By Means Recycling Exhaust Gas Patents (Class 266/156)
  • Patent number: 11773459
    Abstract: A method for the direct reduction of feedstock, containing metal-oxide, to form metallic material, by contact with hot reduction gas in a reduction assembly (1): the product of the direct reduction process is discharged from the reduction assembly by a product discharge apparatus, which is flushed with seal gas, drawn off from the vent gas and subsequently dedusted. At least one portion of the dedusted vent gas is used as a combustion energy source during the production of the reduction gas, and/or as a component of a furnace fuel gas during a combustion process for heating the reduction gas, and/or as a component of the reduction gas. Apparatus for carrying out the method is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Inventor: Robert Millner
  • Patent number: 10526670
    Abstract: The present blast furnace and method for operating a blast furnace are able to reduce CO2 production and the amount of applied additives and heating material. The method for metal production of metal ores comprising the following steps: reducing a metal ore, particularly a metal oxide, and thereby producing furnace gas containing CO2 in a blast furnace shaft; discharging the furnace gas from the blast furnace shaft; directing at least a portion of the furnace gas into a CO2 converter and reducing the CO2 in the furnace gas into CO; directing at least a portion of the CO from the CO2 converter into the blast furnace shaft. The method produces CO as a gaseous reduction agent which may be easily introduced into the blast furnace shaft. Further, a blast furnace for metal production by reducing a metal ore designed for operating according to the method is described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: CCP TECHNOLOGY GMBH
    Inventor: Olaf Kuhl
  • Patent number: 10226917
    Abstract: A powder delivery system for use in an additive manufacturing device includes a powder control valve configured to selectively divert at least a portion of an input fluid flow to a return line while a remainder of the input flow is delivered to a delivery nozzle. In some embodiments, the powder delivery valve may be modulated to alter the percentage of input flow diverted to the return line. Alternatively, the powder delivery valve may be either fully open or closed. In each embodiment, the powder delivery valve permits rapid changes in the amount of powder delivered to the nozzle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2019
    Assignee: DMG MORI SEIKI USA
    Inventors: Gregory A. Hyatt, Jennifer Lynn Bennett
  • Patent number: 10106863
    Abstract: A method for operation of a blast furnace able to greatly reduce the CO2 emission and enabling stable production of pig iron over a long period of time in a commercial blast furnace, that is, a method for operation of a blast furnace in which iron ore and coke are charged from a furnace top and is blown in pulverized coal from a usual tuyere, comprising blowing in a gas containing at least one of hydrogen and hydrocarbon from the usual tuyere together with the pulverized coal and blowing a gas comprised of a top gas of the blast furnace from which carbon dioxide and steam is removed from a shaft tuyere into the blast furnace.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Assignees: NIPPON STEEL & SUMITOMO METAL CORPORATION, JFE STEEL CORPORATION, KOBE STEEL, LTD., NISSHIN STEEL CO., LTD., NIPPON STEEL & SUMIKIN ENGINEERING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takanobu Inada, Hiroshi Sakai, Yutaka Ujisawa
  • Patent number: 9938594
    Abstract: A process for producing reducing gas for use in the production of direct reduced iron (DRI) and fuel gas for use in a steel mill, including: compressing a coke oven gas (COG) stream in a compressor; passing the compressed coke oven gas stream through an activated charcoal bed to remove tars from the compressed coke oven gas stream; separating a hydrogen-rich gas stream from the compressed cleaned coke oven gas stream using a pressure swing absorption unit; providing the hydrogen-rich gas stream to a direct reduction shaft furnace as reducing gas; and providing a remaining gas stream from the pressure swing absorption unit to a steel mill as fuel gas. Both once-through and recycle options are presented. Optionally, basic oxygen furnace gas (BOFG) is added to the reducing gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: Midrex Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Cheeley, Travis Wright
  • Patent number: 9718105
    Abstract: An indirect thermal desorption device with two-section screw conveyors, includes: an upper skid and a lower skid below the upper skid. An upper layer thermal desorption chamber, a feeding hopper, an feed airlock, an air pre-heater, a blower; a first quench spray tower, a second quench spray tower, a demister and an induced draft fan are provided in the upper skid. A lower layer thermal desorption chamber, an activated carbon filter tank, a combustion chamber, a discharge hopper and an discharge airlock are provided inside the lower skid. A first screw conveyor is provided in the upper layer thermal desorption chamber, and an upper layer fume jacket is covered on the upper layer thermal desorption chamber. A second screw conveyor is provided in the lower layer thermal desorption chamber, and a lower layer fume jacket is covered on the lower layer thermal desorption chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Inventor: Xiaojiang Shen
  • Patent number: 9599400
    Abstract: An apparatus to feed and pre-heat a metal charge to a melting furnace of a steelworks comprises a feeding and pre-heating tower separate from the melting furnace provided with at least one compartment to temporarily contain said metal charge, transfer means to transfer said metal charge to said melting furnace and conveying means to convey the fumes exiting from the melting furnace to said compartment. The apparatus also comprises a post-combustion chamber, disposed adjacent to and below said compartment, and connected on one side to said compartment and on another side to said conveying means, the post-combustion chamber being configured to determine the expansion of the fumes introduced by the conveying means and to direct said expanded fumes toward said compartment along a path such as to determine a desired residence time of said fumes suitable to obtain at least the substantial complete combustion of the unburned gases present in said fumes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: DANIELI & C. OFFICINE MECCANICHE SPA
    Inventor: Alfredo Poloni
  • Patent number: 9400139
    Abstract: A device for closed-loop control of process gases (11) in a plant (8) for producing directly reduced metal ores includes at least one reduction unit (10), an appliance upstream of the reduction unit (10) for separating gas mixtures (18), a gas purification appliance (13) connected downstream of the reduction unit (10) for rate control of process gases (11). Process gases (11) are obtained by recycling from the production process itself and from a plant for pig iron generation (1) via a supply conduit (16). An open-loop pressure control appliance (15) upstream of a junction of the supply conduit (16) into a return conduit (14) for the process gases (11) such that a pressure level for the appliance for separating gas mixtures (18) is kept constant and the process gases (9,11) are controlled in a closed-loop manner in a plant for producing directly reduced metal ores (8).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2016
    Assignee: PRIMETALS TECHNOLOGIES AUSTRIA GMBH
    Inventors: Robert Millner, Jan-Friedemann Plaul, Norbert Rein, Gerald Rosenfellner
  • Patent number: 9382594
    Abstract: A method is provided for producing pressed articles which contain direct-reduced, fine particulate iron (direct reduced iron, DRI) from a fluidized bed reduction system for direct reduction of fine particulate iron ore, wherein direct-reduced, fine particulate iron produced in the fluidized bed reduction system during direct reduction is compacted into pressed articles. Dry, fine particulate material containing at least fine particulate iron ore and optionally fine particulate iron and carbon is admixed to the direct-reduced fine particulate iron and the mixture thus obtained is subsequently compacted into pressed articles. An apparatus for carrying out such method is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignee: PRIMETALS TECHNOLOGIES AUSTRIA GMBH
    Inventors: Thomas Eder, Robert Millner, Jan-Friedemann Plaul, Norbert Rein
  • Patent number: 9322597
    Abstract: A method reduces carbon dioxide resulting from a steel production process. The carbon dioxide is reacted with an electropositive metal in combustion to produce carbon monoxide. The resultant carbon monoxide is fed back into the steel production process. In this method, the carbon monoxide can be used in a direct reduction method as a reduction gas or can be fed to a blast furnace process. The reacted metal can also be recovered by electrochemical conversion from its oxides or salts. In particular, a form of regenerative energy can be used to recycle the electropositive metal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Assignee: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Manfred Baldauf, Günter Schmid
  • Patent number: 8992664
    Abstract: A process for recycling blast furnace gas is provided. At least one portion of the gases resulting from the blast furnace undergo a CO2 purification step to create a CO-rich gas which is reinjected at a first top injection point at a temperature between 700° C. and 1000° C. through a top injection line, and at a second bottom injection point at a temperature between 1000° C. and 1300° C. through a bottom injection line. The gases from the bottom and top injection lines are heated at a temperature between 1000° C. and 1300° C. A portion of the CO-rich gas exiting the purification step is directly introduced into the top injection line via a cold gas injection line to obtain a temperature between 700° C. and 1000° C. at the first top injection point. The gas that flows through the bottom and top injection points controlled upstream of the system of the heaters. A device is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Arcelormittal Investigación y Desarrollo, S.L.
    Inventors: Fernand Didelon, Yves Rachenne, Christian Gillion, Jean Borlee, Dominique Sert
  • Publication number: 20150068364
    Abstract: A blast furnace where coke is combusted with oxygen, instead of air, and where a top gas comprising CO, CO2, H2, and without excess nitrogen is withdrawn from the upper part of the blast furnace, cleaned of dust, the H2/CO volume ratio adjusted to between 1.5 to 4.0 in a water shift reactor, water and CO2 are removed (increasing its reduction potential), heated to a temperature above 850° C. and fed back to the blast furnace above where iron starts melting (thereby increasing the amount of metallic iron reaching the dead-man zone and decreasing the amount of coke used for reduction). Also carbon deposit problems caused by heating the CO-containing recycled gas are minimized by on-line cleaning of the heater tubes with steam without significantly affecting the reduction potential of the recycled reducing gas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2012
    Publication date: March 12, 2015
    Applicant: HYL TECHNOLOGIES, S.A. DE C.V.
    Inventors: José-Carlos Garza-Davila, Jorge-Octavio Becerra-Novoa, Pablo-Enrique Duarte-Escareno
  • Patent number: 8974571
    Abstract: A partially-reduced iron producing apparatus includes: a supplying device laying ignition raw-material pellets on an endless-grate; a heating furnace heating the ignition raw-material pellets; another supplying device laying the raw material pellets on the ignition raw-material pellets; and an exhaust gas circulation device supplying an oxygen-containing gas to the raw-material pellets. The oxygen containing gas is made by circulating part of an exhaust gas discharged from the raw-material pellets and mixing it with air. A partially-reduced iron is produced by thermally reducing the raw-material pellets in a bed height direction thereof through separate combustion and heating regions. The combustion region formed on an upstream side in a travelling direction of the endless grate by supplying the oxygen-containing gas having a high oxygen concentration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Mitsubishi-Hitachi Metals Machinery, Inc.
    Inventors: Susumu Kamikawa, Hiroshi Nakajima, Keiichi Sato, Khanhson Pham
  • Patent number: 8968441
    Abstract: A method and a plant for the production of pig iron or liquid steel semi-finished products are shown, metal oxide-containing batch materials and, if appropriate, aggregates being at least partially reduced in a reduction zone by a reduction gas, subsequently being introduced into a smelting zone and being smelted along with the supply of carbon carriers and oxygen-containing gas and along with the formation of the reduction gas. The reduction gas formed in the smelting zone is supplied to the reduction zone, reacted there and drawn off as export gas, CO2 is separated from the export gas, and a product gas is formed which is utilized for the introduction of pulverulent carbon carriers into the smelting zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Siemens Vai Metals Technologies GmbH
    Inventor: Robert Millner
  • Patent number: 8961650
    Abstract: A reduction furnace includes a pellet material supplying device forming on a grate an ignition carbon material layer having a predetermined height; an ignition device; and an exhaust gas circulation device supplying an oxygen-containing gas comprising circulated exhaust gas mixed with air, to a packed bed of the pellets heated by a combustion heat of the ignition carbon material layer. A partially-reduced iron is produced by thermally reducing the pellets through a combustion region for the ignition carbon material layer and a heating region, the combustion region formed upstream in a travelling direction of the grate by supplying a gas having a high oxygen concentration, the heating region formed downstream of the combustion region by supplying a gas having a low oxygen concentration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Mitsubishi-Hitachi Metals Machinery, Inc.
    Inventors: Susumu Kamikawa, Hiroshi Nakajima, Keiichi Sato, Khanhson Pham
  • Patent number: 8940076
    Abstract: Production method and apparatus for direct reduced iron (DRI), a.k.a sponge iron, by contacting iron oxides with recycled and regenerated hot reducing gases containing H2 & CO2. This invention decreases uncontained emission of CO2 to the atmosphere from combustion of carbon-bearing fuels in the reducing-gas heater by substituting, at least partially, a gas mainly comprising hydrogen in lieu of the usual carbon-bearing fuels. The hydrogen fuel stream, depleted of CO2 by means of a physical gas separation unit (which can be a PSA/VPSA type adsorption unit, a gas separation membrane unit or a combination of both such units) is derived from at least a portion of regenerated reducing gases being recycled to the reduction reactor. The derived hydrogen fuel stream is combusted in the reducing gas heater and/or other thermal equipment in the reduction plant, thus decreasing the CO2 emissions directly to the atmosphere.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignees: HYL Technologies, S.A. DE C.V., Danieli & C. Officine Meccaniche, S.p.A.
    Inventors: Pablo Enrique Duarte-Escareño, Eugenio Zendejas-Martinez, Andrea Tavano, Alessandro Martinis, Omar Della Gaspera
  • Publication number: 20150007697
    Abstract: A method for reducing iron-oxide-containing feedstocks by introducing a reducing gas into a high-pressure reducing unit (1) where the reducing gas is consumed by reducing iron-oxide-containing feedstocks and then the reducing gas is withdrawn as top gas from the high-pressure reducing unit (1). At least one subportion of the top gas is admixed to a feed gas as recycle gas (15). The reducing gas is generated by CO2 being separated off from the gas mixture obtained from the addition of the recycle gas (15) to the feed gas after one or more compression steps. The recycle gas (15) is added to the feed gas in at least two recycle gas substreams that are separated from one another with recycle gas substream pressures at various distances from the high-pressure reducing unit (1).
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2013
    Publication date: January 8, 2015
    Inventors: Robert Millner, Gerald Rosenfellner
  • Patent number: 8926728
    Abstract: A process for producing hot metal includes partially reducing granular raw materials containing iron oxide with a carbonaceous reducing agent in a fluidized bed reactor at a temperature of at least 850° C. so as to obtain a reduced mixture. The reduced mixture is cooled to between 600° C. and 800° C. in a heat exchanger apparatus using a preheated process gas as a cooling medium that is preheated to between 300° C. and 500° C. before being introduced into the heat exchanger apparatus. The reduced mixture is then supplied to a smelting reduction unit via a discharge system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Outotec Oyj
    Inventors: Jean-Paul Nepper, Tobias Stefan
  • Patent number: 8926729
    Abstract: An apparatus for producing a reducing gas for direct reduction iron-making includes an internal-heating type reformer for reforming a natural gas by adding steam and oxygen to the natural gas and by partially burning the natural gas to generate reducing gas containing hydrogen and carbon monoxide; a remover for removing carbon dioxide from exhaust gas generated in the direct reduction iron-making; and a line for recycling as the reducing gas the exhaust gas from which the carbon dioxide is removed by the remover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masaki Iijima, Haruhito Watanabe
  • Patent number: 8911700
    Abstract: A process and an installation for reducing particulate material containing iron oxide are shown, wherein the material containing iron oxide is at least partially reduced with reducing gas in a reducing zone and the waste gas produced during the reduction is drawn off and subsequently subjected to CO2 cleaning in a CO2 separating device (1), in which a tail gas containing CO2 is separated. The tail gas is subjected to combustion and subsequent dewatering in a dewatering device (5), the substitute gas thereby formed being used as a substitute for inert gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Assignee: Siemens Vai Metals Technologies GmbH
    Inventors: Robert Millner, Jan-Friedemann Plaul, Kurt Wieder
  • Publication number: 20140361472
    Abstract: In a method and a device for operating a smelting reduction process, at least part of an export gas from a blast furnace or a reduction unit is thermally utilized in a gas turbine and the exhaust gas of this gas turbine is used in a waste heat steam generator to generate steam. The remaining part of the export gas is fed to a CO2 separation apparatus, the tail gas thereby obtained being fed to a waste heat steam generator and burned for additional steam generation. The combustible components of the tail gas are sent for thermal utilization in a steam generator, so that the overall energy balance of the thermal use of the export gas is improved. In addition, a further part of the export gas is qualitatively improved by the CO2 separation apparatus, so as to generate a high-quality reduction gas which can be supplied for metallurgical use.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2014
    Publication date: December 11, 2014
    Inventors: Robert MILLNER, Johannes Leopold SCHENK, Kurt WIEDER
  • Patent number: 8889060
    Abstract: A device for regulating the temperature of a gas in a hot gas main for feeding hot gas to a blast furnace includes a mixing pot with two mixing chambers in fluid communication with each other by means of a Venturi restriction. The first mixing chamber includes three inlet ports for feeding hot gas into the first mixing chamber, feeding cold gas into the first mixing chamber and feeding cold gas into the second mixing chamber, respectively. The first mixing chamber further includes an outlet port for feeding a first stream of mixed gas from the first mixing chamber to a first gas distribution system. The second mixing chamber includes a second outlet port for feeding a second stream of mixed gas from the second mixing chamber to a second gas distribution system. The first and second streams of mixed gas have different temperatures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignees: Paul Wurth S.A., Paul Wurth Refractory & Engineering GmbH
    Inventors: Manfred Möller, Friedrich Eschmann, Jean-Paul Simoes
  • Patent number: 8858678
    Abstract: A method and system for making metallic iron nodules with reduced CO2 emissions is disclosed. The method includes: assembling a linear hearth furnace having entry and exit portions, at least a conversion zone and a fusion zone, and a moving hearth adapted to move reducible iron bearing material through the furnace on contiguous hearth sections; assembling a shrouded return substantially free of air ingress extending adjacent at least the conversion and fusion zones of the furnace through which hearth sections can move from adjacent the exit portion to adjacent the entry portion of the furnace; transferring the hearth sections from the furnace to the shrouded return adjacent the exit portion; reducing reducible material in the linear hearth furnace to metallic iron nodules; and transporting gases from at least the fusion zone to the shrouded return to heat the hearth sections while in the shrouded return.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Nu-Iron Technology, LLC
    Inventors: Richard F. Kiesel, David J. Englund, Mark Schlichting, John Meehan, Jeremiah Crouch, Logan Wilson
  • Patent number: 8834599
    Abstract: In a method and a device for operating a smelting reduction process, at least part of an export gas from a blast furnace or a reduction unit is thermally utilized in a gas turbine and the exhaust gas of this gas turbine is used in a waste heat steam generator to generate steam. The remaining part of the export gas is fed to a CO2 separation apparatus, the tail gas thereby obtained being fed to a waste heat steam generator and burned for additional steam generation. The combustible components of the tail gas are sent for thermal utilization in a steam generator, so that the overall energy balance of the thermal use of the export gas is improved. In addition, a further part of the export gas is qualitatively improved by the CO2 separation apparatus, so as to generate a high-quality reduction gas which can be supplied for metallurgical use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Siemens Vai Metals Technologies GmbH
    Inventors: Robert Millner, Johannes Leopold Schenk, Kurt Wieder
  • Publication number: 20140252699
    Abstract: A direct reduced iron manufacturing system includes a gas reformer for supplying steam to reform natural gas, a gas heater being a heating unit for heating a reformed gas reformed by the gas reformer to a predetermined temperature, a direct reduction furnace for reducing iron ore directly into reduced iron using a high-temperature reducing gas, an acid gas removal unit having an acid gas component absorber and a regenerator for releasing the acid gas, and a recovery gas introduction line for supplying a recovery gas released from the regenerator to each of a reforming furnace of the gas reformer and a furnace of the gas heater.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2012
    Publication date: September 11, 2014
    Applicants: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD., MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Masakazu Sakaguchi, Haruaki Hirayama, Makoto Susaki, Kazuo Ishida
  • Publication number: 20140230606
    Abstract: Ironmaking method and installation with recirculation of exhaust gas as a reduction gas and whereby part of the exhaust gas is purged upstream and/or downstream of a CO/CO2 separation unit, said purged exhaust gas being subjected to a water gas shift reaction for H2 generation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2012
    Publication date: August 21, 2014
    Inventors: Xavier Traversac, Richard Dubettier-Grenier, Sebastien De Limon, Philippe Court
  • Publication number: 20140202285
    Abstract: A method and a system for treating waste gases (4) from plants (32, 33) for pig iron production, wherein a first sub-stream (51) of the waste gas is subjected to an at least partial conversion of CO into CO2 after the addition of water and/or water vapor (10) and the waste gas (4) is then subjected to CO2 capture. To be able to set a variable H2/CO ratio in the waste gas, a further sub-stream (52) of the waste gas is not subjected to a conversion of CO into CO2, but is subjected to CO2 capture separately from the first sub-stream (51).
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2012
    Publication date: July 24, 2014
    Applicant: Siemens VAI Metals Technologies GmbH
    Inventors: Robert Millner, Gerald Rosenfellner
  • Patent number: 8685136
    Abstract: A process for reducing iron oxide to metallic iron using coke oven gas (COG), including: a direct reduction shaft furnace for providing off gas; a COG source for injecting COG into a reducing gas stream including at least a portion of the off gas; and the direct reduction shaft furnace reducing iron oxide to metallic iron using the reducing gas stream and injected COG. The COG has a temperature of about 1,200 degrees C. or greater upon injection. The COG has a CH4 content of between about 2% and about 13%. Preferably, the COG is reformed COG. Optionally, the COG is fresh hot COG. The COG source includes a partial oxidation system. Optionally, the COG source includes a hot oxygen burner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Midrex Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Gary E. Metius, James M. McClelland, Jr., David C. Meissner
  • Publication number: 20140042677
    Abstract: A process for producing pig iron or liquid primary steel products in a smelting unit (1), in particular a melter gasifier. Iron-ore-containing charge materials, and possibly additions, are at least partially reduced in at least one reduction unit (R1, R2, R3, R4) by means of a reducing gas. A first fraction of the at least partially reduced charge materials is melted down in the smelting unit (1), while carbon carriers and oxygen-containing gas are supplied, with the simultaneous formation of the reducing gas. The reducing gas is fed to the reduction unit (R1, R2, R3, R4) and, after the reducing gas has passed through the reduction unit, it is drawn off as top gas. A second fraction of the at least partially reduced charge materials is fed to a smelting reduction unit for reducing and smelting.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2013
    Publication date: February 13, 2014
    Applicant: SIEMENS VAI METALS TECHNOLOGIES GMBH
    Inventors: Christian BOEHM, Jan-Friedemann PLAUL, Johannes Leopold SCHENK
  • Patent number: 8608824
    Abstract: Integrated process, in which pure carbonyl iron powder (CIP) is prepared by decomposition of pure iron pentacarbonyl (IPC) in a plant A, carbon monoxide (CO) liberated in the decomposition of the IPC is used in plant A for the preparation of further CIP from iron or is fed to an associated plant B for the preparation of synthesis gas or is fed to an associated plant C for the preparation of hydrocarbons from synthesis gas, and the CIP prepared in plant A is used as catalyst or catalyst component in an associated plant C for the preparation of hydrocarbons from synthesis gas from plant B.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: BASF SE
    Inventors: Jochen Steiner, Ekkehard Schwab, Andreas Keller, Otto Watzenberger, Ulrich Gräβle, Manfred Julius
  • Patent number: 8551213
    Abstract: A system of coal gasification and direct ironmaking attains both heat recovery in a coal-based direct ironmaking process and a reduction in equipment investment in a coal gasification process. A waste heat boiler in the system recovers heat of gas exhausted from a coal gasification furnace. A heater in exhaust gas lines of a heat reduction furnace in the coal-based direct ironmaking process superheats the steam generated by and exhausted from the waste heat boiler. A superheated steam line supplies the steam superheated by the heater as an oxidant to the coal gasification furnace.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: Kobe Steel, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masataka Tateishi, Masahiro Motoyuki
  • Patent number: 8506672
    Abstract: A system of coal gasification and direct ironmaking attains both heat recovery in a coal-based direct ironmaking process and a reduction in equipment investment in a coal gasification process. A waste heat boiler in the system recovers heat of gas exhausted from a coal gasification furnace. A heater in exhaust gas lines of a heat reduction furnace in the coal-based direct ironmaking process superheats the steam generated by and exhausted from the waste heat boiler. A superheated steam line supplies the steam superheated by the heater as an oxidant to the coal gasification furnace.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: Kobe Steel, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masataka Tateishi, Masahiro Motoyuki
  • Patent number: 8496730
    Abstract: A process for the direct reduction of iron ore when the external source of reductants is one or both of coke oven gas (COG) and basic oxygen furnace gas (BOFG). Carbon dioxide (CO2) is removed from a mixture of shaft furnace off gas, obtained from a conventional direct reduction shaft furnace, and BOFG. This CO2 lean gas is mixed with clean COG, humidified, and heated in an indirect heater. Oxygen (O2) is injected into the heated reducing gas. This hot reducing gas flows to the direct reduction shaft furnace for use. The spent hot reducing gas exits the direct reduction shaft furnace as shaft furnace off gas, produces steam in a waste heat boiler, is cleaned in a cooler scrubber, and is compressed and recycled to join fresh BOFG. A portion of the shaft furnace off gas is sent to the heater burners. The BOFG and COG are also employed for a variety of other purposes in the process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2013
    Assignee: Midrex Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Gary E. Metius, James M. McClelland, Jr., David C. Meissner
  • Patent number: 8419825
    Abstract: A process for energy- and emission-optimized iron production and an installation for carrying out the process. A first partial amount of a generator gas produced in a melter gasifier is used as a first reducing gas in a first reduction zone. A second partial amount is fed to at least one further reduction zone as a second reducing gas. In addition, after CO2 scrubbing, a partial amount of top gas removed from the first reduction zone is admixed with the generator gas after the latter leaves the melter gasifier, for cooling the generator gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: Siemens Vai Metals Technologies GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas Bürgler, Stephan Lackner, Robert Millner, Reinhard Redl, Bernhard Rummer, Herbert Schmid, Johann Wurm, Andreas Zobernig
  • Publication number: 20130056916
    Abstract: A process of producing magnesium metal includes providing magnesium carbonate, and reacting the magnesium carbonate to produce a magnesium-containing compound and carbon dioxide. The magnesium-containing compound is reacted to produce magnesium metal. The carbon dioxide is used as a reactant in a second process. In another embodiment of the process, a magnesium silicate is reacted with a caustic material to produce magnesium hydroxide. The magnesium hydroxide is reacted with a source of carbon dioxide to produce magnesium carbonate. The magnesium carbonate is reacted to produce a magnesium-containing compound and carbon dioxide. The magnesium-containing compound is reacted to produce magnesium metal. The invention also relates to the magnesium metal produced by the processes described herein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 29, 2012
    Publication date: March 7, 2013
    Inventors: James G. Blencoe, Lawrence M. Anovitz, Donald A. Palmer, James S. Beard
  • Patent number: 8309017
    Abstract: An exhaust stream buffering system is described to temper a temperature profile and reduce a particulate load to permit heat recovery and cleaning. The buffering system may reduce the volatile temperature profile to even the temperature spikes, and produce a more even cyclical temperature profile. When used in steel making facilities, the buffered stream may also be augmented by blast furnace gases to provide additional energy for a heat recovery system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Inventor: William C. Hunter
  • Patent number: 8298475
    Abstract: A furnace system includes a furnace facility disposed on a conveyer device and having a pre-heating zone, a high temperature heating zone, and two cooling zones, and the conveyer device moves the work piece from the pre-heating zone through the high temperature heating zone and the cooling zones, two heating members disposed in the heating zones for pre-heating and heating the work piece, two piping members coupled between the cooling zones and the heating zones for recycling the waste heat gas, and two blowing devices draw the waste gas from the cooling zones to the heating zones for recycling and economizing the heat energy and for preventing the steel materials from being distorted or twisted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: King Yuan Dar Metal Enterprise Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Chang Lung Tseng
  • Publication number: 20120198966
    Abstract: A method and system for making metallic iron nodules with reduced CO2 emissions is disclosed. The method includes: assembling a linear hearth furnace having entry and exit portions, at least a conversion zone and a fusion zone, and a moving hearth adapted to move reducible iron bearing material through the furnace on contiguous hearth sections; assembling a shrouded return substantially free of air ingress extending adjacent at least the conversion and fusion zones of the furnace through which hearth sections can move from adjacent the exit portion to adjacent the entry portion of the furnace; transferring the hearth sections from the furnace to the shrouded return adjacent the exit portion; reducing reducible material in the linear hearth furnace to metallic iron nodules; and transporting porting gases from at least the fusion zone to the shrouded return to heat the hearth sections while in the shrouded return.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2010
    Publication date: August 9, 2012
    Applicant: NU-IRON TECHNOLOGY, LLC
    Inventors: Richard F. Kiesel, David J. Englund, Mark Schlichting, John Meehan, Jeremiah Crouch, Logan Wilson
  • Publication number: 20120125157
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for producing direct reduced iron (DRI), also known as sponge iron, by means of direct contact of iron oxides with a stream of recycled and regenerated hot reducing gases containing hydrogen and carbon monoxide. The invention provides a way for decreasing the uncontained emission of CO2 to the atmosphere produced by combustion of carbon-bearing fuels in the reducing gas heater by substituting, at least partially, a gas stream mainly composed of hydrogen in lieu of the usual carbon-bearing fuels. The hydrogen fuel stream, depleted of CO2 by means of a physical gas separation unit (which can be a PSA/VPSA type adsorption unit, a gas separation membrane unit or combination of PSA/VPSA unit and a gas separation membrane unit) is derived from at least a portion of a stream of regenerated reducing gases being recycled to the reduction reactor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2010
    Publication date: May 24, 2012
    Applicants: Danieli & C. Officine Meccaniche, S.P.A, HYL Technologies, S.A. DE C.V.
    Inventors: Pablo Enrique Duarte-Escareño, Engenio Zendejas-Martinez, Andrea Tavano, Alessandro Martinis, Omar Della Gaspera
  • Patent number: 8128862
    Abstract: The blast furnace gas burning facility prevents a wet type dust collector from freezing under such conditions that the temperature of blast furnace gas does not exceed the freezing lower-limit temperature of the wet type dust collector. The blast furnace gas burning facility 1 burns blast furnace gas discharged from a blast furnace by supplying the gas to a combustor 2 after removing dust with a wet type dust collector 7 and compressing the gas with a compressor 8. A fuel-gas heating channel 12 is disposed between the outlet side of the compressor and the inlet side of the wet type dust collector. When the temperature of the blast furnace gas flowing into the wet type dust collector is lower than a lower limit temperature, a high-temperature, high-pressure gas compressed by the compressor is diverged and supplied into the inlet side of the wet type dust collector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Shoichi Harada
  • Publication number: 20120036961
    Abstract: A method and a plant for the production of pig iron or liquid steel semi-finished products are shown, metal oxide-containing batch materials and, if appropriate, aggregates being at least partially reduced in a reduction zone by a reduction gas, subsequently being introduced into a smelting zone and being smelted along with the supply of carbon carriers and oxygen-containing gas and along with the formation of the reduction gas. The reduction gas formed in the smelting zone is supplied to the reduction zone, reacted there and drawn off as export gas, CO2 is separated from the export gas, and a product gas is formed which is utilized for the introduction of pulverulent carbon carriers into the smelting zone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2010
    Publication date: February 16, 2012
    Inventor: Robert Millner
  • Publication number: 20120031236
    Abstract: “A method for producing direct reduced iron in a vertical reactor having an upper reducing zone and a lower cooling zone, the method including: feeding iron oxide feed material to an upper portion of the vertical reactor, the iron oxide feed material forming a burden flowing by gravity to a material outlet portion in a lower portion of the vertical reactor; feeding hot reducing gas to a lower portion of the reducing zone of the vertical reactor, the hot reducing gas flowing in a counter flow to the burden towards a gas outlet port in the upper portion of the vertical reactor; recovering direct reduced iron at the lower portion of the vertical reactor; recovering top gas at the upper portion of the vertical reactor; submitting at least a portion of the recovered top gas to a recycling process; and feeding the recycled top gas back into the vertical reactor, where the recycling process includes heating the recovered top gas in a preheating unit before feeding it to a reformer unit; feeding volatile carbon cont
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2010
    Publication date: February 9, 2012
    Applicant: PAUL WURTH S.A.
    Inventors: Jean-Luc Roth, David Rodriguez
  • Publication number: 20110314966
    Abstract: An apparatus for producing a reducing gas for direct reduction iron-making includes an internal-heating type reformer for reforming a natural gas by adding steam and oxygen to the natural gas and by partially burning the natural gas to generate reducing gas containing hydrogen and carbon monoxide; a remover for removing carbon dioxide from exhaust gas generated in the direct reduction iron-making; and a line for recycling as the reducing gas the exhaust gas from which the carbon dioxide is removed by the remover.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2011
    Publication date: December 29, 2011
    Applicant: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Masaki Iijima, Haruhito Watanabe
  • Publication number: 20110283837
    Abstract: In a method and a device for operating a smelting reduction process, at least part of an export gas from a blast furnace or a reduction unit is thermally utilized in a gas turbine and the exhaust gas of this gas turbine is used in a waste heat steam generator to generate steam. The remaining part of the export gas is fed to a CO2 separation apparatus, the tail gas thereby obtained being fed to a waste heat steam generator and burned for additional steam generation. The combustible components of the tail gas are sent for thermal utilization in a steam generator, so that the overall energy balance of the thermal use of the export gas is improved. In addition, a further part of the export gas is qualitatively improved by the CO2 separation apparatus, so as to generate a high-quality reduction gas which can be supplied for metallurgical use.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2009
    Publication date: November 24, 2011
    Inventors: Robert Millner, Johannes Leopold Schenk, Kurt Wieder
  • Publication number: 20110209576
    Abstract: A method for operating a blast furnace and a corresponding blast furnace, the method including recovering top gas from the blast furnace, submitting at least a portion of the top gas to a recycling process, and feeding the recycled top gas back into the blast furnace, where the recycling process includes feeding the recovered top gas to a reformer unit, feeding volatile carbon containing material to the reformer unit, proceeding to flash gasification of the volatile carbon containing material in the reformer unit, at a temperature between 1100 and 1300° C., and thereby producing devolatised carbonaceous material and synthesis, and allowing the devolatised carbonaceous material and synthesis gas to react with the recovered top gas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2009
    Publication date: September 1, 2011
    Applicant: PAUL WURTH S.A.
    Inventors: Jean-Luc Roth, Jean-Paul Simoes
  • Patent number: 7968045
    Abstract: An installation for production of the secondary steel based on scrap in which the scrap (10) is fed in a scrap preheater (2) through a charging device (1), is preheated there and, finally, is brought into a smelting unit (3) and is melted there with primary energy only, the process gases (19), which leave the smelting unit (3), are not used for directly preheating the scrap (10) but are rather used indirectly by heating a gaseous preheatable medium, e.g., air (18) or inert gas, whereby energetic, fluidic, and spatial decoupling of preheating and melting and of post-combustion and preheating is achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2011
    Assignee: SMS Siemag Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Matthias Meyn
  • Publication number: 20110120266
    Abstract: A process for energy-and emission-optimized iron production and an installation for carrying out the process. A first partial amount of a generator gas produced in a melter gasifier is used as a first reducing gas in a first reduction zone. A second partial amount is fed to at least one further reduction zone as a second reducing gas. In addition, after CO2 scrubbing, a partial amount of top gas removed from the first reduction zone is admixed with the generator gas after the latter leaves the melter gasifier, for cooling the generator gas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2009
    Publication date: May 26, 2011
    Inventors: Thomas Bürgler, Stephan Lackner, Robert Millner, Reinhard Redl, Bernhard Rummer, Herbert Schmid, Johann Wurm, Andreas Zobernig
  • Publication number: 20110091350
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are reactors and methods for forming alloys based on titanium-aluminium or alloys based on titanium-aluminium inter-metallic compounds. The reactor comprises a first section having an inlet through which precursor material comprising titanium subchlorides and aluminium can be introduced. The first section is heatable to a first temperature at which reactions between the titanium subchlorides and aluminium can occur, and further comprises a gas outlet via which any gaseous by-product formed can be removed. The reactor also comprises a second section which can be heated to a second temperature at which reactions of material transferred from the first section can occur to form the titanium-aluminium based alloy, a gas driver adapted in use to cause any gaseous by-product formed in the reactions in the second section to move in a direction towards the first section, and an intermediate section between the first and second sections.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2009
    Publication date: April 21, 2011
    Inventor: Jawad Haidar
  • Patent number: 7914731
    Abstract: A process for sintering metal-containing materials, such as iron ores or manganese ores, on a sintering machine including a sintering belt for transporting the sinter mix during sintering thereof. The sintering belt has first, second and third portions. Sintering waste gas from the third portion is transported to and unified with sintering waste gas from the first portion in a mixing region to form a mixed gas, wherein the transporting distance of the sintering waste gas from the third portion to the mixing region is greater than the transporting distance of the sintering waste gas from the first portion to the mixing region. An apparatus for carrying out the process is disclosed, including the sintering belt, suction boxes operative at the portions of the belt, and lines for conveying the gas produced and the gases used in the process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2011
    Assignee: Siemens Vai Metals Technology GmbH & Co.
    Inventors: Karl Laaber, Oskar Pammer, Hans-Herbert Stiasny, Anton Sebanz, Karl Zehetbauer
  • Patent number: 7854786
    Abstract: Reduction process and relative plant for the production of metallic iron by means of the direct reduction of iron ore, in which a reduction shaft is connected to a source of reducing gas obtained from the gasification of coal. The process advantageously comprises a step in which a portion or all of the synthesis gas entering the plant circuit is processed to separate the methane from the rest of the components of said synthesis gas. The advantageous management of the extracted methane enables the entire reduction process to be optimized, making the efficiency of the process independent of the methane content in the original synthesis gas and making it possible to control the carbon content of the product more accurately and more easily.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2010
    Assignee: Danieli & C. Officine Meccaniche S.p.A.
    Inventors: Alessandro Martinis, Andrea Tavano, Barbara Franco