Abstract: A reduction apparatus and a method for efficient reduction of fine iron ores of wide grain range comprising serially arranged a drying/preheating furnace, a first reducing furnace for prereduction and a second reduction furnace for final reduction, each working with bubbling fluidized bed and being connected each to a cyclone for capturing iron ore dust contained in the exhaust gases, having each a tapered shape smoothly expanded outwards and thus considerably decreasing elutriation of fine particles, increasing the reduction efficiency and enhancing the utilization of the reducing gas.

Abstract: A three-stage, fluidized-bed-type reduction apparatus and a method for using it for reducing fine iron ores of wide size ranges, improving the gas utilization and reduction degree, reducing the residence time of iron ores, and increasing the prereduction rate of reduced iron. The apparatus includes serially arranged a drying/preheating furnace with a first cyclone connected to it, a primary prereduction furnace with a second cyclone connected to it, a secondary high-gas-velocity reduction furnace for finally reducing only a coarse ore portion of the prereduced iron ores at a bubbling fluidized state while carrying over the medium/fine ore portion of the iron ores, a secondary low-gas-velocity reduction furnace for finally reducing the medium/fine ores forming a bubbling fluidized bed thereof, an inner cyclone installed in the secondary low-gas-velocity reduction furnace, and a third cyclone for capturing dusty ores not captured by the inner cyclone.

Abstract: In a process for treating fine ore, the fine ore is dried by aid of a hot drying gas flowing around the ore particles of the fine ore, the drying gas, after having flown around the ore particles, is purified while releasing entrained dust ore particles and the dust ore particles are collected and admixed to the dried fine ore. In order to avoid process disturbances in the further processing of fine ore due to excessive portions of dust ore particles present within the fine ore,drying is effected in the whirl-bed, i.e., fluidized-bed method under simultaneous wind-screening of the fine ore, whereinthe drying gas is passed through the fine ore under formation of a whirl bed andthe speed of the drying gas is fixed at a rate at which entraining of dust ore particles having dimensions below a predetermined dimension is effected, andthat the dust ore particles entrained by the drying gas are separated, collected and admixed to the dried fine ore in dosed amounts.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for producing direct reduced iron from iron oxide fines. The iron oxide raw material are passed through a pre-heater having a spouted port then to a primary spouted bed circulating fluidizing bed reactor and then to a bubbling fluidizing bed reactor. The reaction of the strong reducing gas mixture, through this series of beds allows intimate contact between the fines and small particles with the reducing gas to facilitate the direct reduction of the iron oxide fines to metallized iron.

Abstract: In order to effect a reduction and a carburization to form Fe.sub.3 C to the highest possible degree in a relatively short time in an economical process, a treatment in two stages is effected in fluidized beds. The first stage is effected in a circulating fluidized bed system, in which the amount of solids circulated per hour is at least five times the weight of solids contained in the fluidized bed reactor and a major part of the iron content of the charge is pre-reduced. The remaining reduction and the partial or complete conversion to Fe.sub.3 C are effected in the second stage in a conventional fluidized bed. Water is condensed from the exhaust gas from the circulating fluidized bed system and that gas is strengthened by an addition of reducing gases and is reheated to the temperature which is required for the process.

Abstract: A method for oxidizing treatment of molten matte and at the same time directly smelting sulphidic concentrate in a refractory-lined liquid bath reactor, e.g. a converter, into which oxidizing air is introduced below the surface of the liquid bath. For additional supply of energy in order to achieve thermal balance or increase of capacity, sulphidic concentrate is introduced into the gas phase of the liquid bath reactor together with oxygen gas or oxygen-enriched gas by means of a concentrate burner.

Abstract: A method of and apparatus for charging fine-grained ore into a reactor pressure vessel through which process gas flows. The heated ore at first is introduced into a conveying pressure vessel, is pressurized within the same by compressed gas and subsequently is conveyed into the reactor pressure vessel through a conveying duct by aid of the compressed gas. In order to ensure favorable utilization of the reactor pressure vessel under uniform stress and to safeguard troublefree progression of reduction while directly charging the ore, a portion of the ore is introduced into at least one further conveying pressure vessel and is pressurized within the same also by compressed gas. Charging of the ore into the reactor pressure vessel is effected continuously by alternately feeding once from the one conveying pressure vessel and subsequently from the other conveying pressure vessel.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a method of and a device for directly reducing fine-particle ore in a horizontal reactor with an ore-reducing gas and a heat vehicle, also a gas, in a fluidized bed.The ore-reducing vessel itself comprises a horizontal fluidized-bed reactor (1). The ore (F) is blown into it from below. The heated ore-reducing gas (A) is blown into the reactor through oncoming-gas floors (2). The heat needed for the endothermic reaction is supplied to the reactor at different temperatures through heat exchangers (3) and transferred to the bed. Heat is supplied counter to the ore-reducing gas.Fuel (B) in the form of gas is burned with air (C) to make the heat vehicle (D). The ore-reducing gas (A') is heated in downstream heat exchangers (5.1 to 5.3) before arriving in the three sections (1a, 1b, & 1c) of the reactor through the floors.Sponge iron (6) is removed and throat gas (E) extracted from a sponge-collecting section (1d).

Abstract: A process for producing molten pig iron or molten steel pre-products from charging substances formed of iron ores and fluxes and at least partially comprising fines, wherein the charging substances are directly reduced to sponge iron in at least one reduction zone by the fluidized layer process, the sponge iron is melted in a melting-gasifying zone under supply of carbon carriers and oxygen-containing gas, and a CO and H.sub.2 -containing reducing gas is produced, which is injected into the reduction zone, is reacted there, is withdrawn as an export gas and is supplied to a consumer, is to be improved with a view to rendering feasible the use of fine ore in an economic manner.

Abstract: A direct reduction plant for reducing raw iron ore fines in fluidized beds in a virtually closed gas system comprises an ore feed assembly, a preheat assembly, a multi-stage reactor assembly, a compacting/inerting assembly, and a reducing gas assembly, Reducing gases utilized in the plant are produced from externally provided natural gas and recycled reducing gases from said reactor assembly.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for producing direct reduced iron from iron oxide fines. The iron oxide raw material is conducted through a series of circulating fluidizable beds in which the fluidizing gas is a strong reducing gas mixture, which allows intimate contact between the fines and the reducing gas to facilitate the direct reduction of the iron oxide fines to metallized iron.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for preheating a reactor feed, comprised of an iron ore (10) and a process gas (21), in an iron carbide process for making steel is provided. The apparatus comprises a process gas preheater (40) having a furnace (56) and a heat exchanger (58). The process gas (21) is heated uniformly in tubes (117) of furnace (56) by burners (100). Excess heat generated by furnace (56) is captured by heat exchanger (58) and used to preheat combustion air (61) and ore (10).

Abstract: In a process for the direct reduction of particulate iron-oxide-containing material by the fluidized bed method, reformed gas is mixed with top gas forming in the direct reduction of the iron-oxide-containing material and is fed to a fluidized-bed reduction zone as a reducing gas. To lower the energy demand and utilizing the potential of the reducing gas, both the top gas and the reformed gas are subjected to CO.sub.2 scrubbing and the reducing gas formed by mixing top gas with reformed gas is adjusted to an H.sub.2 content ranging between 45 and 75%, preferably between 50 and 65%, and to a CO content ranging between 10 and 20%.

Abstract: A mobile system for the remediation of a mixture of lead-contaminated soil and waste lead-acid battery casings includes a plasma arc furnace unit having a plasma arc torch which operates at a sufficiently elevated temperature to (i) convert the battery casings in the mixture into a combustible gas, (ii) volatilize lead contaminants which are present in the mixture and entrain the volatilized lead contaminants as a vapor in the combustible gas, and (iii) vitrify the soil, whereby lead contaminants that were present in the mixture are substantially removed therefrom. An internal combustion engine-driven generator supplies the plasma arc furnace with electrical power. In this regard, the internal combustion engine-driven generator receives the combustible gas from the plasma arc furnace as a fuel source in order to drive the generator.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for producing direct reduced iron from iron oxide fines. The iron oxide raw material is conducted through a series of circulating fluidizable beds in which the fluidizing gas is a strong reducing gas mixture, which allows intimate contact between the fines and the reducing gas to facilitate the direct reduction of the iron oxide fines to metallized iron.

Abstract: A fluidized bed direct steelmaking plant for reducing raw iron ore fines and directly producing an iron product in a virtually closed gas system comprises an ore feed assembly, a multi-stage reactor assembly with a compacting assembly, a gasifier/smelter assembly, and, a reducing gas assembly. Reducing gases utilized in the plant are produced from processed offgas from said smelter assembly and recycled reducing gases from said reactor assembly. The processed offgas is 100% utilizable as reducing gas by balancing the reduced iron ore between the gasifier/smelter and compacting assemblies. The iron product is refinable into steel with a standard available refining assembly, such as a ladle or basic oxygen furnace, for removal of impurities prior to casting.

Abstract: A method for treating gases and solids in a fluid bed, the fluid bed reactor substantially comprising, regarded downstream, a mixing chamber, a riser pipe and a cyclone with a solids return pipe to the mixing chamber, the gases being introduced into the mixing chamber at a gas rate immediately before the inlet port of the mixing chamber of more than 35 m/sec.

Abstract: A process is described in which iron oxide-containing materials are reduced by a treatment with a gas underpressure in series-connected fluidized bed reactors, wherein hydrocarbons are cracked to produce the fresh reducing gas, reducing gas is fed to the first fluidized bed reactor as a fluidizing gas, the gaseous effluent from the first fluidized bed reactor is dedusted and is then fed as a fluidizing gas to at least one further fluidized bed reactor is dedusted and is subsequently treated in a scrubber-cooler to remove substantially all H.sub.2 O and residual dust, purified gas is recycled as recycle gas to the first fluidized bed reactor and the iron oxide-containing materials are preheated and are subsequently fed to the last fluidized bed reactor. The hydrocarbons are cracked by an approximately stoichiometric steam stoichiometric steam reforming. The freshly produced reducing gas is fed to one or more fluidized bed reactors.

Abstract: Lead-contaminated soil and battery casings are remediated using a plasma arc furnace which pyrolyzes the soil and waste battery casings so as to form a vitrified slag and a combustible gas, respectively. The combustible gas along with volatilized lead (and other heavy metals which may be present) are transferred to, and used as a primary fuel by, a conventional smelting furnace. The volatilized lead that is entrained in the combustible gas is thus transferred to the recovery and environmental protection/control equipment associated with the smelting furnace. The soil, on the other hand, is convened into a non-toxic (i.e., according to the Toxicity Characteristic Leaching Procedure) vitrified slag by the plasma arc which may be crushed and used as a commercial material (e.g., roadway aggregate, asphalt filler material and the like) or simply transferred to a landfill where it poses no environmental threat.

Abstract: A gas diffusing nozzle device for a fluidized bed furnace having high thermal resistance and durability especially, in a high-temperature environment and capable of being manufactured at a low cost, fluidizing a fluid layer uniformly using a fluidized gas jet with a low pressure loss and controlling the flow rate of the fluidized gas jet at the outer circumferential and central portions of the interior of a retort (11) in an arbitrary and individual manner. This device is provided with a circumferential gas supply pipe (19), a central gas supply pipe (24), and a circumferential gas diffusing nozzle section (14) and a central gas diffusing nozzle section (15) respectively connected to these two gas supply pipes. Each of the gas diffusing nozzle sections has a plurality of nozzle pipes (16b, 22) with a plurality of downwardly directed fluid gas ejection ports (17) formed in the lower surfaces thereof, and at least one ring-shaped nozzle pipe (16a, 21) joined to the free ends of these nozzle pipes.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for heat treating a product. The apparatus includes a retort having a volume sized to receive a bed of fluidized particles having a predetermined elevation within the volume and a plurality of electrically powered infrared radiation sources. The sources are submerged within the bed of fluidized particles. Use of the apparatus to reclaim foundry sand is also disclosed.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for forming a hardened outer shell (40) on a refractory metal workpiece (36) preferably heated in a fluidized bed of metallic oxide particles (38) in an environment of an inert gas and a reactive gas with the reactive gas either oxygen or nitrogen. The workpieces (36) are heated in the fluidized bed to a temperature between 800 F. and 1600 F. for a period of over two hours to form hardened outer shell (40) in two layers (42, 44). Outer layer (42) is an oxide or nitride layer having a thickness (T1) between 10 microns and 25 microns. Inner layer (44) is a case hardened layer of the refractory metal having a thickness (T2) between 25 microns and 75 microns. In one embodiment workpieces (56) may be cold worked by peening from finely divided metal oxide particles (54) to provide a uniform surface texture for subsequent hardening.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for heat treating a product. The apparatus includes a retort having a predetermined volume for receiving a bed of fluidizing particles at having a predetermined elevation within the volume and a plurality of electrically powered infrared radiation lamps. The lamps are submerged within the bed of fluidizing particles.

Abstract: A fluidized bed reducing furnace for an oxide raw material is provided with at least two reductive gas supply ports for supplying a reductive gas into the furnace. With this construction, the fine or granular raw material and the reductive gas supplied are sufficiently dispersed and mixed with each other in the furnace to thereby improve a reduction rate and an yield of the raw material. It is preferable to provide at least two raw material supply ports for supplying the raw material into the furnace.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for heat treating a granular material. The apparatus includes a retort having a volume sized to receive a bed of fluidizing particles at a predetermined elevation within the volume and a plurality of electrically powered infrared radiation sources. The sources are submerged within the bed. The apparatus includes a deflector plate for deflecting granular material from an upper elevation of said bed to close proximity to said radiation sources.

Abstract: An improved FIOR processing plant and method for reducing raw iron ore fines into a 90+% metallized briquette product utilizing a multi-stage fluidized bed reactor in which the reducing and fluidizing gases are the products of partial combustion of methane with oxygen, the gases being introduced into an intermediate zone of the reducing tower above the stage or stages where final metallization occurs. Said processing plant including an ore preparation and feed assembly, a multi-stage reactor assembly, a briquetting assembly, a recycle and fresh reducing gas assembly, and, a heat recuperation assembly.

Abstract: A fluidized bed direct process for reducing raw iron ore fines and directly producing an iron product comprises a process for feeding raw iron ore fines into a multi-stage reactor assembly; a process for reducing fines in fluidized beds developed by a counter-current flow of reducing gas, where the reducing gas is developed in a process for directly producing slag and iron in a gasifier/smelter assembly; a process for producing iron by further reducing and removing impurities from a part of the reduced iron ore in a gasifier/smelter assembly; a process for compacting excess reduced iron ore; and, a process for preparing reducing gas from offgas exiting said gasifier/smelter assembly; and, a process for recycling spent reducing gas exiting said reactor assembly. The processed offgas is 100% utilizable as reducing gas by balancing the reduced iron ore between the gasifier/smelter and compacting assemblies.

Abstract: A method for controlling a flow rate of gas for prereducing ore comprises the steps of prereducing ore in a prereduction furnace having a fluidized bed with a gas generated in a smelting reduction furnace and controlling a pressure of gas generated in the smelting reduction furnace and introduced into the prereduction furnace, thereby controlling the actual flow rate of gas introduced into the prereduction furnace. An apparatus for controlling a flow rate of gas for prereducing ore comprises a flow passage for introducing gas generated in a smelting reduction furnace into a prereduction furnace and a gas pressure control valve positioned in the flow passage.

Abstract: A prereduction furnace of a smelting reduction facility of iron ore includes of a fluidizing prereduction chamber at an upper part of the prereduction furnace wherein iron ores are fed and prereduced, a gas blowing chamber at a lower part of the prereduction furnace wherein a reducing gas is fed, a ceramic main body of a distributor mounted between the fluidizing prereduction chamber and the gas blowing chamber, a metal box attached to the bottom side of the ceramic main body, which prevent adhesion of dust in the reducing gas, nozzles passing through the ceramic main body and through the metal box for injecting the reducing gas in the blowing chamber, into the prereduction chamber and a discharge pipe for discharging prereduced iron ores mounted at a bottom center portion of the prereduction chamber and extending through the ceramic main body, through the metal box, and through a bottom of the gas blowing chamber.

Abstract: A prereduction furnace of a smelting reduction facility of iron ore includes a fluidizing prereduction chamber installed at an upper part of the prereduction furnace wherein iron ores are fed and prereduced, a gas blowing chamber installed at a lower part of the prereduction furnace wherein a reducing gas is fed, a distributor installed between the fluidizing prereduction chamber and the gas blowing chamber, a first plurality of nozzles passing through the distributor for injecting the reducing gas in the gas blowing chamber into the fluidizing prereduction chamber, a discharge pipe for discharging prereduced iron ores installed at a bottom center portion of the fluidizing prereduction chamber and extending through the distributor, wherein a cooling fluid flows, at least two horizontally movable gas purging pipes arranged below the distributor, and a second plurality of nozzles attached to the horizontally movable gas purging pipes for injecting a purging gas to a bottom surface of the distributor to prevent

Abstract: An apparatus and method are disclosed for processing glass-making materials under oxidizing conditions, and for processing materials, such as hazardous or toxic wastes, or smelting under reducing conditions. As a glass-making apparatus the invention includes a cyclone melt reactor for forming a liquid glass melt and a combustion preheater for receiving the glass-making materials and combusting the fuel and oxidant therein to heat the glass batch materials to a temperature at least equal to the melt temperature of the glass batch material. The combustion preheater has an outlet connected to the glass melt reactor, and at least one inlet is provided into the combustion preheater for introducing oxidizing materials and for creating a well-stirred region within the combustion preheater means.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for production of metals and/or ferro alloys by prereduction of particulate metal oxide co-current with a reducing gas. Reducing gas having a temperature between 650.degree. and 1100.degree. C. and metal oxide particles are supplied at the lower end of a substantially vertical prereduction column which comprises at least two chambers having a substantially circular cross-section, said chambers in their upper and lower ends having a decreasing cross-section and where a ringshaped member for decreasing the cross-section is arranged in the intermediate zone between the chambers. The mixture of reducing gas and prereduced metal oxide particles is collected at the top of the prereduction column, whereafter the prereduced metal oxide particles are transported to a smelting furnace for smelting and final reduction to metallix state by addition of a reduction material.The present invention also relates to a column for treatment of particulate solid materials with a gas.

Abstract: An improved FIOR processing plant and method for reducing raw iron ore fines into a 90+% metallized briquette product utilizing a multi-stage fluidized bed reactor in which the reducing and fluidizing gases are the products of partial combustion of methane with oxygen, the gases being introduced into an intermediate zone of the reducing tower above the stage or stages where final metallization occurs. Said processing plant including an ore preparation and feed assembly, a mutli-stage reactor assembly, a briquetting assembly, a recycle and fresh reducing gas assembly, and, a heat recuperation assembly.

Abstract: The invention provides an apparatus for smelting reduction of iron ore which contains (1) at least one preheat and prereduction furnace which preheats and prereduces iron ore to a prereduction degree of less than 30%; (2) a smelting reduction furnace into which the preheated and prereduced iron ore, carbonaceous material and flux are charged and in which the preheated and prereduced iron ore is reduced; and (3) a top blow oxygen lance having first nozzles for decarburization and second nozzles for post-combustion, oxygen gas being blown through the first nozzles and the second nozzles into the smelting reduction furnace. At least one side tuyere is placed in a side wall of the smelting reduction furnace and at least one bottom tuyere is placed in a bottom wall of the smelting reduction furnace for blowing a stirring gas through the at least one side tuyere and the at least one bottom tuyere into the smelting reduction furnace.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for producing matte and/or metal from sulphidic fine-grained ore or ore concentrate. The ore or ore concentrate is smelted in a flame chamber in such a way that at least part of the solid material in the flame chamber melts and flows downward into a smelt bath furnace, on top of which the flame chamber is disposed. Volatile metallic and sulphuric components are conducted upward from the flame chamber to a fluidized bed reactor to be utilized as fluidizing gas, the gases being rapidly cooled down in the fluidized bed.

Abstract: A method for smelting reduction of iron ore, comprises the steps of: introducing iron ore into a preheat and prereduction furnace and preheating and prereducing the iron ore, a prereduction degree being less than 30%; charging the iron ore, carbonaceous material and flux into a smelting reduction furnace; blowing oxygen gas, through decarburization nozzles and post-combustion nozzles placed in a top end of an oxygen lance, into the smelting reduction furnace, the top end of the oxygen lance being located so as to be between a top level and a bottom level of a slag layer; blowing a stirring gas through side tuyeres placed in a side wall and bottom tuyeres placed in a bottom wall of the smelting reduction furnace; and controlling a flow amount of the oxygen gas and the stirring gas so that an oxidation degree of an exhaust gas generated in the smelting reduction furnace ranges 0.4 to 0.9 and still a temperature of the exhaust gas ranges 300.degree. to 1300.degree. C.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for pretreatment of a lumpy carbon carrier suitable for forming a fluidized bed and a solid bed used in the production of pig iron from iron ore. The ore is pre-reduced in at least one reduction plant and the thus produced iron sponge is subsequently final reduced and fused in a melt-down gasifier with the help of the lumpy carbon carrier and an oxygen-containing gas and is the carbon carrier is fed into the upper part and the oxygen-containing gas is fed into the lower part of the melt-down gasifier. These materials form, together with the iron sponge, a fluidized bed in the melt-down gasifier. Below the fluidized bed, a solid bed is formed consisting of said lumpy carbon carrier. A suitable carbon carrier may be formed by pretreating available coal by one of two methods. Lumpy coal tending to burst upon subjection to a shock-like thermal load is preheated for a minimum of one hour at a temperature of at least 300.degree. C.

Abstract: There is disclosed a process of recovering molten pig iron or steel pre-products from lumpy iron-oxide containing charging substances. The charging substances are reduced to sponge iron in a direct reduction zone, the sponge iron is smelted in a meltdown gasifying zone under supply of carbon carriers and oxygen-containing gas forming a coal fluidized bed, and CO and H.sub.2 containing reduction gas is produced, which is injected into the direct reduction zone and reacted there. For the commercial utilization of low-quality scrap grades, such as, e.g., automotive scrap,(a) scrap is charged into the meltdown gasifying zone in addition to sponge iron,(b) the scrap has an apparent weight of between 300 and 1000 kg/m.sup.3, preferably between 400 and 600 kg/m.sup.3, and(c) the temperature of the coal fluidized bed is maintained at 1,500.degree. to 1,7800.degree. C.

Abstract: A cooling apparatus that comprises a first elongated metal tube, a second elongated metal tube longitudinally disposed within the first elongated metal tube having a substantial portion of its outer surfaces out of contact with the inner surface of the first elongated metal tube, with the inner metal tube being adapted to provide passage through it of a hot fluid, and means for cooling the outer surface of the first elongated metal tube, whereby at ambient temperatures the tubes can be easily separated for inspection and at operating temperatures the tubes are substantially in contact with each other.

Abstract: Fine ore is reduced in a circulating fluidized bed by a reduction gas in the presence of fine coal, the discharged mixture of iron sponge particles and fine coal is subjected to hot compacting and then fed to a melting vessel in which oxygen is injected into the molten material through nozzles. The melting vessel can also be supplied with scrap which has been pre-heated by the hot waste gases from the melting vessel, in a scrap pre-heater which is fitted onto the melting vessel.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus for preparing binder-free hot briquettes for smelting purposes consisting of iron-containing pyrophorous finely divided solids. Before briquetting, the finely divided solids are blown-through by means of a rising oxidating heated gas flow and held in a fluidized bed. The gas flow is controlled in such a way that by oxidation of at least part of the metallic iron the temperature of the finely divided solids is increased to about 450.degree. to 65020 C. Subsequently, the solids are briquetted in hot condition. Characteristic for the invention is that there is added to the fluidized bed sensible heat from the outside until oxidation of part of the metallic iron starts, and that the fluidized bed is submitted to the effect of vibrations favoring the the conveying of the solids over the fluidized bed.

Abstract: An apparatus for smelting meltable substances, particularly ore concentrates. A transfer element joins the cyclone discharge to the furnace and is arranged between the melting cyclone and the furnace. In this way, the fitting, particularly the re-fitting of an open-hearth furnace with a melting cyclone can be significantly simplified; or, on the other hand, the melting cyclone can be very easily dismantled for the purpose of repair or can be replaced by another melting cyclone in a relatively short time, namely without a significant interruption of furnace operations.

Abstract: An apparatus for charging a melting gasifier (2) with gasification media and with sponge iron discharged from a direct reduction shaft furnace (1) arranged above the melting gasifier is described. This comprises inlets and outlets in the lower part of the shaft furnace, connecting lines (4) in the form of downcomers between the shaft furnace and the gasifier in the upper region of the latter, symmetrically to the longitudinal axis of the shaft furnace and/or the gasifier and discharge means (7) for the sponge iron, such as screw conveyors or the like aligned radially to said longitudinal axis. The connecting lines at least approximately vertically issue into the lowermost, substantially horizontal base region of the shaft furnace. The discharge means are arranged at the melting gasifier inlets (9) in the discharge direction behind the connecting lines and the gasification medium inlet (3) is located in the longitudinal axis of the melting gasifier immediately adjacent to the sponge iron inlets.

Abstract: Described is a method for operating a melt-down gasifier(4) in which iron-ore-containing charge materials or iron sponge obtained from same by direct reduction are smelted due to the addition of carbon carriers and blowing an oxygen-containing gas through oxygen nozzles (6) into a fluidized bed created by same, and are (further) reduced to make liquid pig iron or steel starting material. On failure or reduction of the oxygen supply below a predetermined quantity and on failure of the water cooling system of the oxygen nozzles, the still present oxygen supply is cut-off and an inert gas is fed into the melt-down gasifier through the said oxygen nozzles instead, for protecting said oxygen nozzles. Thus, liquid fluidized bed matter is prevented from penetrating into the oxygen nozzles and to solidify in same. In the case of failure of the water cooling system of the oxygen nozzles, the inert gas serves also at the same time as cooling medium.

Abstract: A metal-making apparatus is suited for the production of molten iron from iron ore which is in a state of particles with a wide range in size. Included are a solid-state prereduction furnace for preliminarily reducing the raw ore particles in a solid state, and a smelting reduction furnace for smelting the prereduced ore particles and reducing them in a molten state. High temperature reducing gas generated within the smelting reduction furnace is directed into the prereduction furnace and blown up through a distributor on which there is loaded a charge of raw ore particles. The ore particles of larger size form a fluidized bed on the distributor and so are prereduced by making intimate contact with the gas. Ore particles of smaller size, on the other hand, are carried away from the fluidized bed by the waste gas and thereby prereduced while being recirculated through the prereduction furnace.

Abstract: A flash smelting furnace includes a reaction shaft defining a reaction chamber therein, a plurality of reaction air blowing pipes passing through the side wall of the reaction shaft for blowing reaction air into the reaction chamber, and at least one concentrate burner attached to the top end of the reaction shaft and comprising a concentrate chute, a tubular auxiliary fuel burner extending vertically through the chute, a tubular oxygen blowing pipe concentrically surrounding the auxiliary fuel burner and a dispersion cone attached to the lower end of the oxygen blowing pipe. The air from the blowing pipes disturbs the jet stream of mixed smelting material and reaction gas in the reaction chamber, thereby achieving a uniform mixture of the material and the reaction air and extending the retention time of the material in the reaction shaft.

Abstract: A novel melting gasifier (7) is disclosed, in which material at least largely comprising metal is melted in a fluidized bed. The latter is maintained by oxygen-containing gas laterally injected through approximately equidistant nozzles in the lower part of the melting gasifier. A carbon carrier and from above the material to be melted are also introduced into the melting gasifier. Over at least part of the fluidized bed height, the gasifier has a horizontal cross-section, which has different dimensions in two directions perpendicular to one another. The nozzles can project by different amounts into the gasifier vessel.

Abstract: A process and an arrangement for the production of molten pig iron or steel pre-products from particulate ferrous material as well as for the production of reducing gas in a meltdown gasifier. A fluidized bed of coke particles is formed by the addition of coal and the injection of oxygen-containing gas. In order to ensure a satisfactory mode of operation of the meltdown gasifier even if coal of inferior quality with a high moisture content and a high portion of volatile matter is used, additional heat is supplied to the meltdown gasifier above the feed lines for the fluidized-bed-forming oxygen-containing gas by burning and/or degassing coal particles separated from the reducing gas.

Abstract: Process and apparatus for pyrometallurgically treating finely divided ores, concentrates, residues, slags and like materials. The process utilizes a reactor having two co-axially extending, vertical reaction chambers. The process comprises forming within the upper chamber of the reactor hot fuel-rich reaction gases; passing the hot fuel-rich reaction gases by dump flow into a second vertically extending chamber; introducing into the second chamber the finely divided materials to be treated; and reacting the finely divided materials with the hot fuel-rich reaction gases. The dump flow of hot fuel-rich reaction gases passing into the second chamber is produced by providing a zone of sudden expansion in the flow passage between the first and second chambers.

Abstract: There is provided a slagging coal combustion system suitable for retrofitting boilers, furnaces and industrial-process heat generators originally designed to burn oil or gas. It comprises a primary combustion chamber into which oxidizer and fuel are injected to provide high-velocity, rotational-flow combustion zones, such that the fuel is burned substoichiometrically, while in flight, with up to 90% of the resultant ash being removed as molten ash. The combustion products pass from the primary chamber to chamber where slag is removed and the gaseous products are passed to end-use equipment. A coal-fired precombustor subsystem feeds partially-heated air as the oxidizer to the primary combustion chamber supply of oxidizer, at any selected temperature within the range from about 1200.degree. F. to about 2000.degree. F. The stoichiometry of this precombustor and the velocity and mass-flow rates of its output stream are independently controllable.