Abstract: A briquette cooling conveyor system includes an apron pan conveyor. The apron pan conveyor includes: an apron pan with openings adapted to drain water from the apron pan conveyor, an apron pan upper, carry strand, and an apron pan lower, return strand. The briquette cooling conveyor system further includes a carriage side flushing hopper positioned between the apron pan upper, carry strand and the apron pan lower, return strand, and the carriage side flushing hopper is configured to capture fines and water from the system.

Abstract: A briquette cooling conveyor system includes an apron pan conveyor. The apron pan conveyor includes: an apron pan with openings adapted to drain water from the apron pan conveyor, an apron pan upper, carry strand, and an apron pan lower, return strand. The briquette cooling conveyor system further includes a carriage side flushing hopper positioned between the apron pan upper, carry strand and the apron pan lower, return strand, and the carriage side flushing hopper is configured to capture fines and water from the system.

Abstract: A shaft furnace for producing metallic direct reduced iron (DRI) from iron-containing pellets or lumps and reducing gas disposed therein, including: a circumferential outer wall defining a top interior reducing zone, a middle interior transition zone, and a bottom interior cooling zone, wherein the iron-containing pellets or lumps travel downwards through the top interior reducing zone, the middle interior transition zone, and the bottom interior cooling zone as the iron-containing pellets or lumps encounter the upward-flowing reducing gas and one or more other gases; and a flow diverter disposed along a centerline of the circumferential outer wall including a convex-upwards upper tapering section disposed in the middle transition zone defined by the circumferential outer wall coupled to a convex-downwards lower tapering section disposed in the bottom cooling zone defined by the circumferential outer wall.

Abstract: A method for mitigating the buildup of direct reduced iron (DRI) clusters on the walls of a direct reduction (DR) furnace, including: injecting one or more of lime, dolomite, and another anti-sticking agent into a charge disposed within a reduction zone of the DR furnace by: (1) injecting the one or more of lime, dolomite, and another anti-sticking agent into a bustle gas stream upstream of or in a bustle of the DR furnace; (2) injecting the one or more of lime, dolomite, and another anti-sticking agent into the bustle gas stream through a pipe collocated with a bustle gas port through which the bustle gas stream is introduced into the DR furnace; and (3) injecting the one or more of lime, dolomite, and another anti-sticking agent directly into the reduction zone of the DR furnace separate from the bustle gas stream.

Abstract: A shaft furnace for producing metallic direct reduced iron (DRI) from iron-containing pellets or lumps and reducing gas disposed therein, including: a circumferential outer wall defining a top interior reducing zone, a middle interior transition zone, and a bottom interior cooling zone, wherein the iron-containing pellets or lumps travel downwards through the top interior reducing zone, the middle interior transition zone, and the bottom interior cooling zone as the iron-containing pellets or lumps encounter the upward-flowing reducing gas and one or more other gases; and a flow diverter disposed along a centerline of the circumferential outer wall including a convex-upwards upper tapering section disposed in the middle transition zone defined by the circumferential outer wall coupled to a convex-downwards lower tapering section disposed in the bottom cooling zone defined by the circumferential outer wall.

Abstract: A method for mitigating the buildup of direct reduced iron (DRI) clusters on the walls of a direct reduction (DR) furnace, comprising: injecting one or more of lime, dolomite, and another anti-sticking agent into a charge disposed within a reduction zone of the DR furnace, wherein the one or more of lime, dolomite, and another anti-sticking agent is injected into the charge by one or more of: (1) injecting the one or more of lime, dolomite, and another anti-sticking agent into a bustle gas stream upstream of a bustle of the DR furnace; (2) injecting the one or more of lime, dolomite, and another anti-sticking agent into the bustle gas stream in the bustle of the DR furnace; (3) injecting the one or more of lime, dolomite, and another anti-sticking agent into the bustle gas stream through a pipe collocated with a bustle gas port through which the bustle gas stream is introduced into the DR furnace; and (4) injecting the one or more of lime, dolomite, and another anti-sticking agent directly into the reduction

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a method for producing metallic iron, in which after a mixture including a carbonaceous reducing agent and iron oxide is fed onto a hearth of a moving hearth reducing-melting furnace and is then heated so that the iron oxide is reduced and melted, metallic iron to be obtained is cooled and is then discharged outside the furnace for recovery. In the method described above, even when powdered metallic iron is squeezed into the surface of the hearth, or the hearth is damaged by slag infiltration and corrosion, the removal and repair can be easily performed, the operation rate and maintenability of the hearth can be improved, and hence a long continuous operation can be suitably performed.