Abstract: A direct smelting vessel which is adapted to contain a molten bath of metal and slag is disclosed. The vessel includes an off-gas duct that has: (a) a first section which has a relatively slight upward inclination to the horizontal from an inlet end of the first section; and (b) a second section which extends upwardly from an upper end of the first section at a relatively steep inclination to the horizontal.

Abstract: A procedure for starting up a direct smelting process for producing iron from a metalliferous feed material in a metallurgical vessel is disclosed. The vessel is of the type which includes a plurality of feed material injection lances/tuyeres (11, 13). The start-up procedure includes the steps of: (a) preheating the vessel; (b) supplying a charge of molten iron to the vessel and forming a molten bath in the vessel, (c) supplying carbonaceous material and flux to the molten bath and injecting oxygen-containing gas through one or more than one feed material injection lance/tuyere and combusting carbon and bath derived gas (if present) and thereby heating the molten bath and generating slag; and (d) suppling metalliferous feed material to the vessel while continuing supply of carbonaceous material and flux and injection of oxygen-containing gas and smelting metalliferous feed material and producing molten iron and thereby completing the start-up procedure.

Abstract: A method of producing iron from iron carbide is disclosed. Solid iron carbide is injected into a molten bath comprising molten iron and slag and dissolves in the molten bath. An oxygen-containing gas is injected into a gas space above the surface of the molten bath to cause combustion of at least a portion of combustible material in the gas space. In addition splashes and/or droplets of molten iron and/or slag are ejected upwardly from the molten bath into the gas space above the quiescent bath surface to form a transition zone. The transition zone is a region in which heat generated by combustion of combustible material is transferred to the splashes and/or droplets of molten iron and/or slag and thereafter is transferred to the molten bath when the splashes and/or droplets of molten iron and/or slag return to the molten bath.

Abstract: A vessel which produces metal from a metalliferous feed material by a direct smelting process is disclosed. The vessel contains a molten bath having a metal layer (15) and a slag layer (16) on the metal layer and has a gas continuous space (31) above the slag layer. The vessel includes a hearth formed of refractory material having a base (3) and sides (55) in contact with the molten metal and side walls (5) which extend upwardly from the sides (55) of the hearth and are in contact with the slag layer and the gas continuous space. The side walls that contact the gas continuous space include water cooled panels (57) and a layer of slag on the panels.

Abstract: A process for producing metals from a metalliferous feed material in an electric furnace is disclosed. The process includes the steps of forming a molten bath having a metal layer and a slag layer on the metal layer in the furnace and supplying electrical energy to the furnace and converting the electrical energy to thermal energy and thereby contributing to the heat input requirements of the process. The process also includes injecting a carrier gas and a solid carbonaceous material into the molten bath via one or more than one solids injection lance/tuyere and causing molten material to be projected from the molten bath as splashes, droplets, and streams into a space above a nominal quiescent surface of the molten bath and forming a transition zone.

Abstract: A lance (5) for injecting a feed material, preferably a solid feed material, into a metallurgical vessel, is disclosed. The lance comprises: an inlet (21) for introducing the feed material into the lance; an outlet (23) at a forward end of the lance (5) for discharging the feed material from the lance (5); a hollow elongate member (25) that defines a passageway (33) for the feed material between the inlet (21) and the outlet (23) and is adapted to be cooled by a first cooling fluid; and an outer jacket (35) positioned around a section of the length of the member (25) and is adapted to be cooled by a second cooling fluid.