Integration of waste biomass thermal processing technology with a metallurgical furnace to improve its efficiency and economic benefit

The article presents innovative technology which integrates a metallurgical pusher-type furnace with a waste heat recovery system that consisted of a reactor for torrefaction and pyrolysis of waste biomass. The technology is designed for utilizing both liquefied and gaseous by-products (torgas, pyrolysis gas and condensate denoted as TPC) obtained from torrefaction and pyrolysis of waste biomass. TPC is considered to be applied as an additional fuel for a metallurgical furnace as an example of effective energy management in metallurgical industry. In detail, the technology contains waste heat recovery unit installed on the furnace smoke stack as the heat source for the pyrolysis/torrefaction reactor. The analysis was carried out for a pusher furnace, fed optionally with either natural gas or coke gas. Share of this gaseous/liquid TPC fuel from waste in the total fuel mixture fed to the furnace was varied from 5 to 15% by volume. Practical usefulness of TPC fuel was tested on a specially constructed test stand. Financial analysis in energy consumption and economy of using the obtained TPC fuel for co-combustion with coke gas in the metallurgical pusher furnace was carried out on the basis of data from a steel sheet roller combined with the pusher furnace located in one of large steel works. It was shown that the use of this TPC fuel derived from thermal treatment of waste biomass and other organic substances can be considered an effective method of reducing production costs in the analyzed steel company and can lead to increase in the attractiveness of their products and thus strengthen their competitiveness on the global market. Graphic abstract

New evidence of metallurgical production during the Ptolemaic period in the ancient harbor of Berenike (Eastern Desert) in Egypt

This paper tries to explain the first results obtained on trench 102, located on the southwestern area of the ancient harbour of Berenike. Chronologically the trench runs from the Late Hellenistic to Roman Period, showing different uses of this area during Antiquity. Some of the data recovered are quite interesting in order to understand the evolution of this scarcely known area of Berenike’s harbor. The identification of a metallurgical furnace related to the Late Hellenistic Period is especially remarkable, as it provides some insights about the structure of this zone under the last Ptolemaic rulers. So, the main objective of the paper is to offer new data about the productive structure of this site during the Ptolemaic period with special focus on the metallurgical production.

THE BUILDING OF THE 4th – 3rd CENTURIES BC WITH A BRONZE CASTING ASSEMBLAGE IN THE UPPER DON FORTIFIED SETTLEMENT NEAR THE VILLAGE OF VERKHNEE KAZACHYE

Статья посвящена публикации материалов, полученных при раскопках укреплений многослойного городища у с. Верхнее Казачье в Липецкой области. В ней анализируется стратиграфия внутреннего вала, керамические и вещевые находки. Под насыпью вала выявлена сгоревшая длинная наземная постройка шириной около 4 м, располагавшаяся вдоль оборонительной линии. Ее исследованная часть, видимо, делилась на два помещения, в каждом из которых имелся очаг. Найденные на уровне пола бытовые остатки (фрагменты лепных сосудов, отчасти реконструированных, стеклянная бусина, два железных ножа) позволили определить жилое назначение строения и датировать его в рамках IV–III вв. до н. э. В площади постройки встречены свидетельства бронзолитейного производства. Это яма 0,92 × 0,86 м, углубленная в материковую глину на 0,45 м. В ней обнаружены остатки рухнувшего земляного свода и обломки двух глиняных тиглей с корольками бронзы. С учетом имеющихся аналогий сооружение интерпретировано как основание печи-горна The paper publishes materials discovered during excavations of a multilayer fortified settlement near the village of Verkhnee Kazachye, Lipetsk Region. It analyzes the stratigraphy of the inner rampart, ceramic finds and other assets. A long burned out building around four meters wide which was located along the defense line was identified. Its excavated part seems to have been divided into two rooms, with a hearth in each room. Household remains (fragments of hand-made pots, some of which were reconstructed; a glass bead, two iron knives) permitted the team to identify the construction as living quarters and date it to the 4th–3rd centuries BC. Traces of bronze casting production were identified within the building footprint. It is a 0.95 × 0.86 m pit which is 0.45 m sunk into land clay. It revealed remains of collapsed earth roof and fragments of two clay crucibles with bronze beads. Given available analogies, this construction was interpreted as the basis of a metallurgical furnace

The Simulation Analysis of Coupled Stress Field of New Silicon Carbide Brick for Metallurgical Furnace

With the given the boundary and initial conditions, the analysis of internal thermal stress and mechanical stress field distribution was conducted on the special silicon carbide bricks for metallurgical furnace. By the simulation of ANSYS, the results show that a high temperature gradient and thermal stress in the special silicon carbide bricks, with great distortion of pipe within the bricks and a low level of mechanical stress, and the mutual offsetting between mechanical stress and thermal stress in some areas. Key words: metallurgy; new; silicon carbide; thermal stress; mechanical stress.