Improvements in Furnaces for Smelting Ores and Melting Metals by. means of Liquid Fuel.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd Dec., 1890
Complete Specification Left. 16th Sept., 1897--Accepted. 16th Oct. 1897
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Complete Specification Left, 16th Sept., 1897--Accepted. 16th Oct.. 1897
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Furnaces for Smelting Ores and Melting Metals by.
means of Liquid Fuel.
I, LEON PIETRASCHEWSKI, of Railway Works, Borissoglebsk, in the Empire of
Russia, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention has for its object a furnace heated with liquid fuel (crude petroleum,
oil, naphtha residues etc.) for melting metals (cast-iron, iron, steel etc.) or for
smelting ores.
According to my invention I provide the furnace with a heat generating chamber
into which the fuel flows from an elevated tank or reservoir. The fuel is pulverized
and mixed with air, blown into the generating chamber by a fan or other blower.
The pulverized fuel is ignited, and the flame and gaseous products pass into a
vertical shaft containing the ore or metal to be treated. The molten metal is
stored in a receiver. The maintenance of a constant temperature in the furnace
during the process of melting is indispensable to the satisfactory action of the furnace,
and for this purpose the flow of the fuel into the furnace is regulated by means
of a self acting valve. The flow of the fuel is measured by observing its level in
a glass cylinder. The liquid fuel flows into the generator under the constant
pressure of the liquid in the glass cylinder, and consequently is always fed in
the same quantity. The fan or blower draws in a quantity of air proportionate
to the quantity of fuel fed into the furnace, the said air being measured by a
pressure gauge.
In order to economize the fuel the air may be heated in any suitable apparatus
placed at the upper end of the shaft.
The furnace which is built upon a suitable foundation consists of a heat
generating chamber of refractory bricks having the form of a box with an inclined
sole or bed. In the front wall of this chamber the burners are tightly fitted, and
in the opposite wall a passage is made for the flow of the gases. The liquid fuel
is admitted to the furnace by separate pipes or through the burners which open
into the furnace. At the end of the heat generating chamber there is arranged
a receiver for the molten metal. The heat generating chamber and the receiver
are covered in.
A tap-hole for the metal, a slag hole and a pipe closed by a glass or mica for
observing the process of melting are provided.
A shaft for the metal or ore to be treated is arranged above or at the side of
the receiver.
A charging hole with a door is provided in the side wall of the shaft for
charging the ore or metal. At the bottom of the shaft is an enlarged space
which affords a better access for the combustible gases to the metal or ore and
effects their equal distribution. The upper end of the shaft is provided with a
chimney in which may be placed an apparatus or chamber for heating the air.
The whole furnace and the shaft are lined on their inside with refractory bricks
and on the outside with iron plates and strengthened with ties.
The apparatus for measuring the pressure under which the liquid fuel flows into
•

page_text: the furnace consists of a glass cylinder. The level of the liquid fuel in the glass
as indicated by a pointer determines the degree of pressure, for instance w inches,
under which the petroleum flows into the furnace through the burners. The
pressure of the blast is measured by a water or mercury gauge.
A self acting valve is arranged in the apparatus in the following manner,
At the end of a tube provided with a cock or valve, which serves to control
the flow of liquid fuel from the reservoir, a vertical tube is provided. This tube
has at its lower end a bearing surface or a seat for a needle-valve, fixed to a float,
fitted freely in a cylindrical vessel in which a constant level of the liquid fuel is
maintained, as will be hereinafter described. From the vessel the liquid fuel
flows to the burners.
The furnace operates in the following manner:
The fan or blower being brought into action, and a small quantity of the liquid
fuel, being allowed to flow into the burners, this fuel is ignited and its flow is gradually
increased so as to gradually heat the furnace. Ore or metal is then thrown through
the charging hole into the shaft. The blast and the flow of fuel are then increased.
When the molten metal appears in the tap-hole the latter must be closed with
clay and as soon as slag begins to flow out of the slag hole, the tap hole may be
opened, and the metal poured into moulds. The quantity of metal in the
shaft must be added gradually. If no more metal is required the valve regulating
the flow of the liquid fuel is closed and the blast shut off.
In my furnace cast iron can be melted in about 20 minutes from the charging
and steel in about 40 minutes.
The action of the apparatus for automatically regulating the pressure under
which the liquid fuel flows to the burners is as follows,-
When the shaft is filled with ore or metal, the inner space of the furnace will
be filled with gases at a certain pressure dependent upon the strength of the air
blast, which may be measured. The liquid fuel flows through the burners into
the furnace, consequently the gases that fill the furnace will act upon the liquid
at the inner ends of the burners. If the pressure of the liquid fuel is not sufficient
to overcome the gaseous pressure in the furnace, no flow of the liquid into the
furnace will take place. The condition necessary for satisfactory combustion is
that the pressure of the liquid fuel should be somewhat greater than the pressure
of the air and of the gases in the furnace. This excess of pressure will be found
in each case by experience, and being noted by the blower must be maintained
during the whole process of melting. For this purpose the valve with its float
in the cylindrical vessel are employed. The cylinder which is in direct com-
munication with the glass tube receives a constant supply of liquid fuel from the
reservoir. If the level of the liquid fuel in the glass tube and in the cylinder falls, the
needle drops and the opening of the valve will be enlarged; and if the level of
the liquid rises, this opening will be partly closed, so that the quantity of liquid fuel
flowing into the apparatus and from it to the burners, and consequently the
temperature in the furnace, will be constant. If another storage tank of a greater
capacity for the liquid fuel is employed besides the reservoir then the level of
the liquid in this reservoir may be maintained by the aid of a self acting apparatus
of the described character or in any other suitable manner, for instance by means
of a regulating pump, etc.
Any suitable kind of burner may be employed in my furnace
The main advantages and the chief features of my furnace are as follows:-
The furnace works with the pressure of the gases approximately equal to that
of the air blast.
The combustion in the furnace is quite constant The melting of the metal
or ore is therefore constant and the quality of the product invariable.
The duration of the process and the temperature of the same can be quickly
and easily regulated.
The processes of oxydation and deoxydation and other metallurgical processes
are easily controlled..

page_text: The liquid fuel being free from: admixtures, such as-sulphur phosphorous or
any other impurities permits of the production of pure metals.
The construction and the repair of the furnace are of comparatively low cost.
There is no necessity to clean the furnace of residual products.
The heating and charging operation are easily effected so for instance, a furnace
melting 1600 kilogrammes an hour only requires two attendants....
As regards the cost of fuel and the loss of heat, my furnace is more economical,
than those that are heated with coal.
There is nothing to prevent the employment of apparatus for heating the air
blast, whereby an additional economy is effected.
In cases where it is desired to specially decarburize a metal for instance when
producing soft from hard cast iron a stream of liquid fuel from a separate
tank can be conveyed by a pipe into the shaft, the flow of the same being regulated
by means of a self-acting apparatus of the form described.
Dated this 21st day of December 1896.
G. F. REDFERN & Co.;
4, South Street, Finsbury, London, Agents for the Applicant.
Improvements in Furnaces for Smelting Ores and Melting Metals by
means of Liquid Fuel.
I, LEON PIETRASCHEWSKI, of, Railway Works, Borissoglebsk, in the Empire of
Russia, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described-and ascertained
in and by the following statement:
My invention has for its object a furnace heated with liquid fuel (crude petroleum,
oil, naphtha residues etc.) for melting metals (cast-iron, iron, steel etc.) or for
smelting ores.
According to my invention I provide the furnace with a heat generating chamber
into which the fuel flows from an elevated tank or reservoir. The fuel is pulverized
and mixed with air, blown into the generating chamber by a fan or other blower.
The pulverized fuel is ignited, and the flame and gaseous products pass into a
vertical shaft containing the ore or metal to be treated. The molten metal is
stored in a receiver. The maintenance of a constant temperature in the furnace
during the process of melting is indispensable to the satisfactory action of the furnace,
and for this purpose the flow of the fuel into the furnace is regulated by means
of a self acting valve. The flow of the fuel is measured by observing its level in
a glass cylinder. The liquid fuel flows into the generator under the constant
pressure of the liquid in the glass cylinder, and consequently is always fed in
the same quantity. The fan or blower draws in a quantity of air proportionate
to the quantity of fuel fed into the furnace, the said air being measured by a
pressure gauge.
In order to economize the fuel the air may be heated in any suitable apparatus
placed at the upper end of the shaft.
To enable my, invention to be fully understood I will describe how it can be
carried into practice by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:-
Figure 1 represents a side, elevation of my improved furnace.
Figure 2 is a plan of the same.
Figure 3 is a longitudinal section of the chief part of the furnace;

page_text: Figure 4 is a vertical transverse section on line - Figure 3; and,
Figure 5 is a horizontal section on line y y Figure 3.
Figure 6 is a side elevation partly in section of a regulating apparatus for
automatically controlling the flow of the liquid fuel to the burners;"
Figure 6 is a plan thereof;
Figure 7 represents two elevations of an apparatus for measuring the pressure
of the air; and,
Figure 8 represents a longitudinal, a horizontal and a transverse section of a
suitable form of burner.
A is a fan or blower; B is a tank or other vessel for the liquid fuel; C is the
furnace; 1 are the burners (marked 1, 2 and 3) E is a shaft; ' a chimney;
G (Figures 3 and 4) an air heating apparatus; H (Figure 1) a self-acting
apparatus for regulating the flow of the liquid fuel and for measuring the pressure
of the liquid fuel; K an apparatus for measuring the pressure of the air.
The furnace which is built upon a suitable foundation a consists of a heat
generating chamber b, b1, b2, b3 of refractory bricks having the form of a box with
an inclined sole or bed b, b³. In the front wall of this chamber the burners 1, 2, 3
are tightly fitted, and in the opposite wall a passage c is made for the flow of the
gases. The liquid fuel is admitted to the furnace by separate pipes o¹, 02, 03 or
through the burners D Figure 8, which open into the furnace. At the end of
the heat generating chamber there is arranged a receiver d for the molten
metal. The heat generating chamber and the receiver are covered in with an
arch v.
A tap-hole G¹ Figure 4 for the metal, a slag hole Z and a pipe Figure 5 closed
by a glass or mica for observing the process of melting, are provided.
The shaft E for the metal or ore to be treated is arranged above or at the side
of the receiver d.
A charging hole f with a door is provided in the side wall of the shaft for
charging the ore or metal. At the bottom of the shaft is an enlarged
space g, g, g, g3 which affords a better access for the combustible gases to the
metal or ore and effects their equal distribution. The chimney F is placed at
the upper end of the shaft and may contain the apparatus or chamber G for
heating the air. The whole furnace and the shaft are lined on their inside with
refractory bricks and on the outside with iron plates and strengthened with ties.
The apparatus (Figure 6) for measuring the pressure under which the liquid
fuel flows into the furnace consists of a glass cylinder i. The level of the liquid
fuel in the glass as indicated by a pointer 22 determines the degree of pressure 23, 24,
for instance n inches, under which the petroleum flows into the furnace through
the burners. The pressure of the blast is measured by the water or mercury
gauge K Figure 7.
A self acting valve is arranged in the apparatus Figure 6 in the following
manner,-
At the end of a tube provided with a cock or valve 2, which serves to control
the flow of liquid fuel from the reservoir B, a vertical tube 13 is provided. This
tube has at its lower end a bearing surface or a seat for a needle-valve m,
fixed to a float p, fitted freely in a cylindrical vessel in which a constant level
of the liquid fuel is maintained, as will be hereinafter described.
vessel the liquid fuel flows to the burners through the pipe v¹.
The furnace operates in the following manner:
From the
The fan or blower A being brought into action, and a small quantity of the
liquid fuel, being allowed to flow into the burners D this fuel is ignited and its
flow is gradually increased so as to gradually heat the furnace C. Ore or metal
is then thrown through the charging hole f into the shaft E. The blast and the
flow of fuel are then increased. When the molten metal appears in the tap-hole G
the latter must be closed with clay and as soon as slag begins to flow out of the
slag hole Z, the tap hole G¹ may be opened, and the metal poured into moulds.

page_text: The quantity of metal in the shaft E must be added gradually. If no more metal
is required the valve 2 regulating the flow of the liquid fuel is closed and the
biast shut off.
In my furnace cast iron can be melted in about 20 minutes from the charging and
steel in about 40 minutes.
The action of the apparatus Figures 6 and 6 for automatically regulating the
pressure under which the liquid fuel flows to the burners D is as follows,-
When the shaft E is filled with ore or metal, the inner space of the furnace will
be filled with gases at a certain pressure dependent upon the strength of the air
blast, which may be measured. The liquid fuel flows through the burners into
the furnace, consequently the gases that fill the furnace will act upon the liquid
at the inner ends of the burners. If the pressure of the liquid fuel is not sufficient
to overcome the gaseous pressure in the furnace, no flow of the liquid into the
furnace will take place. The condition necessary for satisfactory combustion is
that the pressure of the liquid fuel should be somewhat greater than the pressure
of the air and of the gases in the furnace. This excess of pressure will be found
in each case by experience, and being noted by the blower must be maintained
during the whole process of melting. For this purpose the valve m with its float p
in the cylindrical vessel pl is employed. The cylinder p¹ which is in direct com-
munication with the glass tube i receives a constant supply of liquid fuel from
the reservoir B. If the level of the liquid fuel in the glass tube and in the
cylinder falls, the needle m drops and the opening of the valve will be
enlarged and if the level of the liquid rises, this opening will be partly closed,
so that the quantity of liquid fuel flowing into the apparatus and from it to the
burners, and consequently the temperature in the furnace, will be constant. If
another storage tank of a greater capacity for the liquid fuel is employed besides
the reservior B then the level of the liquid in this reservoir B may be maintained
by the aid of a self acting apparatus of the described character or in any other
suitable manner, for instance by means of a regulating pump, etc.
Any suitable kind of burner may be employed in my furnace.
Figure 8 illustrates a suitable burner in which the upper passage is for the
liquid fuel and the lower passage for the air blast.
The main advantages and the chief features of my furnace are as follows:-
The furnace works with the pressure of the gases approximately equal to that
of the air blast.
The combustion in the furnace is quite constant. The melting of the metal
or ore is therefore constant and the quality of the product invariable.
The duration of the process and the temperature of the same can be quickly
and easily regulated.
The processes of oxydation and deoxydation and other metallurgical processes
are easily controlled.
The liquid fuel being free from admixtures, such as sulphur, phosphorous, or
any other impurities permits of the production of pure metals.
The construction and the repair of the furnace are of comparatively low cost.
There is no necessity to clean the furnace of residual products.
The heating and charging operation are easily effected so, for instance, a furnace
melting 1600 kilogrammes an hour only requires two attendants.
As regards the cost of fuel and the loss of heat, my furnace is more economical
than those that are heated with coal.
There is nothing to prevent the employment of apparatus for heating the air
blast, whereby an additional economy is effected.
In cases where it is desired to specially decarburize a metal for instance when
producing soft from hard cast iron a stream of liquid fuel from a separate
tank L Figures 1 and 2 can be conveyed by a pipe M into the shaft, the flow of
the same being regulated by means of a self-acting apparatus N of the form herein-
before described and illustrated in Figure 6.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is :-
1. A metallurgical furnace heated with liquid fuel, and having a closed inner
space comprising a gas generating chamber, a receiver- for the molten metal and
a shaft, substantially as described.
2. A metallurgical furnace heated with liquid fuel and having a closed inner
space,
with hydrocarbon burners or pulverizers enclosed within the brickwork of
the furnace, as and for the purpose specified.
3. In a metallurgical furnace heated with liquid fuel and having a closed inner
of a box with ducts for liquid fuel and air blast, as described and shewn.
4 A metallurgical furnace heated with liquid fuel and having a closed inner
space, in combination with an apparatus for automatically controlling the flow of
the liquid fuel.
j
. 5. A self controlling device for liquid fuel consisting of a float with a spindle
valve at its end, in combination with an outlet for the liquid fuel having a valve
seat, substantially as described and shewn.
6. A metallurgical furnace heated with liquid fuel and having a closed inner
space, in combination with a tube for conducting liquid hydrocarbons to the metal
being melted for effecting its carbonisation.
L
1
1000
G. F. REDFERN & Co.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London, Agents for the Applicant.