumferential extending direction of the shell segment 11. A broken line shape is preferred, such as an n shape, a z shape as shown in Fig. 9, or other broken line shapes, so as to enhance sealing between the adjacent shell segments 11 in a spliced state and further improve the reliability of the binding system. Furthermore, in the preferred case of the bent broken line shape, when the shell segment 11 radially expands outwards, sealing between the shell segments 11 can still at least be kept to a certain extent. Lubricant between the two surfaces may be required to improve sealing.

According to the binding system for the metallurgical furnace of any one of the above implementation modes, the elastic devices may be elastic devices used in the existing art, or preferably more simplified elastic devices adjusted without manual intervention.

As shown in Fig. 1 and Fig. 4, the elastic device of the present application preferably includes a first fixed block 41, a second fixed block 42, and an extension spring type of spring member 43. The first fixed block 41 is fixedly arranged on the outer circumferential surface of one shell segment 11; the second fixed block 42 is fixedly arranged on the outer circumferential surface of another adjacent shell segment 11; the first fixed block 41 and the second fixed block 42 are adjacent to each other and respectively located on the two sides of the vertical joint 12 between the shell segments 11; and the spring member 43 is connected between the first fixed block 41 and the second fixed block 42 and provides an elastic force between the adjacent shell segments 11 for making them close to each other. The spring member 43 may be an elastic member made of a non-metal elastic material that meets the elastic force requirement, or is preferably an extension spring made of a metal material. As shown in Fig. 4, the first fixed block 41 and the second fixed block 42 are mounted on the shell segments 11 preferably by means of detachable mounting (such as threaded mounting, riveted mounting, fastener or fastening trough mounting, and the like) , so as to facilitate the replacement or maintenance of all the members in the binding system. Any two adjacent shell segments 11 are provided with at least one elastic device along the extending direction of the vertical joint 12. There are preferably a plurality of elastic devices that are uniformly distributed.

An elastic device according to another implementation mode of the present application can also realize the elastic constraining function to the furnace shell 10 without being mounted on the furnace shell 10. As shown in Fig. 5 and Fig. 6, the elastic devices include tension transmission members 50 and spring members 52. The tension transmission members 50 are arranged on the outer circumferential surface of the furnace shell 10 in the circumferential direction in a manner of being connected end to end, and two ends of the tension transmission members 50 are respectively provided with connection seats 51. The tension transmission members 50 may be inelastic ropes made of a metal or non-metal material, preferably cables or curved connection members (such as arc-shaped steel members) . The spring members 52 are connected between two adjacent connection seats 51. The spring members 52 may be elastic members made of a non-metal material meeting the elastic force requirement, or preferably extension springs made of a metal material. The elastic devices surrounding the furnace shell 10 may include at least one tension transmission member 50 and at least one spring member 52. Preferably, a plurality of tension transmission members 50 and a plurality of spring members 52 are connected end to end through connection seats 51 to form the elastic devices surrounding the furnace shell 10 by one cycle. The number of spring member 52 will determine the number of shell segments based on the bearing capacity of the spring member 52. Preferably, there are a plurality of elastic devices vertically disposed, so as to apply a uniform elastic constraining force to the furnace shell 10 at different heights.

In order to reduce or avoid contact wear between the tension transmission members 50 and the shell segments 11 of the furnace shell 10, a plurality of supporting seats 53 are preferably arranged on the outer circumferential surfaces of the shell segments 11. The tension transmission members 50 are radially supported outwards by the supporting seats 53 in a positioning manner, so that the tension transmission members 50 are kept isolated from the shell segments 11 in the radial direction of the furnace shell 10. The positioning of the supporting seats to the tension transmission members 50 mainly aims to ensure that the tension transmission members 50 are evenly distributed on the outer circumferential surface of the furnace shell in the circumferential direction. For example, the supporting seats may be provided with trenches used for disposing the cables, so that the cables may be supported and not fall off without a force during mounting. Preferably as shown in Fig. 5, Fig. 7, and Fig. 8, the supporting seat 53 is provided with a rotatable supporting shaft 54, and the tension transmission member 50 is supported by the rotating shaft 54, thus reducing or avoiding the contact wear between the tension transmission member 50 and the supporting seat 53, and prolonging the service life of the tension transmission member 50.

In the metallurgical furnace and the binding system thereof provided in the present application, the elastic devices in any implementation mode can be adopted to provide the elastic constraining force to the furnace shell 10, and the elastic devices of the above implementation modes can also be simultaneously applied to the same furnace shell 10. According to the metallurgical furnace and the binding system thereof of the preferred implementation modes, the shell segments 11 forming the furnace shell 10 may also be vertically disposed in a segmented manner in addition to being adjacently spliced with each other in the circumferential direction. Therefore, as shown in Fig. 1, different elastic devices and/or limiting devices are adopted on different vertical segments of shell segments 11 to accommodate different expansions caused by temperature variations along the height of the shell, thus improving the adaptability of the binding system to different metallurgical furnaces. The metallurgical furnace and the binding system thereof of the present application adopt the elastic devices and/or limiting devices of different implementation modes according to an actual working condition and are able to maintain the automatic binding and constraining capacity for the expansion of the furnace body without the intervention of the operator.

The preferable implementation modes of the present application are described above in detail. However, the present application is not limited to the specific details in the foregoing implementation modes. Various simple variations can be made to the technical solutions of the present application within the technical concept ranges of the present application, and these simple variations all fall within the protection scope of the present application.

In addition, it should be noted that the various specific technical features described in the above specific implementation modes can be combined in any suitable manner without contradiction. In order to avoid unnecessary repetition, various possible combination modes will not be additionally described in the present application.

In addition, various implementation modes of the present application can also be arbitrarily combined, and these combinations should also be regarded as the content disclosed in the present application, as long as they do not violate the idea of the present application.

Claims

A binding system for a metallurgical furnace, wherein the metallurgical furnace comprises a furnace shell (10) having a plurality of shell segments (11) which extend vertically and adjacently spliced to each other in the circumferential direction;

the binding system comprises:

elastic devices, arranged on an outer circumferential surface of the furnace shell (10) and used to apply a radial elastic constraining force to the furnace shell (10) ; and

limiting devices, distributed between vertical joints (12) between the adjacent shell segments (11) to not limit the radial contraction of the furnace shell (10) , but only limit the radial expansion of the furnace shell (10) .
The binding system for the metallurgical furnace according to claim 1, wherein the limiting devices comprise:

first limiting protrusions (21) , each of which radially protrudes outwards from an outer circumferential surface of one shell segment (11) ;

second limiting protrusions (22) , each of which radially protrudes outwards from an outer circumferential surface of another adjacent shell segment (11) , the first limiting protrusions (21) and the second limiting protrusions (22) being adjacent to each other and being respectively located on two sides of the vertical joints (12) between the shell segments (11) ; and

limiting members (23) , mounted on the first limiting protrusions (21) and the second limiting protrusions (22) and used to limit relative distances between the first limiting protrusions (21) and the second limiting protrusions (22) in the circumferential direction.
The binding system for the metallurgical furnace according to claim 2, wherein each limiting member (23) is relatively fixed to one of the first limiting protrusion (21) and the second limiting protrusion (22) and is used to limit a movement amplitude of the other one of the first limiting protrusion (21) and the second limiting protrusion (22) in the circumferential direction.
The binding system for the metallurgical furnace according to claim 2, wherein each limiting member (23) is hung on the first limiting protrusion (21) and the second limiting protrusion (22) and is not relatively fixed to the shell segments (11) .
The binding system for the metallurgical furnace according to claim 4, wherein each limiting member (23) comprises:

a hang part (233) , located above the first limiting protrusion (21) and the second limiting protrusion (22) and supported by the first limiting protrusion (21) and the second limiting protrusion (22) ; and

a first stop part (231) and a second stop part (232) , opposite to each other in the circumferential direction and fixedly connected by the hang part (233) , wherein the first stop part (231) and the second stop part (232) are located on the circumferential outer sides of the first limiting protrusion (21) and the second limiting protrusion (22) respectively in the circumferential direction and are used to stop the movements of the first limiting protrusion (21) and the second limiting protrusion (22) in the circumferential direction.
The binding system for the metallurgical furnace according to claim 5, wherein each limiting member (23) comprises a cover plate (234) which is fixedly connected with the first stop part (231) and the second stop part (232) and is located on the radial outer sides of the first limiting protrusion (21) and the second limiting protrusion (22) .
The binding system for the metallurgical furnace according to claim 5 or 6, wherein each limiting member (23) comprises a guide part (235) which is fixedly connected with the first stop part (231) and the second stop part (232) and is located below the first limiting protrusion (21) and the second limiting protrusion (22) .
The binding system for the metallurgical furnace according to claim 7, wherein a guide trough (236) for guiding the first limiting protrusion (21) and the second limiting protrusion (22) to move in the circumferential direction is formed between the hang part (233) and the guide part (235) .
The binding system for the metallurgical furnace according to claim 7, wherein the hang part (233) , the first stop part (231) , the second stop part (232) , the cover plate (234) , and the guide part (235) form an integrated member.
The binding system for the metallurgical furnace according to claim 5, wherein anti-falling structures are arranged between the hang part (233) and the first limiting protrusion (21) as well as between the hang part (233) and the second limiting protrusion (22) .
The binding system for the metallurgical furnace according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein a horizontal cross section of the vertical joint (12) between the adjacent shell segments (11) is in a straight line shape or a broken line shape.
The binding system for the metallurgical furnace according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the elastic devices comprise:

first fixed blocks (41) , each of which being fixedly arranged on the outer circumferential surface of one shell segment (11) ;

second fixed blocks (42) , each of which being fixedly arranged on the outer circumferential surface of another adjacent shell segment (11) , the first fixed blocks (41) and the second fixed blocks (42) being adjacent to each other and being respectively located on the two sides of the vertical joints (12) between the shell segments (11) ; and

spring members (43) which are extension spring type and are connected between the first fixed blocks (41) and the second fixed blocks (42) .
The binding system for the metallurgical furnace according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the elastic devices comprise:

tension transmission members (50) which are arranged on the outer circumferential surface of the furnace shell (10) in the circumferential direction in a manner of being connected end to end, two ends of the tension transmission members (50) being respectively provided with connection seats (51) ; and

spring members (52) which are extension springs and are connected between two adjacent connection seats (51) .
The binding system for the metallurgical furnace according to claim 13, wherein the tension transmission members (50) are cables or curved connection members.
The binding system for the metallurgical furnace according to claim 13, wherein supporting seats (53) are arranged on the outer circumferential surfaces of the shell segments (11) ; and the tension transmission members (50) are radially supported outwards by the supporting seats (53) in a positioning manner.
The binding system for the metallurgical furnace according to claim 15, wherein the supporting seats (53) are provided with rotatable supporting shafts (54) , and the tension transmission members (50) are rotatably supported by the supporting shafts (54) .
The binding system for the metallurgical furnace according to claim 1, wherein a horizontal cross section of the vertical joint (12) between the adjacent shell segments (11) is in a broken line shape.
A metallurgical furnace, comprising the binding system according to any one of claims 1 to 17.