Abstract: A method of conditioning particulate material and/or a gas is provided, comprising the steps of: feeding an amount of particulate material up to a filling level into in an inner volume of a silo having silo walls, a gas inlet and a gas outlet, and generating a gas flow of a gas from the gas inlet through the particulate material to the gas outlet which comprises applying suction to the inner volume of the silo through the gas outlet, wherein the gas outlet is located in a silo wall below the filling level and covered by the particulate material. A system is also provided.

Abstract: An integrated system for blast furnace iron making and power production based upon higher levels of oxygen enrichment in the blast gas is disclosed. The integrated system leads to; 1) enhanced productivity in the blast furnace, 2) more efficient power production, and 3) the potential to more economically capture and sequester carbon dioxide. Oxygen enhances the ability of coal to function as a source of iron reductant and to be gasified within the blast furnace thereby generating an improved fuel-containing top gas.