By Means Recycling Exhaust Gas Patents (Class 266/156)
  • Publication number: 20100242684
    Abstract: A process for sintering metal-containing materials, such as iron ores or manganese ores, on a sintering machine including a sintering belt for transporting the sinter mix during sintering thereof. The sintering belt has first, second and third portions. Sintering waste gas from the third portion is transported to and unified with sintering waste gas from the first portion in a mixing region to form a mixed gas, wherein the transporting distance of the sintering waste gas from the third portion to the mixing region is greater than the transporting distance of the sintering waste gas from the first portion to the mixing region. An apparatus for carrying out the process is disclosed, including the sintering belt, suction boxes operative at the portions of the belt, and lines for conveying the gas produced and the gases used in the process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2007
    Publication date: September 30, 2010
    Inventors: Karl Laaber, Oskar Pammer, Hans Herbert Stiasny, Anton Sebanz, Karl Zehetbauer
  • Publication number: 20100011908
    Abstract: A process for direct smelting metalliferous feed material in a direct smelting vessel and producing process outputs of molten metal, molten slag, and an off-gas from the vessel is disclosed. The process includes controlling pressure in the direct smelting vessel by controlling off-gas pressure in an off-gas stream supplied to a fluidised bed pretreatment apparatus while the process is operating in the “hold” and “idle” process states.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2007
    Publication date: January 21, 2010
    Inventor: John Neil Goodman
  • Patent number: 7648672
    Abstract: In a system for processing metal, a furnace is provided which receives the metal being processed. At least one heating burner is provided in the furnace together with at least one atmosphere burner of substantially a same construction as the heating burner. An exhaust of the atmosphere burner at least partially provides an atmosphere within the furnace for the metal processing. An exhaust of the heating burner is separate from the exhaust of the atmosphere burner. A fuel feed for the atmosphere burner and a fuel feed for the heating burner are each separately controllable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2010
    Assignee: Tempel Steel Company
    Inventor: Vahe Ohanian
  • Publication number: 20090320647
    Abstract: A direct smelting process for producing molten metal from a metalliferous feed material in a direct smelting vessel is disclosed. The process includes using a stream of off-gas from the vessel as a fuel gas in (i) stoves for generating a hot blast of air or oxygen-enriched air for the process and (ii) a waste heat recovery apparatus for generating steam for the process. The process also includes controlling pressure in the vessel by controlling pressure in the off-gas stream while the process is producing molten metal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2007
    Publication date: December 31, 2009
    Inventor: John Neil Goodman
  • Patent number: 7632453
    Abstract: The invention relates to a gas quenching method of the type that makes use of (i) a quenching cell (V1) which is intended to receive objects to be quenched with a quenching gas and (ii) a buffer capacity (V2) which is designed to contain the quenching gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2009
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide-Societe Anonyme a Directoire et Conseil de Surveillance pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventors: Florent Chaffotte, Nicolas Blanchard, Olivier Delobel, Linda Lefevre
  • Patent number: 7608129
    Abstract: A direct reduction process for producing direct reduced iron (DRI) in a reduction reactor having a reduction zone for reducing iron-oxides-containing particles, such as iron ore pellets, to DRI by reaction of said iron oxides with a high temperature reducing gas, and a cooling zone for lowering the temperature of the DRI produced in said reduction zone, wherein a stream of cooling gas, usually natural gas, is circulated through said cooling zone, a portion of said cooling gas is withdrawn from the cooling zone, cooled and cleaned in a gas cooler and a portion of the cooled gas is recycled to said reduction zone by means of an ejector utilizing the high-pressure natural gas make-up feed as the ejector's motive fluid. Using an ejector for recycling the cooling gas instead of using a mechanical compressor provides significant savings in electricity and in capital, operational and maintenance costs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2009
    Assignee: HYL Technologies S.A. de C.V.
    Inventor: Eugenio Zendejas-Martinez
  • Publication number: 20080290566
    Abstract: Apparatus and process for producing metal products, in which a metal-containing charge material is melted in a melting unit, and a working gas, in particular an at least partially reducing working gas, is additionally produced in the melting unit. The working gas produced is extracted and if appropriate after cleaning, is used as a carrier gas, at least in part for—preferably pneumatic—transport of an at least partially reduced metal-containing material in the form of fine particles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2008
    Publication date: November 27, 2008
    Inventor: Michael Nagl
  • Patent number: 7192552
    Abstract: The present invention provides a reducing furnace of the rotary hearth-type and a method for reducing a metal oxide simplified in the process from dehydration to molding, according to which a moisture-rich powdery raw material is reduced at low cost. The present invention also provides an operation method whereby dusts or sludge generated in the refining or processing of metal are economically recycled. A powdery mixture having a moisture content of 100% or higher relative to the total mass of a metal oxide-containing powder and a carbon-containing powder is made into a slurry and mixed by stirring. Thereafter, the slurry is dehydrated to a moisture content of 16 to 26% and compression-molded into articles. The cylindrical or granular shaped articles having a thickness or diameter of 30 mm or less thus obtained are fed to a zone the atmospheric temperature of which is 1170° C. or lower in the furnace and reduced through calcination by a rotary hearth reducing furnace thereby to provide a metal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2007
    Assignee: Nippon Steel Corporation
    Inventors: Tetsuharu Ibaraki, Takashi Hiromatsu, Satoshi Kondo, Shoji Imura, Yoichi Abe
  • Patent number: 6797034
    Abstract: A method of producing reduced metals is disclosed in which a mixture of a metal oxide and a reducing agent is heated by a burner such that the metal oxide is reduced to a reduced metal. Dry-distilled gas generated during carbonization of an organic matter-containing component is used as fuel for the burner. The sensible heat of exhaust gas evolved by the burner is utilized as heat for carbonizing the organic matter-containing component. Carbide derived by carbonizing the organic matter-containing component is used as the above reducing agent. This method yields excellent cost performance. An apparatus for reducing metal oxides is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2004
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Seiko Sho
    Inventors: Hiroshi Sugitatsu, Hidetoshi Tanaka, Takao Harada
  • Patent number: 6761779
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for preheating a metal strip in at least one direct fired preheating section of a furnace for limiting the oxidation of the metal strip. The method includes installing burners in the preheating section along its length for establishing a plurality of preheating sub-zones of unit length corresponding to one burner. The air and fuel settings for each burner are adjusted in accordance with a desired heat demand. Subsequent steps include operating a variable number of downstream burners at full power to establish a preheating zone of variable length to produce the desired heat demand, and extinguishing a second variable number of upstream burners to establish a corresponding variable recovery zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2004
    Assignee: Stein Heurtey
    Inventors: Didier Delaunay, Alain Morel
  • Publication number: 20030192405
    Abstract: The invention relates to a steelmaking thermal energy recovery system. The steelmaking thermal energy recovery system comprises a steelmaking waste flue gas, a calcinable material, and a kiln. The steelmaking waste flue gas provides at least a portion of the thermal energy to the kiln for calcination of the calcinable material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2002
    Publication date: October 16, 2003
    Inventor: Willard K. McClintock
  • Patent number: 6592646
    Abstract: In a method of producing direct reduced iron with use of a coal-derived gas, coal is heated to lower the moisture thereof, and the moisture-lowered coal is gasified in a coal gasification furnace to produce a coal-derived gas containing a reducing gas. The reducing gas is then utilized to reduce iron ore in an iron ore reducing furnace. With use of an exhaust gas from the iron ore reducing furnace, the coal is heated in the step of heating coal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2003
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Kobe Seiko Sho, Babcock-Hitachi Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takuo Shigehisa, Jinichi Tomuro, Eiichiro Makino
  • Patent number: 6569377
    Abstract: In a process for the direct reduction of particulate iron-oxide-containing material by fluidization, a synthesis gas is introduced as a reducing gas into several fluidized bed zones consecutively arranged in series. The reducing gas is conducted from one fluidized bed zone to another fluidized bed zone in counterflow to a flow of particulate iron-oxide containing material through the fluidized bed zones. In order to reduce operating costs and, in particular, the energy demand, various process parameters are varied according to the temperature of the iron-oxide-containing material in the first fluidized bed zone being adjusted to be below 400° C. (and, preferably, below 350° C.), above 580° C. (and preferably about 650° C.), or to a temperature within the range of from 400° C. to 580° C. If the temperature of the iron-oxide-containing material in the first fluidized bed zone is maintained to be below 400° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2003
    Assignee: Voest-Alpine Industrieanlagenbau GmbH
    Inventors: Siegfried Zeller, Konstantin Milionis, Johann Reidetschläger, Leopold Werner Kepplinger, Johann Zirngast, Johannes Schenk, Roy Hubert Whipp, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6551549
    Abstract: Apparatus for the direct reduction of mineral iron comprising a vertical reduction furnace (10) of the type with a gravitational load to achieve therein reduction reactions of the mineral iron, means (11) to feed the mineral iron into the furnace (10) from above, means to raise the temperature of a reducing gas, mixing means suitable to obtain a mixture of the reducing gas with at least a hydrocarbon, means to inject the mixture of high temperature gas, and means to remove (15) the reduced mineral from the lower part of the furnace (10), the furnace (10) being provided with at least two zones (12, 14), arranged vertically distanced, in each of which a mixture of high temperature gas is suitable to be introduced so as to achieve the reduction reactions in a controlled manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2003
    Assignee: Danieli & C. Officine Meccaniche SpA
    Inventors: Henry Rafael Bueno, David Rabascall, Gianpietro Benedetti
  • Publication number: 20020189403
    Abstract: A method of producing reduced metals is disclosed in which a mixture of a metal oxide and a reducing agent is heated by a burner such that the metal oxide is reduced to a reduced metal. Dry-distilled gas generated during carbonization of an organic matter-containing component is used as fuel for the burner. The sensible heat of exhaust gas evolved by the burner is utilized as heat for carbonizing the organic matter-containing component. Carbide derived by carbonizing the organic matter-containing component is used as the above reducing agent. This method yields excellent cost performance. An apparatus for reducing metal oxides is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2002
    Publication date: December 19, 2002
    Applicant: Kabushiki Kaisha Kobe Seiko Sho(Kobe Steel, Ltd.)
    Inventors: Hiroshi Sugitatsu, Hidetoshi Tanaka, Takao Harada
  • Patent number: 6495092
    Abstract: A combustion apparatus comprises a pair or more than two pairs of burner groups. Each burner group comprises one regenerator per a plurality of burners. In each pair of burner groups, a first burner group and a second burner group are fired alternately and waste heat produced when the first burner group is fired is stored in a regenerator of the second burner group. The stored waste heat is utilized to preheat the combustion air of the second burner group when the second burner group is fired. Similarly, waste heat produced when the second burner group is fired is stored in a regenerator of the first burner group, and the stored waste heat is utilized to preheat the combustion air of the first burner group when the first burner group is fired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2002
    Assignee: Sanken Sangyo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Katsumi Hazama, Keinosuke Masuki, Takayuki Inami, Miki Takai, Eiichi Kashima, Tetsuya Yamada
  • Patent number: 6491738
    Abstract: A two-stage fluidized bed reducing apparatus and a reducing method for fine iron ore of a wide particle size distribution with an increased degree of utilization of the reducing gas. Fine iron particles dropping through the holes of a gas distributor can be recycled into the fluidized bed furnace, thereby preventing an impediment of the reducing gas flow due to abnormal defluidizing or channeling. A first fluidized bed furnace dries, pre-heats and pre-reduces the fine iron ore, and a second fluidized bed furnace finally reduces the pre-reduced iron ore. Downstream of the respective fluidized beds are installed intermediate hoppers and gas/solid sealing valves. Thus, the fine iron ore particles which drop through the holes of gas distributors during the abnormal operation are recycled to the furnaces. Accordingly, the gas flow is not impeded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2002
    Assignees: Pohang Iron & Steel Co., Ltd., Research Institute of Industrial Science & Technology, Voest-Alpine Industrieanlagenbau GmbH
    Inventors: Il Ock Lee, Hang Goo Kim, Uoo Chang Jung, Nag Joon Choi
  • Patent number: 6482351
    Abstract: An apparatus for producing reduced iron dries agglomerates, pelletized from a powdery mixture of an iron oxide powder and a reducing agent, in a drying chamber, preheats the dried agglomerates in a preheating chamber, and then reduces the preheated agglomerates in a high temperature atmosphere of a reducing furnace. In the preheating chamber, an off-gas from the reducing furnace is convected to preheat the dried agglomerates. A decrease in the fuel cost, and downsizing of the equipment can be achieved by effective use of the sensible heat of the off-gas discharged from the reducing furnace. Moreover, a downsized, simplified system for treatment of the off-gas is realized by decreasing the amount of the off-gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2002
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Susumu Kamikawa, Kouichi Hirata, Yoshimitsu Onaka
  • Patent number: 6383444
    Abstract: A process to optimize the reduction process with a given quality of ore. The reduction gas 7 is analyzed by means of gas sensor 1 and is separated into two partial flows. The throughput of the partial flow which is oxidized is regulated by a regulation valve 3 and is then sent to the burner 4 where it is oxidized. The other partial flow of the reduction gas [7] is regulated by a regulation valve 2 according to the required amount of gas in the shaft and is thereafter brought to the required temperature in the heat exchanger 11 and mixed with the oxidized partial flow of the reduction gas. The gas components are determined by a gas sensor 13 and, when necessary, a gas delivery 14 is adjusted according to mathematical formulations. This makes it possible it possible to run the reduction process in the direction of its stoichiomeric optimum using a given quality of ore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2002
    Assignee: Voest-Alpine Industrieanlagenbau GmbH
    Inventor: Gerald Rosenfellner
  • Patent number: 6379421
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for separating undesired toxic metals, such as Zn, Pb and Cd, from iron-containing materials by: sintering a mixture of such materials (typically including EAF dust and mill scale) with carbonaceous particles to form sturdy sinter lumps; preheating such lumps in a non-reducing atmosphere, if needed, to achieve an elevated temperature generally above the vaporization temperature of the undesired metals, but below the sticking temperature of iron-containing lumps (which is typically below the vaporization temperatures of such undesired metals in their oxide form), feeding the lumps at such elevated temperature into a reduction reactor; flowing hot reducing gas through lumps to volatilize undesired reduced metals and carry the volatilized metals out of reduction reactor leaving the iron-containing lumps largely stripped of the undesired metals and ready for discharge and safe and/or useful disposal or re-use, and finally cooling the off gas from the reactor
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2002
    Assignee: Hylsa S.A. de C.V.
    Inventors: Mario Alberto Salinas-Fernández, Maria Teresa Guerra-Reyes, José Mariá Eloy Aparicio-Arranz, Juan Antonio Villarreal-Treviño, Miguel Angel Pedroza-Contreras
  • Patent number: 6379420
    Abstract: In a method for producing a hot CO- and H2-containing reducing gas serving for the reduction of fine-grained metal ore, in particular iron ore, the reducing gas is formed in a gasification zone by a gasification of carbon carriers, in particular coal, taking place under the supply of oxygen and subsequently is cooled down to a reducing-gas temperature favorable to the reduction process. In order to produce a thermodynamically more stable reducing gas, the reducing gas by the addition of H2O and/or CO2—in order to prevent the Boudouard and heterogeneous water-gas reaction and a resultant heating of the reducing gas—is converted to a reducing gas that is thermodynamically more stable at the reducing-gas temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2002
    Assignees: Voest-Alpine Industrieanlagenbau GmbH, Pohang Iron & Steel Co., Ltd., Research Institute of Industrial Science and Technology, Incorporated Foundation
    Inventors: Leopold Werner Kepplinger, Johann Wurm, Herbert Mizelli, Walter Rainer Kastner, Günther Brunnbauer
  • Publication number: 20010028136
    Abstract: A two-chamber furnace for smelting scrap aluminum which is contaminated, has a distillation chamber above the first furnace chamber functioning as a charging stack and separated from the first chamber by a slider or flap arrangement. Flue gas from the first chamber is forced through the distillation chamber to destructively distill off the contaminants. The hood of the distillation chamber is equipped with a pressing body to compact the charge.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2001
    Publication date: October 11, 2001
    Applicant: HERTWICH ENGINEERING GMBH
    Inventor: Gunter Hertwich
  • Patent number: 6277324
    Abstract: An apparatus and a method for manufacturing molten pig iron by using a fine iron ore are disclosed. Coal is used to produce a reducing gas, and a fine iron ore is used to produce a molten iron and a reduced iron in a simple and efficient manner. The apparatus for manufacturing a molten iron by directly using coal as the fuel is as follows. A high temperature reducing gas is sent from a melter-gasifier to a fluidized bed lime stone calcining furnace to calcine the lime stone. The reducing gas is supplied to a second fluidized bed reducing furnace so as to manufacture a reduced iron directly. An off-gas from the second fluidized bed reducing furnace is supplied to a first fluidized bed reducing furnace (disposed above the second fluidized bed reducing furnace) to pre-heat and pre-reduce the fine iron ore. The calcined lime stone and the finally reduced iron are supplied to a melter-gasifier to manufacture a molten pig iron.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2001
    Assignees: Pohang Iron & Steel Co. LTD, Research Institute of Industrial Science & Technology, Voest-Alpine Industrieanlagenbau GmbH
    Inventors: Sang Hoon Joo, Sang Deuk Lee, Myoung Kyun Shin, Jun Hyuk Lee, Min Young Cho, Hang Goo Kim, Heung Won Kang
  • Patent number: 6273934
    Abstract: A method of producing metals and metal alloys from metal oxides is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of partially pre-reducing the metal oxides to a pre-reduction degree of at least 60% in one or more pre-reduction stages. Thereafter, the method comprises completely reducing the metal oxides and melting the metal in a smelt reduction stage. The method is further characterized by carrying out at least one of the pre-reduction stages with one or more of natural gas, reformed natural gas, and partially reformed natural gas as a source of reductant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2001
    Assignee: Technological Resouces Pty. Ltd.
    Inventor: Rodney James Dry
  • Patent number: 6264722
    Abstract: In a process for producing molten pig iron or steel preproducts from fine-particulate iron containing material in a meltdown gasifying zone of a melter gasifier, under the supply of carbon-containing material and oxygen-containing gas at the simultaneous formation of a reducing gas in a bed formed of solid carbon carriers, the iron-containing material is melted when passing the bed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2001
    Assignees: Voest-Alpine, Pohang Iron & Steel Co. Ltd.
    Inventors: Werner Leopold Kepplinger, Felix Wallner, Johannes Schenk
  • Patent number: 6251162
    Abstract: In a method for producing liquid pig iron or liquid steel pre-products from charging substances comprising iron ore, preferably in lumps or pellets, and optionally fluxes. The charging substances are directly reduced to sponge iron in a reduction zone (12) and the sponge iron is melted in a melt-down gasifying zone (8) under the supply of carbon carriers and oxygen-containing gas. CO-and H2-containing gas is introduced into the reduction zone (12) and is reacted there. An export gas is withdrawn and conducted to a consumer (20). The export gas is subjected to CO2 removal or partial combustion and the resulting gas with CO2 is introduced back into the reduction process. This is done to keep down the carbon carriers having high portion of Cfix as well as consumption of O2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2001
    Assignee: Deutsche Voest-Alpine Industrieanlagenbau GmbH
    Inventors: Ernst Eichberger, Günter Schrey, Franz Reufer, Jörg Diehl, Gerald Rosenfellner
  • Patent number: 6235083
    Abstract: A method for producing a hot CO- and H2-containing reducing gas utilized for the reduction of lumpy metal ore, in particular iron ore, which comprises forming the reducing gas in a gasification zone by the gasification of carbon carriers, in particular coal, taking place in the presence of a supply of oxygen and subsequently cooling the reducing gas down to a reducing-gas temperature favorable to the reduction process, wherein H2O and/or CO2 is added to a reducing gas which has been subjectged to a cooling operation that does not effect an addition of H2O/CO2 in order to prevent the Boudouard and heterogeneous water-gas reaction and a resultant heating of the reducing gas, wherein the reducing gas is converted to a reducing gas that is thermodynamically more stable at the reducing-gas temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2001
    Assignee: Deutsche Voest-Alpine Industrieanlagenbau GmbH.
    Inventors: Leopold Werner Kepplinger, Johann Wurm, Herbert Mizelli, Walter Rainer Kastner, Günther Brunnbauer
  • Patent number: 6235082
    Abstract: With a method for producing liquid metal from charging substances containing ore and of fluxes, the ore is directly reduced to sponge metal in at least one reduction zone (5, 7, 8), the sponge metal is melted along with fluxes in a melt-down gasifying zone (11) under the supply of carbon carriers and an oxygen-containing gas. A CO- and H2-containing process gas serving as a reducing gas is produced, fed into the reduction zone (5, 7, 8), reacted there, and subsequently withdrawn, wherein slagforming fluxes, in particular calcium carbonate, dolomite etc., gas are calcined by the process gas in a calcining zone (26′) that is separate from the reduction zone (5, 7, 8) and melt-down zone (11). To be able to employ slagforming fluxes of any desired grain and without disturbances of the reduction process, the calcining zone (26′) is connected in parallel to the reduction zone (5, 7, 8) with respect to the material flow and the calcined fluxes are fed into the melter gasifier (10) directly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2001
    Assignees: Voest-Alpine Industrieanlagenbau GmbH, Pohang Iron & Steel Co., Ltd., Research Institute of Industrial Science & Technology
    Inventors: Werner Leopold Kepplinger, Johann Wurm, Johannes-Leopold Schenk
  • Patent number: 6224650
    Abstract: An apparatus for manufacturing molten iron by using a calcination furnace, and a manufacturing method therefor are disclosed. A high temperature reducing gas (1000 to 1100° C.) from a melter gasifier is used as a calcination heat in a calcination furnace so as to cool the high temperature reducing gas to the optimum reduction temperature (800 to 850° C.), and so as to supply the cooled reducing gas to a shaft furnace, whereby the manufacture of the molten iron can be efficiently carried out, and a high thermal efficiency is realized even without a separate gas cooling device. Therefore, a separate cooling device for cooling the hot reducing gas of the melter gasifier is not required. Further, the hot reducing gas is naturally cooled at the calcination furnace, and therefore, the thermal efficiency of the hot reducing gas of the melter gasifier is maximized. Further, a separate water-using cooler and a separate compressor are omitted, and therefore, the molten iron manufacturing facility is simplified.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2001
    Assignee: Pohang Iron & Steel Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sang Deok Lee, Young Chae Jung, Yoon Chul Park
  • Patent number: 6214082
    Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the reduction of metal-oxide-bearing material, particularly of iron ore, in a reduction vessel (1), wherein the metal-oxide-bearing material is charged from a vessel (2) for the metal-oxide-bearing material into the reduction vessel (1) and reduced therein by means of a reduction gas flowing counter currently to the metal-oxide-bearing material and wherein waste reduction gas discharged from the reduction vessel (1) is used for preheating the metal-oxide-bearing material in the vessel (2) for metal-oxide-bearing material, which is characterized in that the waste reduction gas discharged from the reduction vessel (1) is combusted and that a gas seal (16) is operated with the combusted waste reduction gas, which is located between the reduction vessel (1) and the vessel (2) for metal-oxide-bearing material, whereby the reduction vessel (1) is sealed against the vessel (2) for metal-oxide-bearing material (FIG. 1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2001
    Assignee: Voest-Alpine Industrieanlagenbau GmbH
    Inventors: Gerald Rosenfellner, Joerg Diehl
  • Patent number: 6210631
    Abstract: The invention relates to a reduction vessel (1) for the reduction of metal-oxide-bearing material, particularly of iron ore, by means of a reduction gas flowing countercurrently to the metal-oxide-bearing material, which reduction vessel (1) is provided with an inlet (5) for the metal-oxide-bearing material, an inlet (6) for the reduction gas, an outlet (7) for off-gas and an outlet (8) for reduced material, downstream of which outlet (8) a lower sealing leg (9) is connected, a supply line (10) for a first sealing gas being provided at the lower sealing leg (9) in order to seal the reduction vessel (1) against the environment, characterized in that at least one additional supply line (12) for an additional sealing gas is provided at the lower sealing leg (9) , the additional supply line (12) being located downstream of the supply line (10) for the first sealing gas, seen in the direction of flow of the reduced material (FIG. 1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2001
    Assignee: Voest-Alpine Industrieanlagenbau GmbH
    Inventor: Gerald Rosenfellner
  • Patent number: 6203594
    Abstract: A method and a plant for reducing iron ore to pig iron in a blast furnace with the use of carbon, wherein a partial quantity of the carbon is admixed to the iron ore in the form of coke which ensures that the bulk material column is loosened and supported and that the gas can penetrate through the bulk material column in the blast furnace, and wherein the remaining partial carbon quantity is injected as a substitute reducing agent into the blast furnace. Prior to being injected into the blast furnace, the entire partial carbon quantity forming the substitute reducing agent is converted into a low-nitrogen reducing gas by gasification in a gasification reactor arranged spatially separate from the blast furnace.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2001
    Assignee: SMS Schloemann-Siemag Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Hartmut Hille
  • Patent number: 6200518
    Abstract: A melt-reducing facility for directly producing molten iron or molten pig iron by throwing iron bearing material, carbon material and flux into furnace bodies and blowing pure oxygen and/or an oxygen-rich gas therein, wherein a waste heat boiler and a power-generating facility are connected to a plurality of furnace bodies through ducts which can be freely opened and closed, the waste heat boiler being capable of recovering by vaporization the sensible heat and the latent heat of the combustible gases generated from the furnace bodies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2001
    Assignee: Nippon Steel Corporation
    Inventor: Hiroshi Ichikawa
  • Patent number: 6183535
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2001
    Assignee: Hylsa, S.A. de C.V.
    Inventors: Alejandro De-Gyves-De-la-Peña, Ricardo Viramontes-Brown
  • Patent number: 6149859
    Abstract: The present invention is an integrated process and apparatus for supplying at least a portion of the reducing gas feedstock to a reduction reactor, such as a reactor for the direct reduction of iron, wherein the reducing gas contacts a feed material at a mean operating gas pressure and effects reduction of the feed material to provide a reduced product. The integrated process includes gasifying a hydrocarbonaceous feedstock in a partial oxidation reaction to produce a synthesis gas which comprises hydrogen, and carbon monoxide at a pressure substantially greater than the mean operating gas pressure in the reduction reactor. The synthesis gas is expanded to lower its pressure to substantially the mean operating gas pressure in the DRI reduction reactor to thereby form the reducing gas feedstock at the pressure conditions used for the DRI reaction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2000
    Assignee: Texaco Inc.
    Inventors: Frederick C. Jahnke, James S. Falsetti, Gary A. Foulds, Geoffrey R. Rigby
  • Patent number: 6126716
    Abstract: In order to preheat pieces of iron scrap of various sizes and shapes highly effectively while avoiding the fusion of the pieces of iron scrap, a rotary kiln type preheating furnace and a shaft type preheating furnace are arranged in parallel with each other in the front stage of a melting furnace in which iron scrap is melted, and preheated iron scrap is charged from both preheating furnaces into the melting furnace. A damper is provided between the shaft type preheating furnace and the melting furnace, so that exhaust gas discharged from the melting furnace is prevented from directly flowing into the shaft type preheating furnace and introduced into the rotary kiln type preheating furnace. Exhaust gas which has passed through the rotary kiln type preheating furnace is introduced into the shaft type preheating furnace preferably from an upper portion and discharged from a lower portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2000
    Assignee: Nippon Steel Corporation
    Inventors: Toshiya Harada, Yukinori Shigeyama, Mitsugu Takeuchi
  • Patent number: 6110413
    Abstract: A 3-stage fluidized bed type iron ore reducing apparatus having X shaped circulating tubes is disclosed for forming a gas pore fluidizing layer of a fine iron ore, and for drying/pre-heating it to reduce it, so that the gas utilization rate and the reducing rate can be improved, as well as decreasing the gas consumption rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2000
    Assignees: Pohang Iron & Steel Co., Ltd., Research Institute of Industrial Science & Technology, Voest-Alpine Industrieanlagenbau
    Inventors: Uoo Chang Jung, Nag Joon Choi, Heung Won Kang, Hang Goo Kim
  • Patent number: 6039916
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2000
    Assignee: Hylsa S.A. de C.V.
    Inventors: Juan Celada-Gonzalez, Raul Gerardo Quintero-Flores, Ricardo Viramontes-Brown, Roberto Octaviano Flores-Serrano
  • Patent number: 6024912
    Abstract: The invention provides a novel preheating apparatus and method for preheating a ferrous scrap mixture prior to feeding the scrap into a metallurgical furnace, primarily using heat recovered from hot waste gases emitted from the furnace exhaust port, and simultaneously reducing contaminants from the scrap and from the waste gases, with concurrent downward flow of hot waste gases and downwardly descending scrap. The apparatus has a chamber, including a top compartment with a cold scrap input for depositing cold scrap into the top compartment and a hot waste gas inlet in flow communication with the furnace exhaust port. The chamber also has a bottom compartment with a heated scrap discharging mechanism for force delivering the heated scrap into the furnace and a waste gas outlet in flow communication with a vacuum exhaust for evacuating spent waste gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2000
    Assignee: Empco (CANADA) Ltd.
    Inventor: Robert R. Wunsche
  • Patent number: 6007761
    Abstract: A continuous heat treating furnace in which heat is efficiently recovered from the combustion exhaust gas from the heating section of a continuous annealing furnace. The continuous annealing furnace of the metal strip is a heating furnace or a heating device provided with plural burners for heating to a predetermined temperature a steel material or a continuously supplied metal strip by means of combustion of the burners; a regenerative heat exchanger for collecting a sensible heat of a combustion exhaust gas of the burners, reserving the heat in a regenerator and supplying a predetermined gas to the regenerator to recover the heat to the predetermined gas; and a preheating section for blowing the predetermined gas from the regenerative heat exchanger to the metal strip for preheating. The heat exchanger body is divided into at least three sections, each section having a regenerator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 28, 1999
    Assignee: Kawasaki Steel Corporation
    Inventors: Tsuguhiko Nakagawa, Kenta Karube, Hiroshi Okamoto, Toshiyuki Iwatani, Sakae Mochizuki, Yoshiharu Fujiwara
  • Patent number: 6004369
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method to produce steel from a ferrous material, by using one furnace divided into, at least, two vessels which are connected to each other at least by ducts for the off-gases and ducts for the melted metal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 21, 1999
    Inventor: Natale Bonometti
  • Patent number: 5997608
    Abstract: In a process for the production of molten pig iron or molten steel pre-products and sponge iron from charging materials consisting of iron ore and, if desired, fluxes, direct reduction of the charging materials to sponge iron is carried out in a fixed-bed reduction zone, the sponge iron is melted in a meltdown gasifying zone under supply of carbon carriers as well as an oxygen-containing gas and a CO- and H.sub.2 -containing reducing gas is produced which is fed to the reduction zone, is reacted there and is drawn off as an export gas, and the drawn-off export gas is subjected to CO.sub.2 elimination and for the production of sponge iron is along with part of the reducing gas formed in the meltdown gasifying zone as an at least largely CO.sub.2 free reducing gas conveyed to a further reduction zone for the direct reduction of iron ore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 7, 1999
    Assignee: Voest-Alpine Industrieanlagenbau GmbH
    Inventors: Jorg Diehl, Gerald Rosenfellner, Leopold Werner Kepplinger, Konstantin Milionis, Dieter Siuka, Horst Wiesinger
  • Patent number: 5999556
    Abstract: An electric arc furnace comprises a closed melting vessel and includes means for charging metal to be molten into the melting vessel. At least one electrode extends into the melting vessel and generates an electric arc and forms a molten metal bath. At least one oxygen lance can be extended into the melting vessel for injecting oxygen into the molten metal bath and create a reaction where the carbon monoxide is generated. Gas is exhausted from the melting vessel and the carbon monoxide gas concentration of the exhaust gas is measured. A post combustion chamber receives the exhaust gas and provides post combustion of the exhaust gas. Post combustion oxygen is injected into the melting vessel in an amount sufficient to provide post combustion based on the amount of oxygen necessary for post combustion of the exhaust gas and the post combustion chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 7, 1999
    Assignee: Fuchs Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Manfred Haissig
  • Patent number: 5971752
    Abstract: A sintering plant includes an apparatus for transporting sinter material along a sintering section through at least one first zone in which the sinter material heats to a low temperature, and through a second zone in which the sinter material heats to a high temperature. Discharge lines are provided along the sintering section. A dioxin catalytic converter for exhaust gas is provided in the discharge lines disposed along the second zone or directly downstream thereof. In this manner, catalytic breakdown of dioxins can be achieved even in the exhaust gas of a sintering plant, which has not been possible heretofore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 26, 1999
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Erich Hums
  • Patent number: 5968448
    Abstract: A process for producing molten pig iron uses direct reduction of iron ore in a pre-reduction stage followed by a final reduction stage. In the pre-reduction stage iron ore is pre-reduced in a melting cyclone by means of a reducing process gas originating from the final reduction stage. A post-combustion occurs in the reducing process gas in the melting cyclone so that said iron ore in said melting cyclone is at least partly melted. The partly melted iron ore passes downwardly into a metallurgical vessel situated beneath the cyclone in which the final reduction takes place by supply of coal and oxygen, thereby forming a reducing process gas. A partial post-combustion occurs in the reducing process gas in the metallurgical vessel by means of said oxygen supplied thereto. The post-combustion ratio of the gas on exiting the metallurgical vessel is not more than 0.55.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 19, 1999
    Assignee: Hoogovens Staal BV
    Inventors: Huibert W. den Hartog, Hendrikus K. A. Meijer
  • Patent number: 5961690
    Abstract: In a process for producing molten pig iron or liquid steel pre-products, from particulate iron-oxide-containing material by fluidization, the iron-oxide-containing material is prereduced in at least one prereduction stage (7) by aid of a reducing gas and subsequently is reduced to sponge iron in a final reduction stage (8), the sponge iron is melted in a meltdown-gasifying zone (11) under the supply of carbon carriers and an oxygen-containing gas, and a CO- and H.sub.2 -containing reducing gas is produced which is introduced into the final reduction stage (8), is reacted there, is drawn off, subsequently is introduced into a prereduction stage (7), is reacted there, is drawn off, subjected to scrubbing and subsequently is carried off as an export gas and wherein at least a portion of the reacted reducing gas is purified from CO.sub.2, is heated and is used as a recycle-reducing gas for the reduction of the iron-oxide-containing material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 5, 1999
    Assignees: Voest-Alpine Industrieanlagenbau GmbH, Pohang Iron & Steel Co., Ltd, Research Institute of Industrial Science & Technology, Incorporated Foundation
    Inventors: Werner Leopold Kepplinger, Felix Wallner, Johannes-Leopold Schenk
  • Patent number: 5897829
    Abstract: A device for three-stage fluidized bed for reducing a fine iron ore in accordance with the present invention comprises: a first single-type fluidized bed furnace for drying/pre-heating a fine iron ore in a bubbling fluidized state; a first cyclone for collecting fine iron ore particles entrained in an exhaust gas from the first fluidized bed furnace; a second single-type fluidized bed furnace for pre-reducing the fine iron ore dried/pre-heated in the first fluidized bed furnace; a second cyclone for collecting fine iron ore particles entrained in an exhaust gas from the second fluidized bed furnace; a third twin-type fluidized bed furnace comprising a first cylindrical reaction furnace and a second reaction furnace for finally reducing coarse iron ore particles and medium/fine iron ore particles, respectively, which are pre-reduced in the second fluidized bed furnace; a third cyclone for collecting medium/fine iron ore particles entrained in an exhaust gas from the first reaction furnace of the third fluidize
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 27, 1999
    Assignees: Pohang Iron & Steel Co., Ltd., Research Institute of Industrial Science & Technology, Voest-Alpine Industrieanlagenbau GmbH
    Inventors: Hang Goo Kim, Il Ock Lee, Uoo Chang Chung, Yong Ha Kim
  • Patent number: 5871560
    Abstract: A direct reduction process is disclosed for iron oxide-containing materials. Synthesis gas is mixed with top gas produced during direct reduction of the iron oxide-containing materials and is used as reduction gas for directly reducing and heating the iron oxide-containing materials up to reduction temperature. In order to set the H.sub.2 S content at a predetermined value by a relatively simple technique and with a relatively simple equipment, at least part of the sulphur contained in the iron oxide-containing materials as H.sub.2 S produced during heating or direct reduction is added to the reduction gas together with the top gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 16, 1999
    Assignees: Voest-Alpine Industrieanlagenbau GmbH, Brifer International Ltd.
    Inventors: Roland Fluch, Karl Czermak, Gunter Peer, Roy Hubert Whipp, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5858058
    Abstract: A direct reduction process is disclosed for iron-oxide-containing materials. Synthesis gas is mixed with top gas produced during direct reduction of the iron-oxide-containing materials and is used as reduction gas for directly reducing iron-oxide-containing materials. In order to avoid or reduce metal dusting caused by an increased CO content of the reduction gas with a simple technique and equipment, the CO/CO.sub.2 ratio of the reduction gas is set at a predetermined value from 1 to 3.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 12, 1999
    Assignees: Voest-Alpine Industrieanlagenbau GmbH, Brifer International Ltd.
    Inventors: Gerald Kern, Werner Leopold Kepplinger, Johannes Schenk, Roy Hubert Whipp, Jr.
  • Patent number: RE37014
    Abstract: The combined installation comprises at least one metal production unit (II), including at least one, and typically a series of metal production or treatment units (1-6), and at least one air gas separation unit (III) including at least one outlet for at least one air gas (14-18), the units being supplied with compressed air with a low water vapor content by a common compressed air production unit (I), and with at least one of the gas outlets (14-18) from the separation unit (III) connected to at least one of the devices (1-6) of the production unit, to supply the latter with gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2001
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide, Societe Anonyme pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges
    Inventors: Alain Guillard, Marc Buffenoir, Daniel Deloche