APPARTUS FOR SELF-SEALING A SUBMERGED INLET TUYERE OF A MOLTEN METAL REACTOR

摘要

An apparatus seals a submerged inlet (24) of a molten metal reactor (12) having a refractory lining (19). The apparatus includes a tuyere (20) at the submerged inlet and extending through a refractory lining (19). A plate (54) is embedded within the refractory lining (19), whereby feed, which is directed through the tuyere (20) and which seeps between the tuyere (20) and the refractory lining (19), is diverted by the plate (54) away from the tuyere (20) into the refractory lining (19) to seal the submerged inlet (24).