Patent ID: 8038932

Claim:
A metallurgical vessel for a molten bath direct smelting process having free space above a molten bath and wherein metalliferous material and carbonaceous material are supplied to the bath and smelted to molten iron and slag and wherein gases released from the bath are combusted in the free space, the vessel comprising: an outer shell having a plurality of openings, each opening surrounded by a rigid tubular protrusion that is connected rigidly to the shell and that protrudes outwardly from the shell; and a plurality of cooling panels forming an interior lining for at least an upper part of the vessel, each panel comprising a coolant flow tube shaped in a zig-zag formation to form the panel and having internal passages for flow of coolant there through between tubular coolant inlet and outlet connectors, and a plurality of rigid projections for supporting the load of the panel, which projections are connected rigidly to the flow tubes and project laterally of the panel; wherein the plurality of rigid projections project through said openings in the outer shell and are rigidly connected to outer ends of the tubular protrusions by connections that attach the cooling panel to the outer shell and which seal the openings and support the load of the panel.