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: 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
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Patent number: 10030911Abstract: In a process and apparatus for the reduction of metal oxides (3) to form metalized material by contact with hot reducing gas, which is produced at least partially by catalytic reformation of a mixture of a gas containing carbon dioxide (CO2) and/or steam (H2O) with gaseous hydrocarbons, the heat for the endothermal reformation processes which take place during the reformation is provided at least partially by the combustion of a fuel gas.Type: GrantFiled: July 28, 2015Date of Patent: July 24, 2018Assignee: PRIMETALS TECHNOLOGIES AUSTRIA GMBHInventors: Robert Millner, Guenter Peer
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Patent number: 9802838Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for treating process water which is loaded with gaseous compounds and/or possibly with solids and comes from a wet-cleaning installation for cleaning process gas, e.g., from a melt-reduction subassembly or from a direct-reduction subassembly. Process water is introduced in a tank in a first process stage and degassed on the basis of reduced solubility of the dissolved compounds. The tank has, on its upper side, a gas-collecting chamber, in which the separated-off gases are collected and from which these are discharged. Likewise, the treated process water is discharged from the tank via a drainage means.Type: GrantFiled: December 6, 2011Date of Patent: October 31, 2017Assignees: POSCO, PRIMETALS TECHNOLOGIES AUSTRIA GMBHInventors: Alois Gstoettenmayr, Hado Heckmann, Kurt Lukschander, Robert Millner, Ulrike Schmidt, Helmut Siegl, Johann Wurm, Chong Won Choi, Seok Min Yoon
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Patent number: 9797026Abstract: In a process and apparatus for the reduction of metal oxides to form metalized material by contact with hot reducing gas, which is produced at least partially by catalytic reformation of a mixture of—a gas containing carbon dioxide (CO2) and/or steam (H2O) with—gaseous hydrocarbons, the fuel gas for burners which provide the heat for the endothermal reformation processes which take place during the reformation is obtained at least partially from a partial quantity of the top gas produced during the reduction of metal oxides to form metalized material, wherein this partial quantity of the top gas, before it is used as a component of the fuel gas, is firstly subjected to dedusting and then to a CO conversion reaction, and the conversion gas obtained during the CO conversion reaction is subjected to CO2 removal after cooling.Type: GrantFiled: July 28, 2015Date of Patent: October 24, 2017Assignee: PRIMETALS TECHNOLOGIES AUSTRIA GMBHInventors: Robert Millner, Guenter Peer
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Patent number: 9718701Abstract: A method and a device for reducing iron-oxide-containing feedstocks, in which a reducing gas is fed to a reducing unit (1) containing the iron-oxide-containing feedstocks. The reducing gas is generated by introducing a process gas having reduction potential into a heating appliance (3) for heating the process gas, which is withdrawn as reducing gas therefrom. In the heating appliance (3), heat energy is transferred to the process gas. The heat energy is formed by combustion of a fuel gas containing organic substances, including coke oven gas with addition of technically pure oxygen. The flames of the combustion have an adiabatic flame temperature of above 1000° C., wherein, in the combustion of the fuel gas, at least some of the organic substances present in the fuel gas are cracked.Type: GrantFiled: January 17, 2013Date of Patent: August 1, 2017Assignee: PRIMETALS TECHNOLOGIES AUSTRIA GMBHInventors: Robert Millner, Gerald Rosenfellner
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Patent number: 9574247Abstract: In a method and a device for operating a smelting reduction process, at least part of an export gas from a blast furnace or a reduction unit is thermally utilized in a gas turbine and the exhaust gas of this gas turbine is used in a waste heat steam generator to generate steam. The remaining part of the export gas is fed to a CO2 separation apparatus, the tail gas thereby obtained being fed to a waste heat steam generator and burned for additional steam generation. The combustible components of the tail gas are sent for thermal utilization in a steam generator, so that the overall energy balance of the thermal use of the export gas is improved. In addition, a further part of the export gas is qualitatively improved by the CO2 separation apparatus, so as to generate a high-quality reduction gas which can be supplied for metallurgical use.Type: GrantFiled: August 21, 2014Date of Patent: February 21, 2017Assignee: PRIMETALS TECHNOLOGIES AUSTRIA GMBHInventors: Robert Millner, Johannes Leopold Schenk, Kurt Wieder
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Patent number: 9534264Abstract: A system for energy optimization in a plant (3) for producing direct-reduced metal ores (3). The plant (3) has at least one reduction unit (12), a device for separating gas mixtures (7, 7a, 7b) having an associated compressing device (4, 4a, 4b), and a gas-heating device (10) upstream of the reduction unit (12). Part of the process gases (2, 2a, 2b) is fed by a feed line from a smelting reduction plant to the plant for producing direct-reduced metal ores (3). A turbine (8, 8a, 8b) is fit between the device for separating gas mixtures (7, 7a, 7b) and the gas-heating device (10) upstream of the reduction unit (12) such that a pressure drop between the device for separating gas mixtures (7, 7a, 7b) and the reduction unit (12) is converted into forms of energy that can be used to operate additional components (4, 4a, 4b, 15, 15a, 15b) of the plant (3), in particular electrical energy and/or mechanical energy. Energy consumption of the plant (3) is reduced.Type: GrantFiled: August 28, 2012Date of Patent: January 3, 2017Assignee: PRIMETALS TECHNOLOGIES AUSTRIA GMBHInventors: Robert Millner, Gerald Rosenfellner, Harald Sprenger
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Patent number: 9512496Abstract: A method for introducing fine particulate material (4) of ferruginous particles into a fluidized bed reduction unit (1) having a fluidized bed (24), wherein the temperature in the fluidized bed (24) is more than 300° C., and wherein the fine particulate material (4) is introduced directly into the fluidized bed (24) and/or into a free space (25) above the fluidized bed (24) by means of a burner (2). The method may be used for producing liquid pig iron (17) or liquid steel precursor products (18) by a smelting reduction process in a smelting reduction unit (22).Type: GrantFiled: April 4, 2013Date of Patent: December 6, 2016Assignee: PRIMETALS TECHNOLOGIES AUSTRIA GMBHInventors: Franz Hauzenberger, Robert Millner, Jan-Friedemann Plaul, Norbert Rein