Patents by Inventor Robert Millner
Robert Millner has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Publication number: 20260043103Abstract: A method for melting DRI consisting at least partly of HBI and/or HCI using a melting process, wherein the HBI and/or the HCI is comminuted before being supplied to the melting process, and HBI or HCI fragments obtained during the comminuting process are supplied to the melting process.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 13, 2023Publication date: February 12, 2026Applicant: PRIMETALS TECHNOLOGIES AUSTRIA GMBHInventors: Robert MILLNER, Jan-Friedemann PLAUL
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Publication number: 20260035758Abstract: A method for producing molten iron. The reduction of iron oxide-containing material to form a metallized product is performed using a reduction gas consisting at least largely of hydrogen H2. Top gas is accumulated during the reduction process. First sub-quantity of top gas is combined with reducing reduction gas components to provide reduction gas, and second sub-quantity of the top gas, as a discharged gas, is subjected to a gas separation process into a hydrogen-enriched gas flow and a hydrogen-depleted tail gas flow. Metallized product of the reduction process is combined with carbon carriers to be melted in a melting device to form a molten iron, and a smelting exhaust gas is accumulated. Sub-quantity of the tail gas flow is combined with at least a sub-quantity of the smelting exhaust gas, and a tail gas mixture is produced. Sub-quantity of the tail gas mixture is supplied to a thermal use.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 13, 2023Publication date: February 5, 2026Applicant: PRIMETALS TECHNOLOGIES AUSTRIA GMBHInventors: Robert MILLNER, Norbert REIN, Johann WURM, Karl-Heinz ZELLINGER
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Patent number: 12378616Abstract: The invention relates to a method for sealing a reduction assembly, wherein the reduction assembly has a product discharge device, wherein the product discharge device is supplied with sealing gas and wherein at least one compressor is provided for delivering prepared sealing gas to the product discharge device, wherein according to the invention, at least one nitrogen generator is provided for producing pure sealing gas, and wherein the sealing gas for supplying to the product discharge device is composed of pure sealing gas from the at least one nitrogen generator or composed of pure sealing gas from the at least one nitrogen generator and of prepared sealing gas from the at least one compressor. The invention also relates to a device with which the method according to the invention is carried out.Type: GrantFiled: July 3, 2020Date of Patent: August 5, 2025Assignee: Primetals Technologies Austria GmbHInventors: Robert Millner, Johannes Rothberger, Hans Thomas Sattler
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Publication number: 20250207211Abstract: A method for the reduction of a metal oxide-containing material in which a reducing gas that is obtained using ammonia (NH3) is used. The reducing gas is supplied to a reduction reactor containing the metal oxide-containing material, and a top gas is discharged from the reduction reactor. At least one sub-quantity of the top gas is used as components in the preparation of the reducing gas, optionally after the top gas is prepared. A device for the reduction of the metal oxide-containing material that includes a reduction reactor, a top gas discharge line for discharging top gas, a supply line for an ammonia contribution, a preparation system for preparing the reducing gas, a supply line for the ammonia contribution leading into the preparation system, and a feed line for feeding the reducing gas and/or a precursor of the reducing gas to the reduction reactor.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 29, 2023Publication date: June 26, 2025Inventors: Alexander FLEISCHANDERL, Robert MILLNER, Bernd WEISS
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Publication number: 20250092478Abstract: A direct reduction plant that includes a catalytic reformer and/or a gas furnace and a gas compression plant having one or more compressors. The gas compression plant includes at least one compression stage, and wherein at least one gas cooler for compressed gas. A direct introduction line for introducing gas directly into the reformer and/or into the gas furnace proceeds from the gas compression plant or the gas cooler. A bypass is provided at least at one of the compressors. During operation, at least a portion of the compressed gas is cooled and compressed gas from the gas compression plant or the gas cooler is introduced directly into the reformer and/or the gas furnace. At least intermittently, a portion of a gas compressed by a compressor is returned by means of the bypass.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 1, 2022Publication date: March 20, 2025Inventors: Robert MILLNER, Hans Thomas SATTLER
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Patent number: 12209293Abstract: A method of direct reduction of metal oxides that includes catalytic reforming of hydrocarbonaceous gas in a reformer to obtain reformer gas, obtaining at least one precursor gas based on the reformer gas, preparing a reduction gas by heating the at least one precursor gas by means of electrical energy, at least a portion of the electrical energy being introduced by means of plasma.Type: GrantFiled: December 16, 2019Date of Patent: January 28, 2025Assignee: PRIMETALS TECHNOLOGIES AUSTRIA GMBHInventors: Franz Hauzenberger, Robert Millner, Hanspeter Ofner, Norbert Rein, Gerald Rosenfellner, Johann Wurm
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Patent number: 12180554Abstract: The invention relates to a process for producing carburized directly reduced iron sponge from iron oxide material. Firstly, direct reduction is carried out by means of a reduction gas consisting at least predominantly of H2 and the carbon content in the iron sponge is then increased by means of a carburizing gas which is fed in, after which used carburizing gas is at least partly taken off while largely avoiding mixing with the reduction gas. The plant for producing carburized directly reduced iron sponge from iron oxide material comprises a reduction zone for directly reducing introduced iron oxide material to directly reduced product by means of reduction gas consisting predominantly of H2 and a reduction gas feed conduit opening into the reduction zone. It also comprises a carburization zone having a carburizing gas feed conduit opening into the carburization zone and a carburization offgas conduit.Type: GrantFiled: June 12, 2019Date of Patent: December 31, 2024Assignee: PRIMETALS TECHNOLOGIES AUSTRIA GMBHInventors: Christian Boehm, Robert Millner
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Publication number: 20240052442Abstract: A process for steel production that includes: production of sponge iron from iron oxide-containing starting material by direct reduction with reduction gas, wherein the reduction gas has at least 20% by volume of hydrogen H2, and production of an iron melt having a carbon content of 1-5% by mass from the sponge iron. Sponge iron is subjected to a treatment that includes: energy input and addition of additives to produce a melt and a slag, wherein the energy input is effected substantially from electricity and wherein the slag has a basicity B2 of less than 1.3, preferably less than 1.25, particularly preferably less than 1.2, adjustment of the carbon content in the melt, reduction of at least a sub-amount of the iron oxides present in the sponge iron The slag is separated during and/or after the treatment.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 28, 2021Publication date: February 15, 2024Inventors: Robert MILLNER, Norbert REIN, Johann WURM
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Patent number: 11773459Abstract: A method for the direct reduction of feedstock, containing metal-oxide, to form metallic material, by contact with hot reduction gas in a reduction assembly (1): the product of the direct reduction process is discharged from the reduction assembly by a product discharge apparatus, which is flushed with seal gas, drawn off from the vent gas and subsequently dedusted. At least one portion of the dedusted vent gas is used as a combustion energy source during the production of the reduction gas, and/or as a component of a furnace fuel gas during a combustion process for heating the reduction gas, and/or as a component of the reduction gas. Apparatus for carrying out the method is disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: June 8, 2017Date of Patent: October 3, 2023Inventor: Robert Millner
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Publication number: 20230250499Abstract: A method for direct reduction of metal oxide-containing starting materials to produce metallized material by contact with hot reduction gas in a reduction unit (1), wherein the product of the direct reduction is discharged from the reduction unit (1) by means of a product discharge device (3) which is flushed with seal gas and from which vent gas is drawn and subsequently de-dusted. The vent gas is de-dusted dry and the content of at least one gaseous constituent is reduced by catalytic conversion or combustion. Also, a device for carrying out the method is disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 14, 2023Publication date: August 10, 2023Inventors: Thomas EDER, Robert MILLNER
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Patent number: 11697855Abstract: A method for direct reduction of metal oxide-containing starting materials to produce metallized material by contact with hot reduction gas in a reduction unit (1), wherein the product of the direct reduction is discharged from the reduction unit (1) by means of a product discharge device (3) which is flushed with seal gas and from which vent gas is drawn and subsequently de-dusted. The vent gas is de-dusted dry and the content of at least one gaseous constituent is reduced by catalytic conversion or combustion. Also, a device for carrying out the method is disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: June 8, 2017Date of Patent: July 11, 2023Inventors: Thomas Eder, Robert Millner
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Publication number: 20220259685Abstract: The invention relates to a method for sealing a reduction assembly, wherein the reduction assembly has a product discharge device, wherein the product discharge device is supplied with sealing gas and wherein at least one compressor is provided for delivering prepared sealing gas to the product discharge device, wherein according to the invention, at least one nitrogen generator is provided for producing pure sealing gas, and wherein the sealing gas for supplying to the product discharge device is composed of pure sealing gas from the at least one nitrogen generator or composed of pure sealing gas from the at least one nitrogen generator and of prepared sealing gas from the at least one compressor. The invention also relates to a device with which the method according to the invention is carried out.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 3, 2020Publication date: August 18, 2022Applicant: Primetals Technologies Austria GmbHInventors: Robert Millner, Johannes Rothberger, Hans Thomas Sattler
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Publication number: 20220074006Abstract: Process for the direct reduction of metal oxides (2) using a reduction gas, which is based on at least one precursor gas, wherein at least one precursor gas (15, 22) is based on reformer gas obtained by catalytic reforming of hydrocarbon-containing gas (4) in a reformer (3), and in the preparation of the reduction gas at least one precursor gas based on reformer gas is heated up by means of electrical energy.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 16, 2019Publication date: March 10, 2022Inventors: Franz HAUZENBERGER, Robert MILLNER, Hanspeter OFNER, Norbert REIN, Gerald ROSENFELLNER, Johann WURM
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Publication number: 20210246521Abstract: The invention relates to a process for producing carburized directly reduced iron sponge from iron oxide material. Firstly, direct reduction is carried out by means of a reduction gas consisting at least predominantly of H2 and the carbon content in the iron sponge is then increased by means of a carburizing gas which is fed in, after which used carburizing gas is at least partly taken off while largely avoiding mixing with the reduction gas. The plant for producing carburized directly reduced iron sponge from iron oxide material comprises a reduction zone for directly reducing introduced iron oxide material to directly reduced product by means of reduction gas consisting predominantly of H2 and a reduction gas feed conduit opening into the reduction zone. It also comprises a carburization zone having a carburizing gas feed conduit opening into the carburization zone and a carburization offgas conduit.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 12, 2019Publication date: August 12, 2021Applicant: Primetals Technologies Austria GmbHInventors: Christian Boehm, Robert Millner
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Patent number: 11078549Abstract: The invention relates to a method for reducing metal oxides to metallized material by means of contact with reduction gas, wherein an accumulated top gas is dry dedusted and reformed in a raw gas mixture together with gaseous hydrocarbons. The water vapor content of the dry dedusted top gas designated for the preparation of the raw gas mixture is adjusted in a saturator in the countercurrent by means of saturation water, wherein the temperature of the saturation water is adjusted, by mixing cold water with a hot water having a higher temperature than the cold water, in order to produce the saturation water at a target value. The invention further relates to a device for carrying out such a method, having corresponding conduits.Type: GrantFiled: August 23, 2018Date of Patent: August 3, 2021Assignee: PRIMETALS TECHNOLOGIES AUSTRIA GMBHInventors: Andreas Steinwandter, Robert Millner, Hanspeter Ofner
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Publication number: 20200332377Abstract: A method for direct reduction of metal oxide-containing starting materials to produce metallized material by contact with hot reduction gas in a reduction unit (1), wherein the product of the direct reduction is discharged from the reduction unit (1) by means of a product discharge device (3) which is flushed with seal gas and from which vent gas is drawn and subsequently de-dusted. The vent gas is de-dusted dry and the content of at least one gaseous constituent is reduced by catalytic conversion or combustion. Also, a device for carrying out the method is disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 8, 2017Publication date: October 22, 2020Applicant: Primetals Technologies Austria GmbHInventors: Thomas EDER, Robert MILLNER
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Publication number: 20200318206Abstract: A method for the direct reduction of feedstock, containing metal-oxide, to form metallic material, by contact with hot reduction gas in a reduction assembly (1): the product of the direct reduction process is discharged from the reduction assembly by a product discharge apparatus, which is flushed with seal gas, drawn off from the vent gas and subsequently dedusted. At least one portion of the dedusted vent gas is used as a combustion energy source during the production of the reduction gas, and/or as a component of a furnace fuel gas during a combustion process for heating the reduction gas, and/or as a component of the reduction gas. Apparatus for carrying out the method is disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 8, 2017Publication date: October 8, 2020Inventor: Robert MILLNER
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Publication number: 20200216921Abstract: The invention relates to a method for reducing metal oxides to metallized material by means of contact with reduction gas, wherein an accumulated top gas is dry dedusted and reformed in a raw gas mixture together with gaseous hydrocarbons. The water vapor content of the dry dedusted top gas designated for the preparation of the raw gas mixture is adjusted in a saturator in the countercurrent by means of saturation water, wherein the temperature of the saturation water is adjusted, by mixing cold water with a hot water having a higher temperature than the cold water, in order to produce the saturation water at a target value. The invention further relates to a device for carrying out such a method, having corresponding conduits.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 23, 2018Publication date: July 9, 2020Applicant: Primetals Technologies Austria GmbHInventors: Andreas STEINWANDTER, Robert MILLNER, Hanspeter OFNER
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Patent number: 10337076Abstract: A method for reducing metal oxide containing charge materials (1): reducing the metal oxide containing charge materials (1) in at least two fluidized bed units (RA,RE) by means of a reduction gas (2), wherein at least some of the resulting off-gas (3) is recycled and wherein the metal oxide containing charge materials (1) are conveyed into the fluidized bed unit RE by a propellant gas. Also, apparatus for carrying out the method according to the invention is disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: January 27, 2015Date of Patent: July 2, 2019Assignee: PRIMETALS TECHNOLOGIES AUSTRIA GMBHInventors: Robert Millner, Jan-Friedemann Plaul, Norbert Rein
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Publication number: 20180363075Abstract: A method for producing liquid pig iron (1), includes reducing iron-oxide-containing feed materials (2) to form a partially reduced first iron product (3) in a first reduction system (4), introducing the partially reduced first iron product (3), a first oxygen-containing gas (9, 9a), and a first carbon carrier (10) into a melter gasifier (11), introducing a second gaseous and/or liquid carbon carrier (13) and a second oxygen-containing gas (9b) into a mixing region (18) within the melter gasifier (11) above the fixed bed of the melter gasifier, mixing the second gaseous and/or liquid carbon carrier (13) with the second oxygen-containing gas (9b) in the mixing region (18), wherein the combustion air ratio is set in the range of 0.2 to 0.4, preferably between 0.3 and 0.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 26, 2017Publication date: December 20, 2018Inventors: Franz HOLZLEITHNER, Robert MILLNER, Wolfgang PANHUBER, Norbert REIN, Gerald ROSENFELLNER, Johann WURM