Abstract: A system for producing molten iron from iron ores, including a direct reduction shaft furnace, a melting zone in a melting furnace having a coke bed in its lower portion and a charging and preheating chamber in its upper portion, and at least one reducing gas generation zone in communication with said melting zone.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and system for destroying liquid toxic materials for example polychlorinated biphenyls, and producing a reducing gas. In a preferred embodiment, harmful intermediates are not generated when the toxic materials are destroyed due to the reducing atmosphere produced by partial combustion with a molecular-oxygen-containing gas and steam. Liquid materials containing high concentrations of PCB's are mixed with non-toxic hydrocarbons for sustaining an autothermic reaction. The efficiency of the PCB's destruction process exceeds the required environmental regulations and produces a useful reducing gas which can be utilized as a synthesis gas in chemical processes or as a fuel for heat and/or power production.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for the production of prereduced iron ore, DRI, sponge iron or the like by the gaseous reduction of iron-oxide containing particles in a reduction system which comprises a preheating device for the iron ore particles. The preheating device preserves the strength of the iron ore particles through the reduction system by preheating the particles with non-reducing (or preferably oxidizing) gas, whereby the DRI or like material produced is stronger than if it were processed in a reduction reactor without said preheating device. The invention thereby avoids sticking and fines production problems which some iron ores cause in the reduction reactor. The preheating device also produces other advantages in the reduction system as, for example, that the reducing gas reaches a higher degree of oxidation in the reduction reactor whereby the productivity of the reduction system increases as a result of the decreased amount of reducing gas as well as the decreased residence time required.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for increasing the productivity of an existing direct reduction iron (DRI) plant without increasing its reformer capacity existing in the plant. This object is achieved by not only recycling some effluent gas of the reduction reactor to the gas reformer (with natural gas or the like added with an oxidant as make up gas), but also recycling an additional portion of the effluent gas with added natural gas and an oxygen containing stream directly to the reducing gas stream exiting the reformer prior to or as part of its introduction to the reduction reactor, thereby providing additional reducing agents and increasing the reducing capacity of the plant. The oxygen containing stream is preferably added to the recycled reducing gas without preheating. Any excess or purged effluent gas is as usual burned as fuel.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for the production of prereduced iron ore, Direct Reduced Iron (DRI), or the like, in an ironmaking plant wherein the reducing gas utilized in the chemical reduction of iron oxides is generated from natural gas within the reduction reactor system by reforming the hydrocarbons with such oxidants as water and oxygen inside the reduction reactor which under steady state conditions contains metallic iron which acts as a reformation catalyst. The amount of carbon in the DRI can be reliably controlled by modifying the relative amounts of water, carbon dioxide and oxygen in the composition of the reducing gas fed to the reduction reactor. The amount of carbon in the DRI is controlled by the amount of water in the reducing gas fed to the reduction reactor while the addition of oxygen provides the energy necessary for such DRI carburization.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for producing direct reduced iron using a melter-gasifier and two reduction reactors. In the first reduction reactor, iron ore is prereduced using a reducing gas from a melter-gasifier. This prereduced iron ore is fed into the melter-gasifier to produce pig iron. A secondary reducing gas comprising hydrogen and carbon monoxide is withdrawn from the first reduction reactor and is reacted with water to produce carbon dioxide which is subsequently removed to produce a tertiary reducing gas that is used in the second reduction reactor to produce direct reduced iron from iron ore.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for the production of prereduced iron ore, Direct Reduced Iron (DRI), or the like, in an ironmaking plant wherein the reducing gas utilized in the chemical reduction of iron oxides is generated from natural gas within the reduction reactor system by reforming the hydrocarbons with such oxidants as water and oxygen inside the reduction reactor which under steady state conditions contains metallic iron which acts as a reformation catalyst. The amount of carbon in the DRI can be reliably controlled by modifyng the relative amounts of water, carbon dioxide and oxygen in the composition of the reducing gas fed to the reduction reactor. The amount of carbon in the DRI is controlled by the amount of water in the reducing gas fed to the reduction reactor while the addition of oxygen provides the energy necessary for such DRI carburization.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for gasification of organic materials (typically incorporated in domestic and industrial wastes, including auto shredder residues) to produce useful synthesis gas (primarily CO & H.sub.2) with effectively non-toxic ash residue by means of a preferably stoichiometric burner directed into a single stage reactor containing a tumbling charge thus heated to 650.degree. to 800.degree. C. (below the incipient fusion temperature of the charge) resulting in thermally cracking and gasifying the organic materials in the charge and reacting the complex hydrocarbons and gas evolved with the CO.sub.2 and H.sub.2 O generated by the burner by combustion of a fuel and oxygen-containing gas at a high flame temperature, typically 2500.degree. to 3000.degree. C.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for producing direct reduced iron using a melter-gasifier and two reduction reactors. In the first reduction reactor, iron ore is prereduced using a reducing gas from a melter-gasifier. This prereduced iron ore is fed into the melter-gasifier to produce pig iron. A secondary reducing gas comprising hydrogen and carbon monoxide is withdrawn from the first reduction reactor and is reacted with water to produce carbon dioxide which is subsequently removed to produce a tertiary reducing gas that is used in the second reduction reactor to produce direct reduced iron from iron ore.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for gasification of organic materials (typically incorporated in domestic and industrial wastes, including auto shredder residues) to produce useful synthesis gas (with a major content CO and H.sub.2) with effectively non-toxic ash residue by means of at least one continuously operated burner, preferably stoichiometrically balanced (1:2 for natural gas/oxygen) at least at startup and shut down (optionally with some excess of oxygen, usually under steady-state conditions, such as at a ratio of 1:4 or higher, especially if the charge has well over 18% water content), directed into a primary single stage reaction zone (through an opening in common with the effluent product gas discharged therefrom such as to assure intimate contact therebetween), which zone contains a tumbling charge in a rotating barrel-shaped horizontal reactor thus heated to from about 650.degree. to about 800.degree. C.

Abstract: In method and apparatus for producing iron and steel from iron cores largely composed of iron oxides, wherein a direct reduction process is used to produce a solid particulate intermediate product, generally known as sponge Iron or Direct Reduced Iron (DRI); pneumatically conveying large iron-bearing particles, such as pelletized iron ore or particularly DRI, in a closed transport pipe, eg. from the reduction reactor of the direct reduction process to the metallurgical furnaces where liquid iron or steel are produced, for example electric arc furnaces, induction furnaces, basic oxygen furnaces, etc. or to a briquetting press to form DRI briquettes, or simply to a silo or storage bin, or in general to a subsequent processing step for said DRI. When the carrier gas is recirculated for reuse, surprisingly air can be a preferred source of such gas, especially for reactive hot DRI.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for gasification of organic materials (typically incorporated in domestic and industrial wastes, including auto shredder residues) to produce useful synthesis gas (primarily CO & H.sub.2) with effectively non-toxic ash residue by means of a preferably stoichiometric burner directed into a single stage reactor containing a tumbling charge thus heated to 650.degree. to 800.degree. C. (below the incipient fusion temperature of the charge) resulting in thermally cracking and gasifying the organic materials in the charge and reacting the complex hydrocarbons and gas evolved with the CO.sub.2 and H.sub.2 O generated by the burner by combustion of a fuel and oxygen-containing gas at a high flame temperature, typically 2500.degree. to 3000.degree. C.

Abstract: In a method of producing iron and steel, from iron ores largely composed of iron oxides, wherein a direct reduction process is used to produce a solid particulate intermediate product, generally known as sponge iron or Direct Reduced Iron (DRI); pneumatically conveying the DRI in a closed pipe from the reduction reactor of the direct reduction process to the metallurgical furnaces where liquid iron or steel are produced, for example electric arc furnaces, induction furnaces, basic oxygen furnaces, etc. or to a briquetting press to form DRI briquettes, or simply to a silo or storage bin, or in general to a subsequent processing step for said DRI. When the carrier gas is recirculated for reuse, surprisingly air is preferred as the source of such gas, especially for reactive hot DRI. This method has a superior efficiency and productivity and reduces the overall energy consumption relative to currently used DRI steelmaking plants.

Abstract: Magnetic valve and methods related thereto for regulating the physically unobstructed flow of ferromagnetic particulate solid materials through a conduit by means of an electromagnetic and/or permanent magnetic device for establishing and controlling a magnetic field, which is caused to selectively pass along a magnetic circuit which comprises said particulate materials in said conduit to be regulated and wherein said magnetic field is deviated from said conduit or deactivated to allow the flow of said material.

Abstract: Improved process and apparatus for the reduction of iron oxides employing a solid reducing agent. Particulate iron oxides are mixed with particles of the reducing agent and are subjected to high temperatures within a vessel made of refractory material which is externally heated in a furnace. The problem and drawbacks that have been found in the past, such as the fracture and high costs of the refractory vessels, are solved by means of the present invention which comprises laying a sheet made of tinplate or of other suitable material, between the vessel and solids to prevent them from sticking to the vessel because of the high temperature, thus providing an economic and advantageous process. In one of its embodiments, this process is particularly suitable for the production of high purity iron, that is with a low content of gangue and carbon. This high purity iron, once converted to powder with adequate particle size, has a number of diverse applications in industry.

Abstract: Particulate iron ore is reduced to sponge iron in a vertical shaft reduction reactor by forcing the ore upwardly in a moving bed counter-current to a descending stream of hot reducing gas produced by the gasification of coal in a gasifier, for example, a melter-gasifier, containing a molten iron bath and producing a hot dust-laden gas. The product sponge iron may be used as a feed material for the molten bath in the gasifier. The reactor is equipped with a gas outlet plenum containing a renewable body of ore to minimize clogging at the gas outlet.

Abstract: Improved operation of the broadly known combination of a moving bed, gaseous reduction reactor for reducing iron ore and a melter-gasifier for converting to molten metal the sponge iron pellets produced in such a reactor is achieved by preparing a mixture of finely ground sponge iron and coal, either by mixing the sponge iron and coal and then grinding or by separately grinding the sponge iron and coal and then mixing, and feeding the mixture of finely ground coal and sponge iron, along with elemental oxygen, to a point below the surface of a molten metal bath within the melter-gasifier.

Abstract: A method for the batchwise reduction of iron ore to sponge iron in a multiple unit reactor system is disclosed in which (a) separate fixed beds of iron-bearing material are simultaneously treated in at least one cooling reactor and at least two reduction reactors, (b) a reducing gas composed largely of carbon monoxide and hydrogen is used to cool the iron-bearing material in said cooling reactor and thereafter to reduce the iron-bearing material in said reduction reactors, (c) a stream of said reducing gas is caused to pass through the fixed bed of iron ore in said cooling reactor and then cooled and (d) a portion of the cooled effluent reducing gas from said cooling reactor is recycled thereto, the improvement which comprises causing the remainder of the cooling reactor effluent gas to be fed to said reduction reactors and to flow in parallel through the fixed beds of metal-bearing material in said reduction reactors, and heating the reducing gas fed to said reduction reactors before it enters said reactors