초록 ▼

A method and apparatus for melting low-cost raw materials such as blast furnace slag, basalt, feldspar or electrophos slag in the formation of high temperature mineral wool insulation. The low-cost mineral stock material is fed in particulate form continuously to a preheater in which it is elevated

A method and apparatus for melting low-cost raw materials such as blast furnace slag, basalt, feldspar or electrophos slag in the formation of high temperature mineral wool insulation. The low-cost mineral stock material is fed in particulate form continuously to a preheater in which it is elevated to a temperature range of between 1500°F. and 2000°F. by forcing hot combustion gases through a vertical column of the particulate stock material. Volatiles such as water and carbon dioxide are thus removed from the stock material. The preheated stock material is distributed to the top of an electric melting furnace which is essentially sealed from atmosphere. A substantially homogenous, low viscosity liquid glass melt is continuously discharged from the furnace.

대표청구항 ▼

The method of converting particulate mineral stock material having the melting characteristics of blast furnace slag, including a sharp melting point and low viscosity in the liquid state, to a liquid melt in a carbon-lined electric melter in the production of mineral wool, said method comprising th

The method of converting particulate mineral stock material having the melting characteristics of blast furnace slag, including a sharp melting point and low viscosity in the liquid state, to a liquid melt in a carbon-lined electric melter in the production of mineral wool, said method comprising the steps of: preheating the particulate stock material to temperatures in the range of from approximately 1500°F. to 2000°F. to remove substantially all volatile oxides and chemically combined water, which adversely react with carbon, from said particulate material while heated to within said range; feeding the preheated particulate material to the electric melter; and further heating said particulate material in said melter to form a substantially homogeneous liquid glass melt at a temperature corresponding to a preferred viscosity. Apparatus for converting particulate mineral stock material to a substantially homogeneous liquid melt in the production of high temperature mineral wool, said apparatus comprising: a carbon-lined electric melting furnace; a preheater connected to the furnace to define a closed system substantially isolated from the atmosphere, said preheater having a particulate material inlet, a particulate material outlet, a source of hot gases and means for passing said hot gases in heat exchange relation to said particulate material, to elevate the temperature thereof and to remove substantially all water and other volatile oxides from said particulate material, and for forcing said volatile oxides away from the carbon-lined electric melting furnace.