Fluidized bed direct steelmaking plant
First Claim
1. A steelmaking plant for direct production of iron from raw iron ore fines under 1/2" diameter, comprisingan ore feed assembly;
- a preheat assembly;
a reactor assembly;
a gasifier/smelter assembly;
a reducing gas preparation assembly;
a recycle gas assembly; and
,reducing gas conduit means for continuously cycling exiting offgas from said smelter assembly through said reducing gas preparation assembly, reducing reactor assembly, preheat assembly, and recycle gas assembly;
said ore feed, preheat, and reducing reactor assemblies being located in decreasing elevation series relation;
said ore feed assembly includingore feed conduit means for transferring dry iron ore from said ore feed assembly to said reactor assembly;
said reactor assembly includingat least two ore reactors pressurized to a pre-specified reactor pressure of at least five atmospheres and fixed in graduate decreasing height; and
,reactor conduit means for connecting flow of fines downward and flow of reducing gas upward in cross-current relation through said at least two ore reactors in series relation;
said gasifier/smelter assembly includinga gasifier/smelter vessel;
a coal source;
a flux source;
an oxygen source; and
,smelter conduit means for connecting flow of fines from said reactor assembly and flow of coal, flux, and oxygen from respective of said coal, flux, and oxygen sources into said smelter vessel;
said reducing gas assembly includingreducing gas recycling means for recycling reducing gas exhausted from said reactor assembly;
said ore feed conduit means includingfirst isolation valve means for maintaining steady flow of fines; and
,pressurizing means for pressurizing said ore feed conduit means;
said preheat assembly includingpreheat means for preheating said fines to a pre-determined reaction temperature and removing entrained water from said fines prior to entry into said at least two ore reactors.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
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.
19 Citations
8 Claims
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1. A steelmaking plant for direct production of iron from raw iron ore fines under 1/2" diameter, comprising
an ore feed assembly; -
a preheat assembly; a reactor assembly; a gasifier/smelter assembly; a reducing gas preparation assembly; a recycle gas assembly; and
,reducing gas conduit means for continuously cycling exiting offgas from said smelter assembly through said reducing gas preparation assembly, reducing reactor assembly, preheat assembly, and recycle gas assembly; said ore feed, preheat, and reducing reactor assemblies being located in decreasing elevation series relation; said ore feed assembly including ore feed conduit means for transferring dry iron ore from said ore feed assembly to said reactor assembly; said reactor assembly including at least two ore reactors pressurized to a pre-specified reactor pressure of at least five atmospheres and fixed in graduate decreasing height; and
,reactor conduit means for connecting flow of fines downward and flow of reducing gas upward in cross-current relation through said at least two ore reactors in series relation; said gasifier/smelter assembly including a gasifier/smelter vessel; a coal source; a flux source; an oxygen source; and
,smelter conduit means for connecting flow of fines from said reactor assembly and flow of coal, flux, and oxygen from respective of said coal, flux, and oxygen sources into said smelter vessel; said reducing gas assembly including reducing gas recycling means for recycling reducing gas exhausted from said reactor assembly; said ore feed conduit means including first isolation valve means for maintaining steady flow of fines; and
,pressurizing means for pressurizing said ore feed conduit means; said preheat assembly including preheat means for preheating said fines to a pre-determined reaction temperature and removing entrained water from said fines prior to entry into said at least two ore reactors. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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Specification