With Gasification Of Solid Carbonaceous Material In Melt (e.g., Coal, Etc.) Patents (Class 75/492)
  • Patent number: 8419825
    Abstract: A process for energy- and emission-optimized iron production and an installation for carrying out the process. A first partial amount of a generator gas produced in a melter gasifier is used as a first reducing gas in a first reduction zone. A second partial amount is fed to at least one further reduction zone as a second reducing gas. In addition, after CO2 scrubbing, a partial amount of top gas removed from the first reduction zone is admixed with the generator gas after the latter leaves the melter gasifier, for cooling the generator gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: Siemens Vai Metals Technologies GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas Bürgler, Stephan Lackner, Robert Millner, Reinhard Redl, Bernhard Rummer, Herbert Schmid, Johann Wurm, Andreas Zobernig
  • Patent number: 6767383
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing pig iron. Iron ore is reduced in a reduction shaft (1) for forming sponge iron which is subsequently introduced into the head of a melt-down gasifier (3). The sponge iron is melt open in said gasifier by means of a gasifying means that is also introduced into the head of the melt-down gasifier and an oxygen-containing gas and is melt-down to form liquid pig iron, whereby a reduction gas is produced at the same time. Said reduction gas is discharged from the head of the melt-down gasifier and is supplied to the reduction shaft for reducing the iron oxide. Operation of the melt-down gasifier is controlled in such a way that a reduction gas having a certain composition and being present in a certain amount is produced so that the sponge iron that is introduced into the melt-down gasifier is provided with a high metallisation degree. Operation of the melt-down gasifier is also controlled by introducing iron oxide therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2004
    Inventor: Bogdan Vuletic
  • Patent number: 6669754
    Abstract: A description is given of a method of optimizing the design and operation of a reduction process for iron-containing charge materials (3), preferably in lump form, in a reduction shaft (1) to which reduction gas (9) is fed, for example from a fusion gasifier (6), with a reduced product (13), for example iron sponge, being taken from the reduction shaft (1) for the production of liquid pig iron or liquid primary steel products, in which method the reduction process is described by means of a mathematical-physical-chemical process model, the reduction shaft (1) is modelled multi-dimensionally, in particular three-dimensionally, and the process model is numerically evaluated and the results of the evaluation, obtained as multi-dimensional, in particular spatial, distributions of physical or chemical variables, are taken into account for the reduction process. This allows the reduction process to be quantitatively assessed in the entire reduction shaft and, as a result, the reduction process can be optimized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2003
    Assignee: Deutsche Voest-Alpine Industrieanlagenbau GmbH
    Inventors: Helmut Zeisel, Georg Aichinger, Johann Wurm, Hermann Druckenthaner, Heinz Engl, Andrea Schatz, Gerald Gökler
  • 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: 6562102
    Abstract: Process and apparatus for producing liquid pig iron or primary steel products from iron-containing material in lump form in a fusion gasifier (1), in which, with lump coal and oxygen-containing gas being fed in, and with simultaneous formation of a reduction gas, the iron-containing material is fused, lump coal being fed to the fusion gasifier (1) from above and, together with the iron-containing material, forming a fixed bed (6) in the fusion gasifier (1) and thereby giving off its fraction of volatile hydrocarbons into the dome space (11) located above the fixed bed (6), and pulverized-fuel burners (15) being directed obliquely from above towards the surface of the fixed bed (6). The operation of the pulverized-fuel burners (15) is in this case controlled in such a way that the combustion of the carbon fraction of the carbon carriers in fine particle form takes place in a proportion of at least 40% to form CO2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2003
    Assignee: Deutsche Voest-Alpine Industrieanlagenbau GmbH
    Inventors: Leopold Werner Kepplinger, Kurt Wieder, Herbert Mizelli, Josef Stockinger, Johann Wurm, Parviz Zahedi
  • Patent number: 6379422
    Abstract: A process for direct smelting metalliferous feed material is disclosed. Iron oxides are partially reduced in a solid state in a pre-reduction vessel. The partially reduced iron oxides are smelted to molten iron in a direct smelting vessel which contains a molten bath of iron and slag and is supplied with a solid carbonaceous material as a source of reductant and energy and with an oxygen-containing gas for post-combusting carbon monoxide and hydrogen generated in the vessel. The direct smelting step generates an off-gas that contains sulphur and the off-gas is released from the direct smelting vessel. Part only of the off-gas released from the direct smelting vessel is used in the pre-reduction step to pre-reduce iron oxides in the pre-reduction vessel. Part only of the off-gas is used in the pre-reduction step in order to control the amount of sulphur that is returned with the partially reduced iron oxides to the direct smelting vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2002
    Assignee: Technological Resources Pty. Ltd.
    Inventor: Rodney James Dry
  • 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
  • Patent number: 6379423
    Abstract: In a device for producing sponge iron from lumps of iron oxide in a reduction shaft (1), a hot, dust-containing and carbon monoxide-rich reduction gas is used. The reduction gas is generated in a gas generator by partial oxidation of solid carbon-containing materials and is in part supplied to the reduction shaft through several lateral reduction inlets (3) arranged at the same height around the circumference of the reduction shaft at the lower end of the reduction zone. The lumps of iron oxide are introduced into the reduction shaft through its top area and discharged as sponge iron at its bottom end. Additional reduction gas inlets (15) shaped as downwardly open channels (11) which extend from the outside to the inside of the reduction shaft and/or shaped as ducts which extend obliquely downwards from the outside to the inside of the reduction shaft and have open inner ends are arranged below the plane of the lateral reduction gas inlets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2002
    Assignee: Deutsche Voest-Alpine Industrieanlagenbau GmbH
    Inventor: Bogdan Vuletic
  • Patent number: 6332911
    Abstract: In a method for the production of liquid metal, in particular liquid pig iron (9) or liquid steel pre-products, from metal carriers, in particular partially reduced or reduced sponge iron (3), in a melter gasifier (1) in which with supply of a carbon-containing material at least partially formed of fine coal (16) and coal dust (13) and with supply of oxygen or oxygen-containing gas the metal carriers are melted in a bed (4) of the carbon-containing material at the simultaneous formation of a reducing gas, optionally upon previous final reduction, fine coal (16) and coal dust (13) which are being charged, are mixed with bitumen (20) in the hot state, after undergoing a drying operation, and subsequently are cold-briquetted, and the briquettes (25) thus formed are charged to the melter gasifier (1) in the cold state and in the melter gasifier (1) are subjected to shock-heating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2001
    Assignee: Deutsche Voest-Alpine Industrieanlagenbau GmbH
    Inventors: Günter Schrey, Parviz Zahedi
  • Patent number: 6293991
    Abstract: In a method of producing molten pig iron (13) or molten steel pre-products from charging substances formed of iron ore (4), preferably in the shape of lumps and/or pellets, and optionally of fluxes (5), the charging substances are directly reduced to sponge iron in a reduction zone (2), the sponge iron is charged into a melt-down gasifying zone (12) and, there, is melted under the supply of carbon carriers (10) and an oxygen-containing gas, wherein a CO—H2-containing reducing gas is generated that is withdrawn from the melt-down gasifying zone (12) and introduced into the reduction zone (2), is reacted there and is withdrawn as a topgas, wherein the topgas is subjected to scrubbing and the sludges thus separated are at least partially agglomerated. To utilize the agglomerates thus formed while expending as little energy as possible, the agglomerates are recirculated into the reduction zone (2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2001
    Assignee: Deutsche Voest-Alpine Industrieanlagenbau GmbH
    Inventors: Herbert Gruenbacher, Guenter Schrey
  • Patent number: 6277172
    Abstract: In a method of charging metal carriers which contain a portion of fines and are at least partially reduced and carbon carriers to a melter gasifier (10) in which a melt-down gasifying zone (11) is maintained, the metal carriers and the carbon carriers are fed into the melter gasifier (10) above the level of the melt-down gasifying zone (11) and descend to the melt-down gasifying zone (11) and travel through the same forming a metal melt and producing a reducing gas by coal gasification. In order to prevent a partial discharge of the metal carriers from the melter gasifier (10) during the charging of the same and to be able to achieve uniform distribution of the carbon carriers and the metal carriers, both the carbon carriers and the metal carriers are introduced into the melter gasifier centrally above the melt-down gasifying zone (11), preferably gravitationally, with a central strand (32) of metal carriers being formed which is peripherally surrounded by a jacket strand (37) formed by the carbon carriers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2001
    Assignees: Voest Alpine Industrieanlagenbau GmbH, Pohang Iron & Steel Co. Ltd., Research Institute of Industrial Science & Technology
    Inventors: Leopold Werner Kepplinger, Felix Wallner, Johannes-Leopold Schenk
  • 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: 6264724
    Abstract: A plant for producing sponge metal, in particular sponge iron, from charging materials consisting of metal ore or iron ore respectively, preferably in lumps and/or pellets, and optionally fluxes, comprising at least one first gas source (1, 3) dispensing a CO— and H2- containing feedgas, a CO2 elimination plant (17, 17′) and optionally a heating means (22, 25) for the feedgas from the first gas source (1, 3) is provided with a reduction reaction (20) which forms a further gas source for a CO— and H2-containing feedgas and serves for receiving metal ore, a reducing-gas feed duct (19) leading to this reduction reactor (20) and an export-gas discharge duct (31) from said further reduction reactor (20), wherein a conveying duct (30) for at least a portion of the export gas formed in the reduction reactor (20) and serving as a feedgas is flow-connected with the reducing-gas feed duct (19) of the reduction reactor (20) via a CO2 elimination plant and optionally a heating means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2001
    Assignee: Voest-Alpine Industrieanlagenbau GmbH
    Inventors: Gerald Rosenfellner, Jörg Diehl
  • Patent number: 6258148
    Abstract: In a method of charging metal carriers which contain a portion of fines and are at least partially reduced to a melter gasifier in which a melt-down gasifying zone formed by a bed is maintained, the metal carriers and carbon carriers are fed into the melter gasifier above the level of the melt-down gasifying zone. The metal carriers descend to the melt-down gasifying zone and travel through the same forming a metal melt and producing a reducing gas by coal gasification.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2001
    Assignees: Voest-Alpine Industrieanlagenbau GmbH, Pohang Iron & Steel Co., Ltd., Research Institute of Industrial Science & Technology, Incorporated Foundation
    Inventors: Udo Gennari, Johannes-Leopold 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: 6235081
    Abstract: A method for producing a sponge metal from metal ore or iron ore which comprises reacting said metal ore or iron ore in a reduction zone with a CO— and H2-containing, reducing feed gas source which has been compressed, and after said reaction, withdrawing the remaining feed gas as an export gas from the reduction zone, wherein the CO— and H2-containing feed gas is introduced into the reduction zone form at least to gas sources, whereby upon a breakdown of one of the feed gas sources, at least a portion of the export gas recovered from the reduction zone is compressed, subjected to CO2 elimination recycled to the reduction zone together with the reducing feed gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2001
    Assignee: Voest-Alpine Industrieanlagenbau GmbH
    Inventor: Johannes Wurm
  • Patent number: 6224647
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device comprising a fusion gasifier and a reduction shaft arranged thereabove and for reduction of iron ore in spongy iron. The spongy iron is introduced through horizontal discharge devices in the lower section of the reduction shaft, and a pipe connection is introduced into the head section of the fusion gasifier where it is melted using a oxygen-containing gas and gasifying means also conveyed into the head of the fusion gasifier, and is reduced to liquid crude iron. A reduction gas is produced at the same time which is conveyed out of the head of the fusion gasifier. The discharge devices lead into a dust-blocking container arranged in a lower section of the reduction shaft and to which the pipe connection leading to the fusion gasifier is attached.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2001
    Assignee: Deutsche Voest-Alpine Industrieanlagenbau GmbH
    Inventor: Bogdan Vuletic
  • Patent number: 6214083
    Abstract: In a method of producing liquid pig iron or liquid steel pre-products from iron-oxide-containing material, fine-particulate iron-oxide-containing material is reduced to fine-particulate sponge iron by the fluidized bed method by passing a reducing gas through at least one fluidized bed reduction stage (7, 8), and lumpy ore is reduced to lumpy sponge iron in a fixed bed reduction stage (28). The sponge iron is charged into a melting-gasifying zone (11) and is molten there under a supply of carbon carriers and oxygen-containing gas, in which a CO— and H2-containing reducing gas is generated for reducing the iron-oxide-containing material. To avoid treating the fine-particulate sponge iron separately from the lumpy sponge iron, the fine-particulate sponge is charged directly to the melting-gasifying zone (11) in an untreated condition and in fine-particulate form, and there, is melted together with the lumpy sponge iron.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2001
    Assignee: Voest-Alpine Industrieanlagenbau GmbH
    Inventor: Horst Wiesinger
  • Patent number: 6197088
    Abstract: A method of liquid iron production using high sulfur fuels is provided in which the level of sulfur in the iron is maintained below 0.1%. The low sulfur content is achieved even in the presence of high sulfur concentrations in the reducing gases and without the introduction of lime or limestone. According to one aspect, liquid iron in the fusion zone of a smelting system is saturated with carbon, thereby desulfurizing the liquid iron. The carbon saturation level is at least 4.5% carbon by weight and preferably, at least 5.0% carbon by weight. According to another aspect, the desulfurization of the liquid iron is enhanced by elevating the tapping temperatures to temperatures in excess of 1465° C., and preferably of about 1490° C. According to another aspect, the desulfurization process is supplemented by the presence of significant levels of silicon and/or manganese, both of which are highly soluble in the liquid iron.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Assignee: Bechtel Group, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard B. Greenwalt
  • Patent number: 6179896
    Abstract: In a method of producing molten pig iron (9) or steel pre-products from lump ore which in at least one reduction zone is reduced to partially and/or completely reduced sponge iron (4) in a shaft furnace, the sponge iron (4) is melted down in a melt-down gasifying zone (8) of a melter gasifier (1) under supply of carbon-containing material (2) and oxygen and while simultaneously forming a reducing gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2001
    Assignee: Deutsche Voest-Alpine Industrieanlagenbau GmbH
    Inventors: Leopold Werner Kepplinger, Felix Wallner, Johannes-Leopold Schenk
  • Patent number: 6171365
    Abstract: In a method for producing liquid pig iron (16) and a sponge metal from charging substances comprising iron ore (4) respectively metal ore, the charging substances are directly reduced to sponge iron in at least one first reduction zone (2) the sponge iron is melted in a melt-down gasifying zone (15) under the supply of carbon carriers (10) and oxygen-containing gas and a CO— and H2-containing reducing gas is produced which is fed to the first reduction zone (2), is reacted there and withdrawn as a top gas, wherein the withdrawn top gas after a scrubbing operation is subjected to CO2 elimination and optionally to heating and is supplied to at least one further reduction zone (27) for the direct reduction of metal ore, in particular of iron ore (26), as a reducing gas that is at least largely free from CO2 and after reaction with the metal ore (26) is withdrawn as an export gas and purified in a scrubber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Assignee: Voest-Alpine Industrieanlagenbau GmbH
    Inventors: G{umlaut over (u)}nter Schrey, Herbert Gr{umlaut over (u)}nbacher, Gerald Rosenfellner
  • Patent number: 6051048
    Abstract: A first, solid, carbon-containing fuel is gasified and iron is melted in a gasifier-melter. A first flow of resulting fuel gas is employed to form the iron in a vertical shaft furnace by direct reduction of iron ore. A second flow of resulting fuel gas is mixed with fuel gas produced by separately gasifying a second carbon-containing fuel in a second gasifier, in which no iron is melted and which supplies essentially no carbonaceous solid fuel to the first gasification stage. This mixing helps to dampen fluctuations in the flow rate of the second flow of the resulting fuel gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2000
    Assignee: The BOC Group plc
    Inventor: Brian Anthony Keenan
  • Patent number: 5997609
    Abstract: In a process for producing sponge iron from particulate iron oxide-containing material, the iron oxide-containing material in a reduction zone is reduced to sponge iron by means of reducing gas and the gas forming during reduction is withdrawn as top gas. In order to provide for an efficient way of utilization of the top gas, the top gas is subjected to CO.sub.2 purification, CO.sub.2 -containing offgas separated in the purification is mixed with an oxygen-containing gas and is burnt, and the resulting thermal energy is supplied to a consumer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 7, 1999
    Assignee: Voest-Alpine Industrieanlagenbau GmbH
    Inventors: Jorg Diehl, Gerald Rosenfellner
  • 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: 5989309
    Abstract: A method for injecting fine iron ore in a smelting reducing process is disclosed, in which the carrier gas for the iron ore is the discharge gas from a melter gasifier without the need of separate carrier gas. It includes the steps of pre-reducing iron ore in a pre-reduction furnace, melting and reducing it in the melter gasifier, supplying the discharge gas from the melter gasifier through an ascending tube to a cyclone and to said pre-reduction furnace, directing the cooled and cleaned fine iron ore through a recycling system and a melting burner into the melter gasifier. A part of the discharge gas is supplied through a venturi scrubber, a first compressor and a circulating tube into an ascending tube. A part of the compressed gas circulating through the tube is recompressed by means of a second compressor and fine iron ore from a stored source is injected into ascending the tube by the recompressed gas by means of a pneumatic fine iron ore conveying system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 23, 1999
    Assignees: Pohang Iron & Steel Co., Ltd., Research Institute of Industrial Science & Technology, Voest-Alpine Industrieanlagenbau GmbH
    Inventors: Sang Hoon Joo, Sang Deok Lee, Il Ock Lee, Werner L. Kepplinger, Felix Wallner
  • Patent number: 5958107
    Abstract: A method of shift conversion of CO to H.sub.2 so that the level of gas can be reduced to a level that preheating for direct reduction to 800 to 900.degree. C. can be accomplished wherein carbon deposition is not a factor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 28, 1999
    Assignee: Bechtel Croup, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard B. Greenwalt
  • Patent number: 5846268
    Abstract: A process for producing liquid pig iron or liquid steel preproducts and sponge iron from iron ore. The iron ore in a first reduction zone (4) is directly reduced to sponge iron. The sponge iron in a meltdown gasifying zone (10) is melted under the supply of carbon carriers and an oxygen-containing gas, and a reducing gas containing CO and H.sub.2 is produced. The reducing gas is introduced into the first reduction zone (4), is reacted there, and is drawn off as an export gas. The drawn-off export gas is subjected to CO.sub.2 elimination as well as heating, and as a reducing gas, at least largely free of CO.sub.2, is fed to at least one further reduction zone (29) for the direct reduction of iron ore. In order to enable the export gas drawn off the further reduction zone (29) to be utilized as completely as possible, heat of the export gas leaving the further reduction zone (29) is used for heating the export gas derived from the first reduction zone (4).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 8, 1998
    Assignee: Voest-Alpine Industieanlagenbau GmbH
    Inventors: Jorg Diehl, Gerald Rosenfellner
  • Patent number: 5676732
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for producing direct reduced iron using a melter-gasifier and two reduction reactors. In the first reduction reactor, iron ore is prereduced using a reducing gas from a melter-gasifier. This prereduced iron ore is fed into the melter-gasifier to produce pig iron. A secondary reducing gas comprising hydrogen and carbon monoxide is withdrawn from the first reduction reactor and is reacted with water to produce carbon dioxide which is subsequently removed to produce a tertiary reducing gas that is used in the second reduction reactor to produce direct reduced iron from iron ore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 14, 1997
    Assignee: HYLSA, S.A. de C.V.
    Inventors: Ricardo Viramontes-Brown, Juan Antonio Villarreal-Trevino
  • Patent number: 5643354
    Abstract: A direct ironmaking process in which coal and oxygen are used directly for reducing ore and smelting the resulting sponge iron wherein a high-temperature ion transport membrane process recovers oxygen for use in the ironmaking process. Heat for oxygen recovery is provided by combustion of medium-BTU fuel gas generated by the ironmaking process and/or by heat exchange with hot gas provided by the ironmaking process. The ironmaking and oxygen recovery processes can be integrated with a combined cycle power generation system to provide an efficient method for the production of iron, oxygen, and electric power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 1, 1997
    Assignee: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventors: Rakesh Agrawal, Michael Shi-Kuan Chen, Arthur Ramsden Smith, Robert Michael Thorogood, Thomas Joseph Ward
  • Patent number: 5630862
    Abstract: The invention provides a method for both disposing of an environmentally undesirable material comprising petroleum coke and the sulfur and heavy metals contained therein and of providing fuel for a process of making molten iron or steel preproducts and reduction gas in a melter gasifier having an upper fuel charging end, a reduction gas discharging end, a lower molten metal and slag collection end, and means providing an entry for charging ferrous material into the melter gasifier; introducing a carbonaceous fuel including petroleum coke into the melter gasifier at the upper fuel charging end; blowing oxygen-containing gas into the petroleum coke to form at least a first fluidized bed of coke particles from the petroleum coke; introducing ferrous material into the melter gasifier through the entry means, reacting petroleum coke, oxygen and particulate ferrous material to combust the major portion of the petroleum coke to produce reduction gas and molten iron or steel preproducts containing heavy metals freed
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 20, 1997
    Assignee: Bechtel Group, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard B. Greenwalt
  • Patent number: 5514203
    Abstract: In a process for producing an iron melt, iron ore is reduced to sponge iron in a direct reduction zone. The sponge iron is melted in a meltdown gasifying zone while supplying carbon-containing material under gasification of the carbon-containing material to reducing gas and under formation of a slag. The reducing gas is injected into the direct reduction zone, is reacted there and is drawn off as a top gas. The reducing gas and/or the top gas is subjected to gas scrubbing and the sludges separated during scrubbing are admixed with binder and coal dust and subsequently are agglomerated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 7, 1996
    Assignee: Deutsche Voest Alpine Industrieanlagenbau GmbH
    Inventors: Herbert Grunbacher, Leopold-Werner Kepplinger, Franz Reufer, Gunter Schrey
  • Patent number: 5397376
    Abstract: The invention provides a method for both disposing of an environmentally undesirable material comprising petroleum coke and the sulfur and heavy metals contained therein and of providing fuel for a process of making molten iron or steel preproducts and reduction gas in a melter gasifier having an upper fuel charging end, a reduction gas discharging end, a lower molten metal and slag collection end, and means providing an entry for charging ferrous material into the melter gasifier; introducing petroleum coke into the melter gasifier at the upper fuel charging end; blowing oxygen-containing gas into the petroleum coke to form at least a first fluidized bed of coke particles from the petroleum coke; introducing ferrous material into the melter gasifier through the entry means, reacting petroleum coke, oxygen and particulate ferrous material to combust the major portion of the petroleum coke to produce reduction gas and molten iron or steel preproducts containing heavy metals freed from combustion of the petrole
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 1993
    Date of Patent: March 14, 1995
    Assignee: Bechtel Group, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard B. Greenwalt
  • Patent number: 5354356
    Abstract: The invention provides a method for both disposing of an environmentally undesirable material comprising petroleum coke and the sulfur and heavy metals contained therein and of providing fuel for a process of making molten iron or steel preproducts and reduction gas in a melter gasifier having an upper fuel charging end, a reduction gas discharging end, a lower molten metal and slag collection end, and means providing an entry for charging ferrous material into the melter gasifier; introducing petroleum coke into the melter gasifier at the upper fuel charging end; blowing oxygen-containing gas into the petroleum coke to form at least a first fluidized bed of coke particles from the petroleum coke; introducing ferrous material into the melter gasifier through the entry means, reacting petroleum coke, oxygen and particulate ferrous material to combust the major portion of the petroleum coke to produce reduction gas and molten iron or steel preproducts containing heavy metals freed from combustion of the petrole
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 1992
    Date of Patent: October 11, 1994
    Assignee: Bechtel Group Inc.
    Inventor: Richard B. Greenwalt
  • Patent number: 5338336
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method for processing environmentally undesirable materials including petroleum coke and the sulfur and heavy metals contained therein and agglomerated waste dust from an electric arc furnace and the zinc, cadmium, lead and iron oxides contained therein and of providing fuel and a charging material for a process of making molten iron or steel preproducts and reduction gas in a melter gasifier. Metallized arc furnace waste dust material from a reduction furnace is introduced into the melter gasifier. The petroleum coke, oxygen and metallized waste dust material are reacted to produce reduction gas and molten iron from the iron oxides in the waste dust material. The molten iron contains the metals freed from combustion of the petroleum coke. The reduction gas is removed from the melter gasifier for use in the reduction furnace to produce an top off gas containing vapors of zinc, cadmium and lead.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 16, 1994
    Assignee: Bechtel Group, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard B. Greenwalt
  • Patent number: 5320676
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method of making iron or steel preproducts and reduction gas with a low slag forming process utilizing petroleum coke as a fuel in a melter gasifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 1993
    Date of Patent: June 14, 1994
    Assignee: Bechtel Group, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard B. Greenwalt
  • Patent number: 5259864
    Abstract: The invention provides a method for both disposing of an environmentally undesirable material comprising petroleum coke and the sulfur and heavy metals contained therein and of providing fuel for a process of making molten iron or steel preproducts and reduction gas in a melter gasifier having an upper fuel charging end, a reduction gas discharging end, a lower molten metal and slag collection end, and means providing an entry for charging ferrous material into the melter gasifier; introducing petroleum coke into the melter gasifier at the upper fuel charging end; blowing oxygen-containing gas into the petroleum coke to form at least a first fluidized bed of coke particles from the petroleum coke; introducing ferrous material into the melter gasifier through the entry means, reacting petroleum coke, oxygen and particulate ferrous material to combust the major portion of the petroleum coke to produce reduction gas and molten iron or steel preproducts containing heavy metals freed from combustion of the petrole
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 9, 1993
    Assignee: Bechtel Group, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard B. Greenwalt
  • Patent number: 5259865
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method of making iron or steel preproducts and reduction in gas a substantially slag free process utilizing petroleum coke as a fuel in a melter gasifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 9, 1993
    Assignee: Bechtel Group, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard B. Greenwalt
  • Patent number: 5238487
    Abstract: A process for producing pig iron is described, which contains a reducing shaft furnace 1 and a melting gasifier 2. The sponge iron produced from iron ores in the reducing shaft furnace is supplied to the melting gasifier and converted there into a pig iron melt. The gas produced in the melting gasifier is supplied directly via a line 4 as reducing gas to the reducing shaft furnace. The blast furnace gas passing out of the reducing shaft furnace, after traversing a CO.sub.2 scrubber 6, is at least partly heated in a heat exchanger to 200.degree. to 500.degree. C. and passed to a partial combustion plant 13 where, accompanied by the addition of oxygen, the gas is heated to the necessary reducing temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 1991
    Date of Patent: August 24, 1993
    Assignee: Deutsche Voest Alpine Industrieanlagenbau GmbH
    Inventors: Rolf Hauk, Werner Kepplinger
  • Patent number: 5238486
    Abstract: This non-blast process for the production of pig iron, cast iron, steel melt and nearly pure iron is carried out in a single furnace based on a tank-type design. Said types of iron melt can be produced in such single furnace individually or simultaneously in different combinations. The furnace interior is divided into immediately adjacent side-by-side chambers, at least one being an ore reduction chamber and at least one being a secondary chamber. Ore introduced into the top of the ore reduction chamber moves downward to the bottom of this chamber and is at first converted into sponge iron, which, absorbing carbon, is then converted into iron-carbon alloy in the form of a flowable layer at temperatures close to its melting point at about 1150 degrees C. while said flowable layer is collected on the bottom. In the melting zone of the secondary chamber such flowable semifinished product is completely melted, producing pig iron.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 1991
    Date of Patent: August 24, 1993
    Inventor: Yury D. Kremenets
  • Patent number: 5051127
    Abstract: Process and apparatus for post combustion of reaction gases generated in a molten iron bath above the bath by means of at least one jet of oxidizing gases, whereby energy thereby produced is transferred to the bath and whereby the or each jet of oxidizing gases is injected with a swirl through one or more tuyeres towards the surface of the bath or the or each jet of oxidizing gases is injected in the form of a hollow jet through one or more tuyeres towards the surface of the bath.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 1989
    Date of Patent: September 24, 1991
    Assignee: Klockner CRA Patent GmbH
    Inventors: Gregory J. Hardie, John M. Ganser
  • Patent number: RE39536
    Abstract: In a method for the production of liquid metal, in particular liquid pig iron (9) or liquid steel pre-products, from metal carriers, in particular partially reduced or reduced sponge iron (3), in a melter gasifier (1) in which with supply of a carbon-containing material at least partially formed of fine coal (16) and coal dust (13) and with supply of oxygen or oxygen-containing gas the metal carriers are melted in a bed (4) of the carbon-containing material at the simultaneous formation of a reducing gas, optionally upon previous final reduction, fine coal (16) and coal dust (13) which are being charged, are mixed with bitumen (20) in the hot state, after undergoing a drying operation, and subsequently are cold-briquetted, and the briquettes (25) thus formed are charged to the melter gasifier (1) in the cold state and in the melter gasifier (1) are subjected to shock-heating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2007
    Assignee: Deutsche Voest-Alpine Industrieanlagenbau GmbH
    Inventors: Günter Schrey, Parviz Zahedi