Patent ID: 7364691
Filing Date: 2008-04-29
Classification: C21C,F27B,F27D

Abstract:
1. A metallurgical vessel comprising: a cylindrical upper end section and a top section fitted to the upper end of that cylindrical section to form a top closure of the vessel about a central opening through which to extend a gas injection lance for injection of hot gas into the vessel, wherein the top section is formed from an outer inwardly concavely curved annular panel permanently fastened to the upper end of the cylindrical section by a continuous weld and an inner inwardly concavely curved annular panel removably fastened to the outer panel, the inner periphery of the inner annular panel defining said central opening of the top section, the inner annular panel being removable to form a wider diameter opening to provide access to the interior of the vessel, a continuously curved dome extending from the upper end of the cylindrical section to the inner periphery of the inner panel, with the dome conforming to the internal faces of the inner and outer panels, and the inner periphery of the inner annular panel being provided with an upstanding cylindrical part adapted to receive the gas injection lance whereby in use the lance is supported by the vessel, said vessel being configured to carry out a continuous iron making process at a pressure in the range of 1.5 to 2 bar absolute in the vessel.