Abstract: A method of using coal for reducing iron ore in a fluidized bed to obtain a reduced iron comprising fluidizing and pylolysis of a fine coal in a first fluidized bed, fluidized and thermal cracking the vapored material from the first fluidized bed in a second fluidized bed to deposit carbon on the surface of iron ore particles, fluidizing and reducing the iron ore in a third fluidized bed using reducing gas from generator.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for calcining an aluminum hydroxide source to an aluminum oxide in which the amount of the .alpha.-modification can be controlled from very low to very high values. In accordance with the present invention, the calcination of the source material takes place in two stages, in the first of which the material is preheated with air and then passed to a fluidized bed calciner after which it is delivered to a holding cyclone. In the second stage, the previously calcined material which may contain up to about 80% of the .alpha.-modification is calcined further in a rotary tubular kiln which is followed downsteam by a cooler.

Abstract: In a process for the direct production of sponge iron particles and liquid crude iron from iron ore in lump form, which is reduced in a direct reduction unit and fed in a hot condition to a melting gasifier, the sponge iron particles which are discharged from the direct reduction unit are separated into a fine grain fraction and a coarse grain fraction, and only the fine grain fraction is fed to the melting gasifier. That ensures economy of operation, without an excess of gas.

Abstract: Fine-grained material which contains iron oxide is prereduced in a fluidized bed and is subsequently completely reduced in a rotary kiln. In order to avoid agglomeration and incrustation in the rotary kiln, the prereduction is carried out to effect a metallization of 50 to 80%.

Abstract: Workpieces are heat treated in a fluidized bed contained within a vessel having a central well surrounded by helical ramps along which the workpieces move into and out of the bed. A perforated platform connects the ramp and movement of the workpieces along the discharge ramp is achieved by vibrating such ramp.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of acicular ferromagnetic metal particles, consisting essentially of iron, by reducing acicular iron oxides and/or iron oxide hydroxides, which are either pure or are modified with conventional foreign metal ions, by means of a gaseous reducing agent in a fluidized bed furnace in which a stirrer is provided immediately above the fluidizing grid.

Abstract: A method is suggested for the reduction of finely-divided iron oxide in a fluidized bed, with the air of reducing gases formed by partial combustion in the bed of finely-divided carbonaceous material by gas containing molecular oxygen, which is supplied through nozzles (4). The exterior surface of the nozzles is cooled to a temperature lower than 200.degree. C below the melting point of the reduced metal. In this way the particles of the reduced iron are prevented from adhering to the nozzles.

Abstract: Apparatus for reducing finely divided iron oxide material, comprising a reactor containing a vertical upper reaction chamber connected downwardly to a narrower, vertical reaction chamber. A cyclone separator is connected to the upper reaction chamber for separating solid material and recycling it to the reactor so that a circulating fluidized bed can be maintained in the apparatus. In accordance with the invention, a recycling conduit is connected to the bottom of the lower reaction chamber. A tapping-off shaft for reduced material is also connected to the bottom of the lower reaction chamber. A reducing agent is supplied to the upper reaction chamber, and combustion air is supplied to the bottom of the upper reaction chamber. The apparatus also comprises means for preheating the iron oxide material with the exhaust gas from the reactor and for passing said preheated iron oxide into the lower reaction chamber. The apparatus also comprises means for stripping the exhaust gas from CO.sub.2 and H.sub.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for smelting an ore concentrate or the like wherein the concentrate is first melted in an oxidizing atmosphere and the smelt is aftertreated with reducing gases to recover the metal values. The improvement consists in positioning a plurality of rows of lances in a smelting reactor in the direction of molten metal flow, the spacing between the rows of lances being substantially greater than the spacing between individual lances in each row. The reducing gas is blown with a high kinetic energy through each lance to cause an area of toroidal bath movement to occur where the gases from each lance impinge against the moving smelt. The spacing between the rows of lances is sufficiently large so that a relatively quiescent zone exists between the areas of toroidal bath movement between each of the rows. The molten metal and a relatively metal-free slag are withdrawn separately from the furnace enclosure.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for the continuous recovery of tin of low iron content from an iron rich concentrate wherein the concentrate is smelted in suspension in an atmosphere ranging from neutral to weakly reducing to produce a smelt containing tin and iron silicates, the smelt is reduced with a gaseous reduction agent under conditions of high velocity jet treatment, the reduction being at a suitable reaction temperature and with a reduction potential of reducing gas so as to substantially prevent the reduction of the iron silicate to metallic iron.

Abstract: A burner for the flash oxidation of particles of metal concentrates has three downwardly directed, concentrically mounted tubes each having a venturi nozzle on the discharge end thereof. Finely divided metal concentrates introduced into the annular space between the inner tube and the intermediate tube are accelerated by high pressure oxygen introduced through the inner tube to substantially the velocity of an oxidizing gas introduced into the annular space between the intermediate tube and the outer tube. Means are provided for adjusting the extent that the nozzles on the ends of the inner tube and intermediate tube extend into the nozzles on the ends of the intermediate and outer tubes respectively.

Abstract: An apparatus and process for conduct of fluidized bed reactions having an improved grate wherein at least one substantially continuous open slot sufficiently wide for passage of heavy solid particles is provided for preferential removal of heavy particles from the fluidizing chamber. The apparatus and process is particularly useful in coal gasification applications.

Abstract: An apparatus and process for producing metallized iron ore by direct reduction techniques for use in iron and steelmaking furnaces, the apparatus and process first involving separation and treatment of run-of-mine iron ore to produce controlled and optimum size fractions for reduction and metallization in suitable direct reduction systems. The apparatus and process further involves a particular size fraction entering a series of staged fluidized bed reduction systems, each system provided with auxiliary ore feeding and preheating facilities, and with the process provided with a single source of, or production facilities for, high-temperature reducing gases which effect reduction to desired high degrees of metallization. The apparatus and process provides for essentially a complete utilization of reducing gases and for enhanced incremental scaleup capabilities to a single-line plant for the production of metallized iron ore.

Abstract: Apparatus for separating a strip of briquets issuing from a briquetting machine into individual briquets by bending the briquet strip both longitudinally and transversely to break the connections between adjacent briquets. The apparatus includes a carrying conveyor having arcuate, waveform or sawtooth conveyor slats and a conforming conveyor having conveyor slats with a cross section which mates with that of the carrying conveyor. The conforming conveyor forces the briquet strip to conform to the slat configuration of the first conveyor and to pass around a pivot means which breaks or separates the strip into individual briquets.

Abstract: An apparatus for recovering lead from worn out electric storage batteries in which finely divided dried battery mud is injected into a stream of air through the veni contracta of a venturi in an air conduit. A reducing gas and oxygen are successively introduced into the stream through apertures in the walls of the conduit communicating with annular chambers in fuel and oxygen manifolds surrounding the conduit in sufficient quantities to maintain a stable reducing flame. The droplets of metallic lead and slag which fall from the reducing flame are collected in a refractory lined chamber and separated in a conventional manner.

Abstract: Apparatus for treating workpieces in a bed of particles, e.g. for heat treating workpieces in a fluidize bed, comprises a chamber which contains the bed, a conveyor for conveying workpieces through the chamber into contact with particles of the bed within the chamber, and transporting means for transporting back to the bed particles which fall from the conveyor or workpieces after the conveyor and workpieces have advanced from the bed. The conveyor may comprise a rotatable open work drum, having an internal helical formation for advancing workpieces through it and an external helical formation of opposite hand to that of the internal helical formation to constitute the transporting means.

Abstract: A suspension of a powdery substance and a reaction gas is formed by allowing the powdery substance to fall as an annular flow into a reaction space, feeding the reaction gas downwardly to encircle the annular flow of powdery substance, the kinetic energy of the annular flow of descending powdery substance being utilized towards its gradual spreading to the sides with the aid of a sliding surface disposed within the reaction space, so that the flow of powdery substance which has been spread to be laterally directed will meet the reaction gas flow substantially at right angles in the reaction space.

Abstract: A pressure vessel base closure means including a pair of flat disc-like members spaced apart by a peripheral outer cylindrical member and an inner perforated cylindrical member, and there being provided between the two flat disc-like members a plurality of radially directed ribs to provide rigidity to the base closure means. The base closure means is particularly useful for a reactor in which a bed of fluidized solid is maintained by the passage of a gas into the reactor through the base via the chamber between the two flat disc-like members.