Abstract: A method for reducing particulate iron oxide and/or other iron units to molten iron utilizing gaseous hydrogen as reductant in a reducing furnace, in which the ore freely falls during the melting and reduction process. Reacted top gas is purified and recirculated through the reduction furnace, establishing a counter-flow relationship to the particulate iron oxide, thereby heating and reducing the oxide. The heat for reduction is generated by combusting a fraction of the hydrogen reductant with oxygen. Heat may also be supplied via the use of electric arc heating. Oxygen may be partially or wholly replaced with water in order to maintain reaction oxidizer ratios while reducing heat supplied to the reaction.

Abstract: In a method for the production of steel in an environmentally benign fashion, energy sources other than conventional fossil fuels are used to produce reductant fuels. These reductant fuels are used for the reduction of iron ore and its conversion to steel. Furthermore, these reductant fuels may be stored in order to smooth fluctuations in the primary energy supply. Electrical energy may be stored to smooth out short term fluctuations in the primary energy source. Energy for the reduction and conversion process may be supplied in part directly from the primary energy source, avoiding inefficiencies in the production and storage of the reductant fuel. Possible primary energy sources include solar power, wind power, off-peak power supplied as part of load leveling plants, as well as conventional constant power output from an ordinary power plant.

Abstract: In a method for operating a blast furnace, the primary supply of reductant and heat is an hydrogen reducing blast. Oxygen or water vapor is injected into the blast furnace to control temperature. Coke is used to provide appropriate gas channels and carburization. Coke use rate can be reduced to less than 10% of that of conventional blast furnace operation. A conventional blast furnace may be converted to this method with minor modification.