Importance

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Abstract

A tuyere is disclosed which is adapted for the injection of gases into a metallurgical vessel. The tuyere includes inner and outer concentric tubes having a radial separation therebetween which defines an annular gap. In use, one gas such as an oxygen mixture flows through the center of the inner tube, and a second normally inert gas flows through the annular gap between the two tubes. In order to provide a closely predetermined and predictable gas flow rate through the annular gap, annular groove is formed in the wall of the outer tube which forms an annular restriction in the gap, and the extent of the restriction may be calibrated so as to provide a closely predetermined gas flow rate therethrough when in use. An annular groove may also be formed in the wall of the inner tube to provide a predetermined restriction in the gas flowing through the inner tube. The restrictions are positioned adjacent the respective inlet ends of the tubes, so that erosion of the outlet ends does not appreciably effect the gas flow rates through the inner tube and annular gap. A calibration process is also disclosed, and which assures that all of the tuyeres to be used in a common metallurgical vessel have a closely similar gas flow rate through the annular gap.

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First Claim