CA2467310C - Combined ironmaking and steelmaking plant - Google Patents

Abstract

A combined ironmaking and steelmaking plant is disclosed. The plant includes a direct smelting ironmaking plant that includes an ironmaking vessel and a steelmaking plant for producing molten steel from molten iron from the iron making plant. The steelmaking plant includes a steelmaking vessel such as a BOF. The plant also includes a plurality of ladles for molten iron and a transfer means for transferring the ladles between (i) an operative position at the ironmaking vessel for receiving molten iron from the ironmaking vessel and (ii) an operative position at the steelmaking vessel for discharging molten iron directly into the steelmaking vessel. The transfer means links together the ironmaking vessel and the steelmaking vessel. The transfer means includes a transfer crane for supporting the ladles and a transfer crane runway that defines a path of movement for the crane.

Description

COMBINfED IRONMAKING AND STEEd:~MAKING PLANT
TECHNICAL FTELD
The present invention relates to a combined i.ronmaking and steelmaking plant for produca.ng molten steel from an iron-bear~.ng metalliferous fee=_d material such as ores, partly reduced ores and iroxs.-contayr~ing waste streams.
The present inventyon relates particularly, although by no ~mearas exclus~.veZy, to a combined iror~aking and steelmaking plant for producing :.molten steed. by a process that includes producing molt~an sron in as ironmaking vess~al by a direct smeltivag process, more particularly a molten bath-based direct smelt~.ng process, and thereafter ,~xoduczng steel from ~.tlae molten iron in a steelmak3ng vessel, by a basic oxygen j~rocess.
The term '°dixeat smelting p~-ocessK is understood hexein tv mean a thermal process for j?roducing molten zron directly from an ~.ron-hearing metall:L:Eerous feed material such as ores, partly reduced ores anri iron-containing waste streams, whereixn chemical reactions 3: educe the metall.iferous feed material to molten iron.
The Hlsmelt process is a molten bath-based direct saeelting process ~or producing xnoltexd a.ron. The Hlsmelt process is described, by way of example, an International Application FCT/'AtT96/OC1197 (P10 96/31~:~'7) in the name of the applicant. The H~Csmelt procega is ar,~ alternative process to the eonvex~.tional blast furnace-based direct smelting process for prpducing molten ~,ron.
The xTsmelt process hag been tested successfully at development plant level. and a rela.ited company of the -- applicaait is now constxuating a aoa~ercial plant at y .:~, - .

KWinana, western Australia.
The I~Ismelt process, and other molten bath-based direct smelting processes that have been proposed a,n the literature, enable large quant~,ties o:E molten iron to be produced by direct smelting in compact vessels.
The basic oxygen psvcess is a commonly used process for making steel. The proee-s~s enables large quantities of molten steel to be prodaced from molten iron in compact vessels.
Tha present invention is based on the realisation that with careful design the above-derscribed compact direct smelting and str~elmakirig vessels mak~s a.t poss~.ble to produce molten iron and thereafter s~t~eel. using a quite daf~erent plant layout to that o~ tra.ditiozial integrated steelworks.
In traditional integrated >:si:.eelwosks, ironmaking and steelmaking are essential3y separ;~,te operations and ironmaking plants and steelmaking plants are spaced apart by re~.atively 1<<rge distances with3.r~, the boundaries of integrated stee~.wor3cs. Molter~ iran ~.as transferred from ~.ronmaking to steelmakzng plants in purpose-built torpedo cars that run or.~ rail tracks between ~tlE~e plants . When the torpedo cars reach steelmaking plantsr the molten iron is discharged into ladles, and the 7.adlerg transport molten iron as required wa.thia the steelmaking plants. Depending on the circuansta.nees, molten iron may be treated by being desulphurised ax~.d/or dephosphor~.sed 3.~a the ladles before the ladles are moved to steelmaking vnasse3.s and the treated iron is discharged from the ladles ixs.ito the vessels and processed tv produce steel.
Tl;e above-der3cribed multiple handling of each batch of molten iron and the long transfer distances ' CA 02467310 2004-05-14 between iranmaking anal steelmaking ~~lants are d3.aadvazitage$
of trad3t~.or~.al integrated steelworkQ.. The step of transferring batches of molten iron from ore receptacle to another introduces time delays and inevitablg results in temperature losses in the molten metal. The temperature losses are an 3.mportant eor~sideratian ga.ven that '~ta.ere is a relatively small temperature window between the tapping temperature for molten iron and the m:iraimu-en feed temperature for steelmaking vessels.
~. 0 In adda.tion, the u$e of torpedo cars represents a substantial investment ~.u texzns of ta~r~ cars themselves, the rail networks for the cars, the locoz~u~ti.ves to move the cars, the plant and equipment, that i;a required to clean, repair, and re-Nine the cars, and the plant and equzpmer~,t that is required to preheat the cars pr3.or to receivarxg a batch of mo~.ten iron.
The plant layo~.r.t of the combined ironmaking and steelmaking plant of the present inve~at~.on avoids the above-described disadvantages of trad:i.ta.onal ix~.tegrated steelworks.
The plant layout of the present invention is suitable particularly, although not e~~eclusively, for a green~ield site.
n=seLOSVRS of TAE zrm~rrzorr According to the present invention there is provided a combined iros~making and steelmaking plant including:
(a) a dyrect smelting irorux~aking plarJa for producing molten iron from an a.roa-blaring metalliferous feed materiaz such as ores, partly re,ziuced ores and iron-containing waste streams, th~ ironmak~:ng plant including an _ . - ~ 02467310 2004-05-14 ironmaking vessel;
tb) a steelmaking plant fc~r receiving molten iron and producing molten steel from xr~cslteas iron. the steelmaking plant including a steelmakang ~ressely (c) ~~t leant one receptae°!a fos receiving and holding molten iron from the ironmaking vessel and for discharging xaaljten iron directly a.ato the steelmaking vessel; and, (d) a transfer means fox f:ransferring the receptacle between (a.) an operative Jaa~sitign at the irarmnaksng vess<.1 at which the raeep~a.cle cars, receive molten iron froze the ironmaking vessel and (ii) an operative positvon at the.steelmakin~ vessel at which the receptacle can discharge molten iron d~ixectly into the steelmakiag vessel an d thereby links t,ogeth~ar the ironmaking vessel and the stealmaking vessel, the transfer means including a transfer crane far supporting the receptacle and a transfer crane ruxzway that def~.nes a path of movement for the crane.
With the above-descr~.bed combir~.ed plant, the ironxnaking vease~, can transfer molten iron directly into the receptacle vahen the receptacle is positioned at the operata.ve position at the ironmakang vessel.
In add~.tion, with the abova-described combined plant, the ironmaking vessel, the steslmaking vessel and the transfer means are positioned in relat~.on to each other so that a receptacle eonta3.nsng moltan iroxi can be carried by the transfer crane from the operative possta,ormat the ironmaking vessel along the transfer,crane rmw~y to the 36 operative position at the steelniakinc~ vessel. and molten iron can be discharged da.rectly from the receptacle a,nto the steelmakixxg vessel.

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The avbove-described combined plant is centred on the transfer means and the relat~.ve poss.tioas of the transfer means, the ironmaking vessHl, and the steelmaking vessel that links together the operative positions of the 5 receptacle at t:he ironmaking vessel a~ad the steelmaking vessel and makes it poBSible to use one receptacle on~.y for transferring a given batch of a~oltermiron the whole distance from the irorunaking vessel tea the steelmaking vessel by means of the transfer means.
Preferably the ironmaking vessel is adapted to discharge molten iron continuously fr~oact, the vessel.
With such an arrangement, preferably the combined ~5 plant secludes at least two xeeeptacl~as arid the ironmaking plant ialcludes a means for selectivel;Y supplying molten iron discharged continuously from the ironmakiag vessel into one ox~ other of the receptacles .at the operative position at the ironmakira.g plant.
Preferably the operative position at the steelmaking v-es;ael is an elevated position in a~~lation to the operative position at the ironmaJcing vessel..
Prefea~ably they combined pl~.gt further includes a molten iron tre;~.tment plant for trea~t~.,ng molten iron positioned in relation to the trar~sf~:r crane runway so that a receptacle containixag molten iron ~zan be transferred from the operative position at the iroazmaleing vessel to an operative positaLon at the molten iron treatment plant;
thereafter the molten iron earl be treated at the molten.
iron treatmea,t ~>larxt, and the receptacle means can then be carried by the transfer crane along 9::he transfer crane a:unway to the operative position at t;he steelma,~sing vessel and the treated molten iron can be d~.seharged directly from the receptacle into the steelmaking ~>~essel.

CA 02467310 2004-05-14 .
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Preferably the iranmaking veessel and the molten.
iron treat_mex~,t ,plant are on opposite Faides of the transfer runway.
Preferabllr the operative p~~sita~ons at the s.ronmaki.ng vessel and the molten iron treatment plant are directly across from one another.
Prefea:ably the transfer mear.:s includes a transfer car or other suitable moltexi iron tra.nsfex means for supporting and transferrir~g the receptacle xneang corataining molten iron frv=n the operative pos3.t:ion at the ironmaking vessel to the operative posit~.on at =he molten iron treatment plant" This is a conveniemt~ arrangement for tr~nsferrs.ng molten iron from the irorsmaking vessel to the molten iron treatment unit.
Preferably the transfer measxs ineludes a rail-mounted transfer car for supporting Gtnd transferring the ree:eptacle means coxataining molten iron from the operative position at the ironrnaking vessel to t:he operative position at the molten iron treatment plant.
preferably the transfer caw and the transfer crane are adapted to ogerate indepe~nclc~ntly of each other.
Preferably the molten iron t:reataanent plant xs a desulphurisation plant that is adapted to desulphuris~e molten iron. in the receptacle means in situ oxr the molten iron transfer means, Preferably the combined planW further includes a molten iron solidification plant for casting molten iron into pigs or other moulds or for quenching molten iron into granules or for otherwise Forming so3.xd iron positioned an relation to trhe transfer crane runway so that a receptacle contaixllng molten irora can be carried by the transfer arena ~ 02467310 2004-05-14 --~". ~, . .. .. . ~.~,.. . ~. ~ . .. . -. _ . ., . . .. . fi ..
along the transfer crane runway to an operative position at the solidification plant e.n.d molten ix-on cars be discharged from the receptacle ~.nto the Bolidzfic:atio~. plant.
Preferably the operative p.~sitic~r~, at the ateelxnakiag vessel and the operative posit~.oa at the soaidificatioxs plarxt are at opposite ends of the transfer crane runway.
3. o Preferably the combir~.ed plawt further includes a receptacle heat:iag stand positioned :Lxt relation to the transfer craae runway so that as emp~=y receptacle can be heated at the the receptacle heatixxg atend and then~after carried by the 1_ransfer crazse along t:he trraxsafer crane runway to the operative position at t=he ironma3sing vessel to be filled with molten. iron.
preferably the transfer cra~rne rux~way is straight.
Preferably the direct smelt3.ng iroruna.king plant is adapted to px-vduce molten iron by a molten bath-based direct smelting process.
Preferably molten riath-basest direct smeltixs.g process is the ~3tlsxnelt process.
Preferably the receptacle is a ladle.
Preferably the transfer cra~~e and the ladle are adapted to allow for tilting m ladle containing molten iron.
towards the steelmaking vessel so that: molten iron cars be discharged from the ladle whsle supported by the transfer crane.
Preferably the steelmaking v~sssel as adaptred to tilt towards a ladle contaia~.ixag molteri iroxz when the ladle is at the operative positiosx of the steeimaltin.g vessel to ~ 02467310 2004-05-14 .' ., ' w . . , . .
facilitate discharging of molten iron into the steelmaking vessel.
According to the present inveastion there is also provided a method caf making steel ir. the combined irenmaka.ng and steelmaacing plant described above which includes making molten 3,ron a.n the r~,y;~ect smelting ironmaking plant, discharging molten iron from the iroamaking vessel into the receptacle at the operative posit3.on of the iro~naking plant, tramaferring the receptacle containing the molten iron to the steelmaking plant using the transfer means. discharging molten irons from the receptacle into the ateelma.k~.ag vessel, and making steel from the ~onalten iron in the steelmaking plant.
Preferably the method fustizer includes transferring the receptacle contafns;~ng the molten ~.ron from the irox~aking plant to the molten iron treatment plant using the transfer means, treat~.ng t;~r~ molten. iron at the molten iron trer~tmer~t plant, and thermafter transferring the receptacle ~~on'ta~.ning tha treated molten iron to the steelmak~.ag plaint .
pxefersbly the method inelmdss aoatinuously discharging molten, iron from the ironmaking~ vessel iz~.to one of two receptacles at operative posir:9.ons of the ironmaking plaxxt.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAHTINGS
The present a.nvention is described in more detail hereinafter with reference to the aaecssnpanyzng drav~risigs, of Which:
Figure 1 ~.s a layout of one embodiment of a combined 3.ronmak,ing and steelmaking plant in accordance with the present invention) and F3.gur~a 2 is a detailed view of one past of the layout shown in Figure 1.
DBTAIhEb DESCRIPTION OF THE PRRFERRE;D EMBODIMENT
The combined ironmakin.g and steelmaksag plant shown in the figures includess (a) asr. ironmaking plant enolosed v~tith.ia the stashed line marked CI~T on the figure for producing molten iron i,n accordance with the f'IIsmelt process in a t:i,xed, compact direct scmelting vessel 11;
(b) ladles L5 or other suitable receptacles for rece~.ving, holding, arldl discharging molten iron produced by the a~x~onmaking plant, (e) a, steelmsking plant tY.~a~~t includes two basic oxygen furnaces (BOF) 7 for producing steel from the molten irora in accordance wa.th the basic oxygen process, (d) a molten iron treatment: plant 41 ixz the form of a desulphurisat3on plant for desulphurising molten iron xa a ladle 3.5;
and (e) a transfer means for tranferring ladles 15 containing molten zroa from the direct smelting vessel 11 to t:he desulphurisation plant 41 and therea~te.r transferrir~.g ladles containing desulphurised molten iron to the BOFs 7 and for tipping the ladles to pour anolten iroxi from the ladles into the BOFs 7 apt the steelmakiag ~ani~t:.

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The combined plant also includes a molten solxdifi.cation plant in the form of an. iron casting plant 43 for canting molten iron inter pigs.
The combined plant also includes a pair of ladle heating stands .~-al for pre-heating empty 7.adles prior to moving the ladya=s tv the iroruna7~irtg hl,a~nt ~zU to be filled with molten aron.

7.0 The ts-ansfer means includet~ (a) rail-mounted transfer cars 55 ( shown Jmore clearl~r in Figure 2 than in Figure 1) that support and transfer _Lwr~les 15 filled with molten a.ran from the direct smelting weasel 11 to the desulphur3.sation plant 41 and empty ~a~dles 15 to the vessel 11, (b) an overtlaad transfer crane 3!i for lifts.ag and carrying the ladles ~.5. and (c) a rurxHray 9 that defines a path of movement for the crane 35.
The rail-mounted transfer cars 55 fac~.litate movement of ladles 15 fi.~.led with molten iron across the width of the runway 9 from the direct: smelting vessel I1 to the desulphurisation plant 41..
The crane 35 and the runway 9 facilitate movement: of the ladles 15 alox~g the Length of the runway 9 and across the width of the runway 9.
Tx~, addit;ion, the transfer cars 55, the crasse 35 and the runway 9 facilitate movement of pre-heated empty ladles ~.5 from the ladle heating stands 51 to the direct smelting vessel 11.
=t is evident from the above and the figures that the paths of movement of the transfer cars 55 across the runway 9 and the crane 35 along the rmnway 9 irsterseet.
The transfer cars 55 and the craze 35 can move independently of each other and, accordingly, in order to ~ CA ~02467310 2004-05-14' - ~ _ ..
., ~-, - .:, . :. . , ~ ,.,_-. .:~: . __ 7.1 avoid interference, the crane 35 i.s adapted to lift ladles 1S well clear e~f the transfer cars ~5.
The steelmaking pleat is characte~xised fn that the direct smelting vessel 11, the BOhs 7, the desulphurisatiox~, plant 41, the pig casting plant 43, and the ladle heating stands 5~: are positioned in relation to the transfer mea:as so that the ladies 15 can be moved by the transfer means to operative posit_i.ons at the vessel. 11, the BOl~s 7, the plants 43., 43, and the ladle heating stands 51.
Specifically, the operative posita.on for the ladles l5 at thw direct smelting vessel 11 is the pos3.tion I5 of the ladles 1;'s ixa, the figures, se ~~os~.tio~as at which a pair of the ladies 15 can receive molten iron darect7.y from the vessel 11 via a hat metal lauride~: 13 and a filter runner assembly 61 (see Figure 2).
The ogarative positiozi for the la.dlea 15 at the BOFs 7 is elewat:ed positions air which the ladles 15 can be tilted to pour molten iron ire, the ladles 15 directly snto the BOFs 7.
The operative position for the ladles 1S at the desulphurisatioa plant 42 is a position at which molten m~eta7. can be desulphurised in the ladles 15.
The operative positions for the ladles 15 at the d~.rect smelting vessel 11 and the desv,Iphurisation plant 41 are at the same horizontal level and a.=e dasectly across from one another so that there is a straight line transfer of the 7.adles 15 via the trax~.sfer cars 55 from the direct smelting vessel ~.1 tc the desulphurisatioa una.tw4l.
The opearative position fox the ladles la at the pig casting plarat 43 is au elevated p~asitiox~ at which the . . . _- , ~ 02467310 2004-05-14 ~ .

ladles 15 can, be tslted to pour ~oitea, iron is the ladles 1S directly into the parallel pig casting lir~ea.
The above-described locations of the direct smelting vegsel 11, the steaLa~al~ing unit, the desulphurisatioa pleat 41, the pig casting plant 43, sad the ladle heating stands 51 in relat3~on to the transfer means, and more particularly in relation to the crane runovay 9. greatly facilitates efficient transfer of molten ~,0 iron as required within the combiaec. plant. In particular, the above-described arraugemen,t m~.r~.3~nsses the number of ladles ~.5 and crane operations that are required to transfer molten 3.ron from the direct. smelting vessel 11 to the 80Fs 7.
The eoncebiaed plant also includes end tap ladles for receiving and transferrirs,g molten iron discharged from the darect smeZtxng vessel ~.1 via a launder 39 3n an end tap of the vessel. The posit~,ora.s of the vessel 11 and 20 the ladles 25 a"s selected so that the: ladles 25 can be lifted and moved by the transfer crane 35 as required to the SOFs 7, the~ desulphurisation plarit 41, sad the pig cast~.ng plant 43.
25 The direct smelting vessel. 11 xs a v~rater-cooled refractory lined vessel that is adapted to contain a molten bath of sroa a~,d :lag.
The vessel ~.1 is fitted with a gas injection lance (not shown) for delivering a ~ovmward:Ly directed hot air blast into an upper region of the vessel, zn use, the lance rece3.ves an oxygen-enriched hat air blast through a hot gas delivery duct 31 that extenaa ~roxa hot gas supply statiox~ 23. The hot gas supply stat~.o~a 21 includes a aeries of hot blast stoves sad an. oxygexx plant to enable an oxygen-enriched air stream to be passed through the hot blast stoves arid into the hot blast delivery duct 31.

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,; ~, .: ' ,-The vessel, 11 ig alsv fitted with sol~.ds snjection lances 27 that extend downarardly and snwardly through openingea (not shown) in the (aide walls of the vessel ~or injecting iron ore fines, solid carbonaceous material, and fluxes entrained in an oxygen-deficient carrier gas into the molten bath in i~h.e vessel.
Typ3.ca~lly. the lances 2? are in 2 groups of lances, with the: lances 2? in one gsnup receiving hot iron IO ore fines supplied via a hot ore injection system and the lances 27 3.n the other group rece~,ving~ coal and flux via a carbonaceous material/flux iu~ecti.on system during a smelting operation. The lances 2? in the 2 groups are arranged alternaWe~.y arorazad the aireuxnferenae of the vessel.
The hvt ore injection system includes a pre-heat/pre-reducta.on unit 1? for heatirvg sand partially reducing the iron ore fines axed a hot: ore transfer system that includes a series of supply lines (not shown) and a supply of carrier gas (~xot shown) for transportiaag the hot ore fines in the supply lines and ixijecting the hot ore f roes ixa.to the weasel .
The vessel 11 includes an offgas duct 32 which transports offgas produced in the proc:eas away from the vessel 11 to a treatment station 33 where it is cleaned and passed through heat exchax~gers for pr~aheat3ng the materials fed to the vessel 1~..
7Cn a s~meZting operation inn. accordance with the Filsmelt process, ore fines, coal, and flux are 3rajected ir~.to the molten ;bath through the lances 2? . The coal is devolatslised and thereby produces gars in the molten bath.
Carbon partially dissolves xn the metal and partially remains as solid carbon. The ore fines are smelted to metal and the sm~slting reaction generates carbon morr.oxide.

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The gases transported into the metal layer axed gerxerated by devoZatilisatioxa and smelting reactions produce significant buoyancy uplift of xnol.ten metal, soa:id, carbon and slag.
Injection of the oxygen-containing g:~a~ via the lance post-s combusts reaction gases in the upper part of the vessel.
Hot metal produced dur3.ag a smelting operation is discharged continuously from the vessel 11 into oxie of two ladles 15 at the operative position of the vessel I1. The molten iron. is discharged into a lad:Le: 15 thxough a metal tapping sys~esn that includes the forehearth (not shown) arad hot metal launder 13 connected to the forehearth axed tha titter runner assembly Cal.
The plant includes an ertd atetal tapping system for tapping molten metal from the vessel 11 at the end of a smeltss~,g operatj.on out of the lower p~~.rt of the vessel and transportiry that moltezi metal away from the vessel 21.
The end metal tapping system iaeluder~ a aeetal end tap hole (not shovm) in the vessel and the launder 39 for transferring molten metal discharged from the vessel 11 via the tap hole to the serzes of ladles ~5 at the position shown in the figures.
The $Q~~s ~, the desulphurisatio~z plant 41, and the pig castiasg plant 4~ are cotavantional unit operations.
zn use of the above-deacribad combined ironmaking and steelrnakiag plant, molten iron is produced in the dixect smelting iroamaking plant CIU and is discharged continuously from the vessel 11 ~xa.to one of the ladles 15 at the operative positivxx at the weasel 11. When the ladle 15 is full, the titter runner assembT.y 61 re-directs the continuous flow of molten irons from t;he vessel ~.1 into the other ladle 15 at the operative position of the vessel 11.
The full ladle 15 is transferred across the runway 9 by its associated transfer oar 55 to the de$ulphurisatioa plant 41 . ' _. ~ . , w._ , . . _ " .,.. - . CA 02467310 2004-05-14 T~ .
is and the mo~.ten iraa is desulphurised isa the ladle iS.Thereatter, the ladle 15 containixag the deaulphurised molten iron, s.s :Lifted off its associs,ted tran$fer car 55 and is transferred by the crane 35 a:lo3ng the runway 9 to the operative position of the BOF's. Thereafter, the ladle is tilted ax~,d the desulphura.sed molten i.roxi is discharged into one of the 80F's. Scrap fox the HOF is conveniently charged isito the BOF frrm the opposite side thereof . Thereafter, steel a.s produr:ed is the 80g. After x0 the tuiZ ladle A5 hs.s been emgied at t:he 80~, the crane 35 transfers the empty ladle 15 to the :Ladle heating stands 51 sad the ladle 15~ is pre-heated as zeqt;Wred fox subsequent use. When required, the pre-heated empty ladle 15 is transferred by the cras~,e 35 to the e~rty transfer car 55 at I5 the desulphur3.aation plaut.4l. Thereafter, the ladle 15 is tranaferxed by the transfer car 55 irlt:o the operati~re positiora at the vessel 1x to receive a further charge of molten iron.
Maxay modifications may be xck-~de to the embodiment of the present invention descr3~bed grove without departing fxom the spirit grad scope of the invesation.

Claims (14)

1. A combined ironmaking and steelmaking plant includes:
(a) a direct smelting ironmaking plant for producing molten iron from an iron-bearing metalliferous feed material, the ironmaking plant including an ironmaking vessel adapted to discharge molten iron continuously from the vessel;
(b) a steelmaking plant for receiving molten iron and producing molten steel from molten iron, the steelmaking plant including a steelmaking vessel;
(c) a desulphurisation plant for desulphurising molten iron;
(d) at least a pair of ladles for receiving and holding molten iron from the ironmaking vessel and for discharging molten iron directly into the steelmaking vessel; and (e) a transfer means for transferring the ladles between (i) an operative position at the ironmaking vessel at which the ladle can receive molten iron from the ironmaking vessel, (ii) an operative position at the desulphurisation plant, that is remote from the operative position at the ironmaking vessel, so the molten iron can be desulphurised and (iii) an operative position at the steelmaking vessel at which the ladle can discharge molten iron directly into the steelmaking vessel and thereby links together the ironmaking vessel and the steelmaking vessel, the transfer means including:
.cndot. a transfer crane for supporting the ladle and a transfer crane runway that defines a path of movement for the crane; and .cndot. rail-mounted transfer cars for supporting and transferring the ladle containing molten iron from the operative position at the ironmaking vessel to the operative position at the desulphurisation plant; and .cndot. wherein the transfer cars and the transfer crane are adapted to operate independently of each other and the desulphurisation plant is adapted to desulphurise molten iron in the ladle in situ on the transfer cars and the ladles can then be carried by the transfer crane along the transfer crane runway to the operative position at the steelmaking vessel and the treated molten iron can be discharged directly from the receptacle into the steelmaking vessel.

2. The combined plant defined in claim 1 includes a means for selectively supplying molten iron discharged continuously from the ironmaking vessel into one or other of the receptacles at the operative position at the ironmaking plant.

3. The combined plant defined in any one of claims 1 and 2 wherein the operative position at the steelmaking vessel is an elevated position in relation to the operative position at the ironmaking vessel.

4. The combined plant defined in any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein the ironmaking vessel and the molten iron treatment plant are on opposite sides of the transfer runway.

5. The combined plant defined in claim 4 wherein the operative positions at the ironmaking vessel and the molten iron treatment plant are directly across from one another.

6. The combined plant defined in any one of claims 1 to 5 further includes a molten iron solidification plant for casting molten iron into pigs or other moulds or for quenching molten iron into granules or for otherwise forming solid iron positioned in relation to the transfer crane runway so that a receptacle containing molten iron can be carried by the transfer crane along the transfer crane runway to an operative position at the solidification plant and molten iron can be discharged from the receptacle into the solidification plant.

7. The combined plant defined in claim 6 wherein the operative position at the steelmaking vessel and the operative position at the solidification plant are at opposite ends of the transfer crane runway.

8. The combined plant defined in any one of claims 1 to 7 further includes a ladle heating stand positioned in relation to the transfer crane runway so that an empty ladle can be heated at the ladle heating stand and thereafter carried by the transfer crane along the transfer crane runway to the operative position at the ironmaking vessel to be filled with molten iron.

9. The combined plant defined in any one of claims 1 to 8 wherein the direct smelting ironmaking plant is adapted to produce molten iron by a molten bath-based direct smelting process.

10. The combined plant defined in any one of claims 1 to 9 wherein the transfer crane and the ladle are adapted to allow for tilting the ladle containing molten iron towards the steelmaking vessel so that molten iron can be discharged from the ladle while supported by the transfer crane.

11. The combined plant defined in claim 10 wherein the steelmaking vessel is adapted to tilt towards the ladle containing molten iron when the ladle is at the operative position of the steelmaking vessel to facilitate discharging of molten iron into the steelmaking vessel.

12. A method of making steel in the combined ironmaking and steelmaking plant defined in any one of claims 1 to 11, includes: making molten iron in the direct smelting ironmaking plant, discharging molten iron from the ironmaking vessel into the receptacle at the operative position of the ironmaking plant, transferring the receptacle containing the molten iron to the steelmaking plant using the transfer means, discharging molten iron from the receptacle into the steelmaking vessel, and making steel from the molten iron in the steelmaking plant.

13. The method defined in claim 12 further includes transferring the ladle containing the molten iron from the ironmaking plant to the desulphurisation plant using the transfer means, treating the molten iron at the desulphurisation plant, and thereafter transferring the ladle containing the treated molten iron to the steelmaking plant.

14. The method defined in claim 12 or claim 13 includes continuously discharging molten iron from the ironmaking vessel into one of two ladles at operative positions of the ironmaking plant.