Abstract: The granular sponge iron is supplied to a roller press at temperatures of 600 to 850.degree. C. for molding the hot briquets. There is produced a strip structure of sponge iron containing formed hot briquets, which are arranged at a distance from each other. By smashing the strip structure, the hot briquets are separated from each other, so that fragments of the strip structure are obtained. The hot briquets and at least part of the fragments are cooled to temperatures in the range from 20 to 400.degree. C., and the cooled briquets and fragments are passed through a rotary drum. In the rotary drum, fine-grained fines of the briquets and fragments are produced. Subsequently, these fines are separated from the briquets and fragments, as they exhibit a pyrophoric behavior.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for preparing anhydrous alumina from aluminum hydroxide which comprises feeding aluminum hydroxide into a first suspension preheater and partially dehydrating the aluminum hydroxide with a hot exhaust gas, transporting the partially dehydrated aluminum hydroxide with said exhaust gas to a first separating means and separately withdrawing the exhaust gas and the partially dehydrated aluminum hydroxide, and dividing the partially dehydrated aluminum hydroxide into a first and second partial stream of solids. The process uses a circulating fluidized bed comprising a fluidized bed reactor, a recycle separator connected to the upper portion of said fluidized bed reactor, and a return line for leading solids from said recycle separator to the lower portion of said fluidized bed reactor. The second partial stream of solids is fed into a second suspension preheater and contacted with hot exhaust gas from the recycle separator.

Abstract: An electronic sales and service support system and method for identifying sales targets using a centralized database to improve marketing success. The system includes a central database that receives comprehensive information from a variety of internal and external feeds, and standardizes and households the information in a three-level hierarchy (households, customers, and accounts) for use by a financial institution. The comprehensive information stored on the central database is accessed through micromarketing workstations to generate lists of sales leads for marketing campaigns. A database engine is provided for generating logical access paths for accessing data on the central database to increase speed and efficiency of the central database. The system distributes sales leads electronically to branch networks, where the sales leads are used to target customers for marketing campaigns.

Abstract: A sales process support system and method for identifying sales targets using a centralized database to improve marketing success. The system includes a central database that receives comprehensive information from a variety of internal and external feeds, and standardizes and households the information in a three-level hierarchy (households, customers, and accounts) for use by a financial institution. The comprehensive information stored on the central database is accessed through micromarketing workstations to generate lists of sales leads for marketing campaigns. A database engine is provided for generating logical access paths for accessing data on the central database to increase speed and efficiency of the central database. The system distributes sales leads electronically to branch networks, where the sales leads are used to target customers for marketing campaigns.

Abstract: Continuous steel making is carried out in an elongated approximately horizontal reactor by providing an iron-rich feed more than half of which is an iron-rich material containing a fine iron ore metallized by more than half of its weight to elemental iron by prereduction. The iron-rich feed and a carbonaceous material are smelted and the melt is covered by a slag layer. By submerged injection a carbonaceous material and a tonnage oxygen gas preferably of at least 95% by volume oxygen is introduced and a gas preferably of at least 95% by volume oxygen is introduced into the smelting zone without penetrating the slag layer. Moderate turbulence is introduced in the reactor bath and the iron layer and slag layer flow countercurrently with the iron flowing into a refining zone and the slag flowing from the refining zone into the smelting zone.

Abstract: In order to effect a reduction and a carburization to form Fe.sub.3 C to the highest possible degree in a relatively short time in an economical process, a treatment in two stages is effected in fluidized beds. The first stage is effected in a circulating fluidized bed system, in which the amount of solids circulated per hour is at least five times the weight of solids contained in the fluidized bed reactor and a major part of the iron content of the charge is pre-reduced. The remaining reduction and the partial or complete conversion to Fe.sub.3 C are effected in the second stage in a conventional fluidized bed. Water is condensed from the exhaust gas from the circulating fluidized bed system and that gas is strengthened by an addition of reducing gases and is reheated to the temperature which is required for the process.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for the heat treatment of fine-grained iron ore and for the conversion of the heat-treated iron ore to metallic iron, whereina) the fine iron ore is reacted with at least one binder to produce particles having a particle size of >0.1 to 5 mm,b) the particles according to process stage (a) are dried,c) the particles dried according to process stage (b) are heat-treated at a temperature of 700.degree. to 1100.degree. C., andd) the heat-treated particles are reacted to form metallic iron.

Abstract: In order to effect a reduction and a carburization to form Fe.sub.3 C to the highest possible degree in a relatively short time in an economical process, a treatment in two stages is effected in fluidized beds. The first stage is effected in a circulating fluidized bed system, in which the amount of solids circulated per hour is at least five times the weight of solids contained in the fluidized bed reactor and a major part of the iron content of the charge is pre-reduced. The remaining reduction and the partial or complete conversion to Fe.sub.3 C are effected in the second stage in a conventional fluidized bed. Water is condensed from the exhaust gas from the circulating fluidized bed system and that gas is strengthened by an addition of reducing gases and is reheated to the temperature which is required for the process.

Abstract: A sinterable mixture comprising iron-containing materials and solid fuel is sintered on a sintering machine; to decrease the rate at which exhaust gas is to be removed and to produce a desirable sinter, a part of the exhaust gas is enriched to an oxygen content of up to 24% by the addition of higher-oxygen gases and is then recirculated as a recycle gas, and exhaust gas is removed as a tail gas from the process only at a rate which corresponds to the rate of the gas which is formed during the sintering process plus the rate of the gas added for enriching plus the rate of inleaked air which has infiltrated from the outside minus the rate of oxygen consumption.

Abstract: Residual metallurgical materials which contain zinc and lead are reprocessed by a thermal treatment in a circulating fluidized bed. The required heat is generated in that solid carbon is combusted in the fluidized bed reactor of the circulating fluidized bed. A solid carbon content of 5 to 30% is maintained in the lower part of the fluidized bed. Oxygen-containing gases are supplied to the upper part of the fluidized bed reactor, and CO.sub.2 is formed only in such an amount that zinc metal will not be reoxidized. Substantially all solids are removed from the discharged suspension in a recycle cyclone and are recycled. The gas is cooled to a temperature at which zinc metal is oxidized to ZnO. The dustlike compounds of zinc and lead are separated from the gas.

Abstract: The invention describes a process for the manufacture of steel with a carbon content of <0.8 wt.-% by reducing iron ore and refining the hot metal. Iron ore and fuel are introduced into the reduction zone of a reactor that contains an iron melt in the reduction zone. This melt is covered by a liquid slag layer from which liquid slag is withdrawn. Further, oxygen-containing gas together with fuel is blown into the iron melt contained in the reduction zone. The iron melt extends into the refining zone of the reactor, the slag layer flows from the refining zone into the reduction zone and in the refining zone liquid steel is withdrawn. Oxygen-containing gas is supplied to the iron melt contained in the refining zone and liquid iron is withdrawn therefrom.

Abstract: In a first fluidized bed vessel containing an expanded fluidized bed, iron oxide-containing materials are reduced under weakly reducing conditions with solid carbonaceous reducing agents to or to less than the FeO state. In a second fluidized bed vessel containing an expanding fluidized bed the gas-solids suspension discharged from the first fluidized bed vessel is treated with a highly reducing fluidizing gas whereby the material is reduced in part to iron metal. From the gas-solid suspension discharged from the second fluidized bed vessel the carbonized carbonaceous material is separated and is recycled to the first fluidized bed vessel. The exhaust gas from which the carbonized carbonaceous material has been removed is purified and CO.sub.2 is removed therefrom and the exhaust gas is subsequently fed as a fluidizing gas to the second fluidized bed vessel.

Abstract: Hot solids coming from a fluidized bed reactor are passed through the cooling apparatus and at least in part are recycled to the fluidized bed reactor. In the cooling apparatus the hot solids flow first through a first fluidized bed and then flow downwardly through a gas-collecting space to a second fluidized bed, which is provided with cooling coils and in which the solids flow downwardly to a solids transfer passage and are then raised through a third fluidized bed to a discharge line. The system is controlled to cause solids coming from the first fluidized bed to flow through the gas-collecting space directly to the discharge line.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for cooling hot exhaust gases. The process gases are supplied to a stationary fluidized bed, which contains cooling elements and is contained in an annular trough. Fluidizing gas is supplied to the stationary fluidized bed through the permeable bottom of the trough. The hot process gas is passed through the central opening in the fluidized bed. Cooled solids flow from the fluidized bed across the inner rim of the trough into the process gas stream and are entrained by said stream into the dust-containing space over the top surface of the fluidized bed. The solids which are separated in the dust-containing space fall back into the annular fluidized bed, and the cooled gas which contains the remaining solids is supplied to a gas cooler, which is provided with cooling surfaces. The gas which leaves the upper portion of the gas cooler is fed to a solids separator and the separated solids are recycled to the stationary fluidized bed.

Abstract: A zinc- and lead-containing residue from a metallurgical plant is reprocessed by a thermal treatment in a circulating fluidized bed system. A major part of the heat demand is satisfied by a combustion of solid carbonaceous material in the fluidized bed reactor of the circulating fluidized bed system. A reducing fluidizing gas, which is virtually free of free oxygen, is fed to the lower part of the fluidized bed reactor. A solid carbon content of from 5 to 30% is adjusted in the fluidized bed in the lower portion of the fluidized bed reactor, which is supplied in its upper portion with oxygen-containing gases and in which CO.sub.2 is formed only at such a rate that zinc metal is not reoxidized. Substantially all solids are removed in a recycling cyclone from the suspension discharged from the reactor and the removed solids are recycled. The gas is cooled to a temperature at which zinc metal is oxidized to ZnO. The dust-like zinc compounds and lead compounds are removed from the gas.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process of carrying out a combined gas turbine and steam turbine process of increased efficiency.A fuel gas is produced at a temperature of from 900.degree. to 1100.degree. C. in a circulating fluidized bed by a gasification of 70 to 95 wt. % of the carbon contained in the carbonaceous material and is treated at a temperature of from 850.degree. to 950.degree. C. with suspended solids consisting of calcium hydroxide, calcium oxide and/or calcium carbonate-containing solids to remove pollutants. The main portion of the fuel gas is burnt to produce a gas which is used to operate the gas turbine and which contains at least 5% by volume oxygen and is at a temperature of at least 1000.degree. C. Combustion of the carbonaceous gasification residue to produce process steam is performed in a second circulating fluidized bed at a temperature of from 800.degree. to 950.degree. C.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for the production of reduced iron oxide-containing materials. Iron oxide and solid carbonaceous reducing agent are charged into a first expanded fluidized bed, which is supplied with an oxygen-containing fluidizing gas. The gas residence time selected is controlled in the reactor containing the first fluidized bed so that the reduction potential will result in a reduction of the iron oxide material not in excess of the FeO stage. A gas-solids suspension discharged from the first fluidized bed is supplied to a second expanded fluidized bed, which is supplied with a strongly reducing fluidizing gas. Strongly reducing gas and a major portion of the resulting devolatilized carbonaceous material are discharged from the upper portion of the second fluidized bed. Reduced material having a metallization of 50 to 80% and the remaining devolatilized carbonaceous material are discharged from the lower portion of the second fluidized bed.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process to effect a reduction to a desired, constant degree as exactly as possible and to achieve a low surplus of carbon. The reduction by treatment with carbonaceous reducing agents is effected in such a manner that fine-grained solids, which contain higher metal oxides, are calcined at 800.degree. to 1100.degree. C. with hot gases in which the solids are suspended. The calcined solids are reduced at a temperature in the range of from 800.degree. to 1100.degree. C. to form low metal oxides in a stationary fluidized bed, which is supplied with carbonaceous reducing agents and oxygen-containing gases. The carbonaceous reducing agents are supplied to the stationary fluidized bed at such a rate so as to reduce the higher metal oxides to low metal oxides, while maintaining the reduction temperature in the stationary fluidized bed and insuring that the discharged matter has the desired carbon content.

Abstract: Sponge iron is produced by a direct reduction of iron oxide containing materials in a rotary kiln, the material discharged from the rotary kiln is separated into sponge iron and material which contains surplus carbon, the carbon-containing material is burnt in a fluidized bed reactor containing a circulating fluidized bed, and the heat generated by the combustion is recovered and utilized to produce electric power. To ensure a utilization of the surplus energies of the rotary kiln process and to minimize the contents of SO.sub.2, NO.sub.

Abstract: In a method of processing contaminated sodium oxalate which becomes available in a separating stage succeeding the digestion of bauxite in accordance with the Bayer process, chemicals used in the digesting process are recovered in that moist sodium oxalate which has been separated is dried with the hot exhaust gases from a rotary kiln jointly with aluminum hydroxide or aluminum oxide hydrate and/or reactive alumina at a mole ratio of aluminum to sodium of at least 0.8 and the dried product is decomposed in said rotary kiln at a temperature of 780.degree. to 1000.degree. C. to form sodium aluminate. Suitably drying is effected by spray drying in direct contact with the exhaust gases of the rotary kiln and decomposition is effected at a temperature in the range from 850.degree. to 950.degree. C. and with an Al:Na ratio not in excess of 1.2.