Abstract: A dynamic containment vessel defined by a stable fluid recirculation within a generally cylindrical containment region. The dynamic vessel is maintained by fluid momentum which establish superposed line and ring vortices within the containment region. Particles entrained within the containment vessel are retained until reduced to a preselected particle size and discharged along the axis of the vessel. Fluid injection nozzles are positioned at least at the discharge end of the vessel, at the perimeter of the containment region, and are oriented to inject gas into the containment region with a momentum having a component tangential to the cylindrical containment region and a component parallel to the longitudinal axis of the cylindrical containment region. The entrained particles may be a fuel, in which case the containment vessel may serve as a combustor.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an overall direct smelting process which provides for separating the carburization function from the heating function to permit separate control of the individual functions. One embodiment of the smelting reactor is divided into a carburization/smelting section and a heating section with a substantial recirculation of the molten product from the heating section back to the carburization/smelting section. The heating section also serves as a slag/metal separation section. Carburization is achieved by injection of solids (fine coal mixed with slagging agents), where desired. Gas generating solids or inert gases are injected into a lift pipe to provide a motive force for circulation of the molten metal. The circulation rate through the system is a function of the injected solid composition, the mass flow rate of the solids injected into the lift pipe and the lift pipe geometry.

Abstract: A smelting reduction process is carried out in a smelting reactor which includes a central internal carburization/combustion plenum or chamber in which hot metal is carburized by the injection of coal fines and heated by post combustion of the coal gases. The chamber has outlets to the first zone of an outer coaxial annular channel where the coal slag is separated off and a carburized hot metal passes into a second zone or smelting channel-chamber that permits introduction of feed material into a molten metal. A majority of the material that passes through the smelting channel-chamber is recycled to the internal carburization/combustion chamber for further processing. The internal carburization/combustion chamber and the smelting channel are completely separate so that the slag and the off gases from the two processes can be kept separate as well. The channel is positioned around the circumference of the internal carburization/combustion chamber where active heating occurs to form a compact reactor.