A furnace chute with a plurality of vanes on the inner surface

摘要

A furnace chute 3, for loading material into a furnace, comprises a tube with; a longitudinal axis; an open inlet end 8; an open outlet end 9; a plurality of vanes 14 on the inner surface. The vanes have a length extending in a direction with a component along the axis of the tube and a breadth extending in a direction with a component radially inwards towards the axis of the tube. The length of some of the vanes may be parallel to the chute and/or the breadth may extend radially inwards. Some of the vanes may be at an angle to the axis of the chute and may be formed into a spiral (fig 3). The vanes can be fixed or moveable, such as by hydraulic or electrical actuators.