Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for controlling the pneumatic transport of friable particulate solid material through a transport pipe by means of a carrier gas circulating in a loop comprising the transport pipe and a carrier gas recycle conduit. A value of kinetic energy of the carrier gas is determined at a location proximal to a point of introduction of the material into the transport pipe. This value is compared with a kinetic energy set point to produce a first control signal which controls venting of carrier gas from the loop. A value of flow rate of the carrier gas in the loop is determined and compared with a comparison signal based on the first control signal to produce a second control signal. The second control signal is used to control the flow rate of the carrier gas through the carrier gas loop.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for the direct gaseous reduction of iron ore to sponge iron at an elevated temperature suitable for hot briquetting, wherein a hot reducing gas is circulated upwardly through a descending body of iron ore and a make-up reducing gas stream is added to the circulating gas stream. A sponge iron product having a predetermined desired degree of carburization in the range 0.5% to 4% is obtained by adding a controlled flow of natural gas or other methane-containing gas to said make-up gas stream or to said circulating gas stream.

Abstract: Catalysts for the isomerization of hydrocarbons, particularly normal paraffins having from 4 to 7 carbon atoms, as well as a process for the preparation of the catalyst and a process for their use in the isomerization of such hydrocarbons are disclosed.The catalysts are composed of a zeolite support impregnated with a mixture of zirconium, a refractory metallic oxide and at least one platinum-group metal.The process for the preparation of the catalysts involves steps of depositing the zirconium, on the zeolite support, mixing (zeolite+Zr) with alumina, and depositing a platinum group metal on the mixture (zeolite+Zr)/alumina, accompanied by intermediate calcining and shaping steps, and followed by drying and final calcining steps. Alternative methods for depositing the zirconium and platinum group metals on the zeolite are disclosed.