Classifications

• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F27—FURNACES; KILNS; OVENS; RETORTS
  • F27D—DETAILS OR ACCESSORIES OF FURNACES, KILNS, OVENS, OR RETORTS, IN SO FAR AS THEY ARE OF KINDS OCCURRING IN MORE THAN ONE KIND OF FURNACE
  • F27D99/00—Subject matter not provided for in other groups of this subclass
  • F27D99/0001—Heating elements or systems
  • F27D99/0006—Electric heating elements or system
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
  • B01J—CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROCESSES, e.g. CATALYSIS OR COLLOID CHEMISTRY; THEIR RELEVANT APPARATUS
  • B01J8/00—Chemical or physical processes in general, conducted in the presence of fluids and solid particles; Apparatus for such processes
  • B01J8/005—Separating solid material from the gas/liquid stream
  • B01J8/0075—Separating solid material from the gas/liquid stream by electrostatic precipitation
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
  • B01J—CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROCESSES, e.g. CATALYSIS OR COLLOID CHEMISTRY; THEIR RELEVANT APPARATUS
  • B01J8/00—Chemical or physical processes in general, conducted in the presence of fluids and solid particles; Apparatus for such processes
  • B01J8/18—Chemical or physical processes in general, conducted in the presence of fluids and solid particles; Apparatus for such processes with fluidised particles
  • B01J8/1818—Feeding of the fluidising gas
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
  • B01J—CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROCESSES, e.g. CATALYSIS OR COLLOID CHEMISTRY; THEIR RELEVANT APPARATUS
  • B01J8/00—Chemical or physical processes in general, conducted in the presence of fluids and solid particles; Apparatus for such processes
  • B01J8/18—Chemical or physical processes in general, conducted in the presence of fluids and solid particles; Apparatus for such processes with fluidised particles
  • B01J8/24—Chemical or physical processes in general, conducted in the presence of fluids and solid particles; Apparatus for such processes with fluidised particles according to "fluidised-bed" technique
  • B01J8/42—Chemical or physical processes in general, conducted in the presence of fluids and solid particles; Apparatus for such processes with fluidised particles according to "fluidised-bed" technique with fluidised bed subjected to electric current or to radiations this sub-group includes the fluidised bed subjected to electric or magnetic fields
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C21—METALLURGY OF IRON
  • C21B—MANUFACTURE OF IRON OR STEEL
  • C21B13/00—Making spongy iron or liquid steel, by direct processes
  • C21B13/0033—In fluidised bed furnaces or apparatus containing a dispersion of the material
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C21—METALLURGY OF IRON
  • C21B—MANUFACTURE OF IRON OR STEEL
  • C21B13/00—Making spongy iron or liquid steel, by direct processes
  • C21B13/0046—Making spongy iron or liquid steel, by direct processes making metallised agglomerates or iron oxide
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C21—METALLURGY OF IRON
  • C21B—MANUFACTURE OF IRON OR STEEL
  • C21B13/00—Making spongy iron or liquid steel, by direct processes
  • C21B13/12—Making spongy iron or liquid steel, by direct processes in electric furnaces
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C22—METALLURGY; FERROUS OR NON-FERROUS ALLOYS; TREATMENT OF ALLOYS OR NON-FERROUS METALS
  • C22B—PRODUCTION AND REFINING OF METALS; PRETREATMENT OF RAW MATERIALS
  • C22B1/00—Preliminary treatment of ores or scrap
  • C22B1/14—Agglomerating; Briquetting; Binding; Granulating
  • C22B1/24—Binding; Briquetting ; Granulating
  • C22B1/242—Binding; Briquetting ; Granulating with binders
  • C22B1/244—Binding; Briquetting ; Granulating with binders organic
  • C22B1/245—Binding; Briquetting ; Granulating with binders organic with carbonaceous material for the production of coked agglomerates
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C22—METALLURGY; FERROUS OR NON-FERROUS ALLOYS; TREATMENT OF ALLOYS OR NON-FERROUS METALS
  • C22B—PRODUCTION AND REFINING OF METALS; PRETREATMENT OF RAW MATERIALS
  • C22B4/00—Electrothermal treatment of ores or metallurgical products for obtaining metals or alloys
  • C22B4/08—Apparatus
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C22—METALLURGY; FERROUS OR NON-FERROUS ALLOYS; TREATMENT OF ALLOYS OR NON-FERROUS METALS
  • C22B—PRODUCTION AND REFINING OF METALS; PRETREATMENT OF RAW MATERIALS
  • C22B5/00—General methods of reducing to metals
  • C22B5/02—Dry methods smelting of sulfides or formation of mattes
  • C22B5/10—Dry methods smelting of sulfides or formation of mattes by solid carbonaceous reducing agents
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C22—METALLURGY; FERROUS OR NON-FERROUS ALLOYS; TREATMENT OF ALLOYS OR NON-FERROUS METALS
  • C22B—PRODUCTION AND REFINING OF METALS; PRETREATMENT OF RAW MATERIALS
  • C22B5/00—General methods of reducing to metals
  • C22B5/02—Dry methods smelting of sulfides or formation of mattes
  • C22B5/12—Dry methods smelting of sulfides or formation of mattes by gases
  • C22B5/14—Dry methods smelting of sulfides or formation of mattes by gases fluidised material
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F27—FURNACES; KILNS; OVENS; RETORTS
  • F27B—FURNACES, KILNS, OVENS, OR RETORTS IN GENERAL; OPEN SINTERING OR LIKE APPARATUS
  • F27B15/00—Fluidised-bed furnaces; Other furnaces using or treating finely-divided materials in dispersion
  • F27B15/006—Equipment for treating dispersed material falling under gravity with ascending gases
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F27—FURNACES; KILNS; OVENS; RETORTS
  • F27B—FURNACES, KILNS, OVENS, OR RETORTS IN GENERAL; OPEN SINTERING OR LIKE APPARATUS
  • F27B15/00—Fluidised-bed furnaces; Other furnaces using or treating finely-divided materials in dispersion
  • F27B15/02—Details, accessories, or equipment peculiar to furnaces of these types
  • F27B15/04—Casings; Supports therefor
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F27—FURNACES; KILNS; OVENS; RETORTS
  • F27B—FURNACES, KILNS, OVENS, OR RETORTS IN GENERAL; OPEN SINTERING OR LIKE APPARATUS
  • F27B15/00—Fluidised-bed furnaces; Other furnaces using or treating finely-divided materials in dispersion
  • F27B15/02—Details, accessories, or equipment peculiar to furnaces of these types
  • F27B15/08—Arrangements of devices for charging
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F27—FURNACES; KILNS; OVENS; RETORTS
  • F27B—FURNACES, KILNS, OVENS, OR RETORTS IN GENERAL; OPEN SINTERING OR LIKE APPARATUS
  • F27B15/00—Fluidised-bed furnaces; Other furnaces using or treating finely-divided materials in dispersion
  • F27B15/02—Details, accessories, or equipment peculiar to furnaces of these types
  • F27B15/09—Arrangements of devices for discharging
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F27—FURNACES; KILNS; OVENS; RETORTS
  • F27B—FURNACES, KILNS, OVENS, OR RETORTS IN GENERAL; OPEN SINTERING OR LIKE APPARATUS
  • F27B15/00—Fluidised-bed furnaces; Other furnaces using or treating finely-divided materials in dispersion
  • F27B15/02—Details, accessories, or equipment peculiar to furnaces of these types
  • F27B15/10—Arrangements of air or gas supply devices
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F27—FURNACES; KILNS; OVENS; RETORTS
  • F27B—FURNACES, KILNS, OVENS, OR RETORTS IN GENERAL; OPEN SINTERING OR LIKE APPARATUS
  • F27B15/00—Fluidised-bed furnaces; Other furnaces using or treating finely-divided materials in dispersion
  • F27B15/02—Details, accessories, or equipment peculiar to furnaces of these types
  • F27B15/14—Arrangements of heating devices
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F27—FURNACES; KILNS; OVENS; RETORTS
  • F27D—DETAILS OR ACCESSORIES OF FURNACES, KILNS, OVENS, OR RETORTS, IN SO FAR AS THEY ARE OF KINDS OCCURRING IN MORE THAN ONE KIND OF FURNACE
  • F27D13/00—Apparatus for preheating charges; Arrangements for preheating charges
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F27—FURNACES; KILNS; OVENS; RETORTS
  • F27D—DETAILS OR ACCESSORIES OF FURNACES, KILNS, OVENS, OR RETORTS, IN SO FAR AS THEY ARE OF KINDS OCCURRING IN MORE THAN ONE KIND OF FURNACE
  • F27D17/00—Arrangements for using waste heat; Arrangements for using, or disposing of, waste gases
  • F27D17/004—Systems for reclaiming waste heat
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F27—FURNACES; KILNS; OVENS; RETORTS
  • F27D—DETAILS OR ACCESSORIES OF FURNACES, KILNS, OVENS, OR RETORTS, IN SO FAR AS THEY ARE OF KINDS OCCURRING IN MORE THAN ONE KIND OF FURNACE
  • F27D3/00—Charging; Discharging; Manipulation of charge
  • F27D3/0033—Charging; Discharging; Manipulation of charge charging of particulate material
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F27—FURNACES; KILNS; OVENS; RETORTS
  • F27D—DETAILS OR ACCESSORIES OF FURNACES, KILNS, OVENS, OR RETORTS, IN SO FAR AS THEY ARE OF KINDS OCCURRING IN MORE THAN ONE KIND OF FURNACE
  • F27D7/00—Forming, maintaining, or circulating atmospheres in heating chambers
  • F27D7/06—Forming or maintaining special atmospheres or vacuum within heating chambers
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H05—ELECTRIC TECHNIQUES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • H05B—ELECTRIC HEATING; ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS FOR ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES, IN GENERAL
  • H05B3/00—Ohmic-resistance heating
  • H05B3/0004—Devices wherein the heating current flows through the material to be heated
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H05—ELECTRIC TECHNIQUES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • H05B—ELECTRIC HEATING; ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS FOR ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES, IN GENERAL
  • H05B3/00—Ohmic-resistance heating
  • H05B3/60—Heating arrangements wherein the heating current flows through granular powdered or fluid material, e.g. for salt-bath furnace, electrolytic heating
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
  • B01J—CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROCESSES, e.g. CATALYSIS OR COLLOID CHEMISTRY; THEIR RELEVANT APPARATUS
  • B01J2208/00—Processes carried out in the presence of solid particles; Reactors therefor
  • B01J2208/00008—Controlling the process
  • B01J2208/00017—Controlling the temperature
  • B01J2208/00389—Controlling the temperature using electric heating or cooling elements
  • B01J2208/00398—Controlling the temperature using electric heating or cooling elements inside the reactor bed
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
  • B01J—CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROCESSES, e.g. CATALYSIS OR COLLOID CHEMISTRY; THEIR RELEVANT APPARATUS
  • B01J2208/00—Processes carried out in the presence of solid particles; Reactors therefor
  • B01J2208/00008—Controlling the process
  • B01J2208/00548—Flow
  • B01J2208/00557—Flow controlling the residence time inside the reactor vessel
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
  • B01J—CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROCESSES, e.g. CATALYSIS OR COLLOID CHEMISTRY; THEIR RELEVANT APPARATUS
  • B01J2219/00—Chemical, physical or physico-chemical processes in general; Their relevant apparatus
  • B01J2219/00002—Chemical plants
  • B01J2219/00004—Scale aspects
  • B01J2219/00006—Large-scale industrial plants
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
  • B01J—CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROCESSES, e.g. CATALYSIS OR COLLOID CHEMISTRY; THEIR RELEVANT APPARATUS
  • B01J2219/00—Chemical, physical or physico-chemical processes in general; Their relevant apparatus
  • B01J2219/08—Processes employing the direct application of electric or wave energy, or particle radiation; Apparatus therefor
  • B01J2219/0803—Processes employing the direct application of electric or wave energy, or particle radiation; Apparatus therefor employing electric or magnetic energy
  • B01J2219/0805—Processes employing the direct application of electric or wave energy, or particle radiation; Apparatus therefor employing electric or magnetic energy giving rise to electric discharges
  • B01J2219/0807—Processes employing the direct application of electric or wave energy, or particle radiation; Apparatus therefor employing electric or magnetic energy giving rise to electric discharges involving electrodes
  • B01J2219/0809—Processes employing the direct application of electric or wave energy, or particle radiation; Apparatus therefor employing electric or magnetic energy giving rise to electric discharges involving electrodes employing two or more electrodes
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
  • B01J—CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROCESSES, e.g. CATALYSIS OR COLLOID CHEMISTRY; THEIR RELEVANT APPARATUS
  • B01J2219/00—Chemical, physical or physico-chemical processes in general; Their relevant apparatus
  • B01J2219/08—Processes employing the direct application of electric or wave energy, or particle radiation; Apparatus therefor
  • B01J2219/0803—Processes employing the direct application of electric or wave energy, or particle radiation; Apparatus therefor employing electric or magnetic energy
  • B01J2219/0805—Processes employing the direct application of electric or wave energy, or particle radiation; Apparatus therefor employing electric or magnetic energy giving rise to electric discharges
  • B01J2219/0807—Processes employing the direct application of electric or wave energy, or particle radiation; Apparatus therefor employing electric or magnetic energy giving rise to electric discharges involving electrodes
  • B01J2219/0824—Details relating to the shape of the electrodes
  • B01J2219/0826—Details relating to the shape of the electrodes essentially linear
  • B01J2219/0828—Wires
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
  • B01J—CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROCESSES, e.g. CATALYSIS OR COLLOID CHEMISTRY; THEIR RELEVANT APPARATUS
  • B01J2219/00—Chemical, physical or physico-chemical processes in general; Their relevant apparatus
  • B01J2219/08—Processes employing the direct application of electric or wave energy, or particle radiation; Apparatus therefor
  • B01J2219/0803—Processes employing the direct application of electric or wave energy, or particle radiation; Apparatus therefor employing electric or magnetic energy
  • B01J2219/0805—Processes employing the direct application of electric or wave energy, or particle radiation; Apparatus therefor employing electric or magnetic energy giving rise to electric discharges
  • B01J2219/0807—Processes employing the direct application of electric or wave energy, or particle radiation; Apparatus therefor employing electric or magnetic energy giving rise to electric discharges involving electrodes
  • B01J2219/0824—Details relating to the shape of the electrodes
  • B01J2219/0826—Details relating to the shape of the electrodes essentially linear
  • B01J2219/083—Details relating to the shape of the electrodes essentially linear cylindrical
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
  • B01J—CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROCESSES, e.g. CATALYSIS OR COLLOID CHEMISTRY; THEIR RELEVANT APPARATUS
  • B01J2219/00—Chemical, physical or physico-chemical processes in general; Their relevant apparatus
  • B01J2219/08—Processes employing the direct application of electric or wave energy, or particle radiation; Apparatus therefor
  • B01J2219/0873—Materials to be treated
  • B01J2219/0879—Solid
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
  • B01J—CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROCESSES, e.g. CATALYSIS OR COLLOID CHEMISTRY; THEIR RELEVANT APPARATUS
  • B01J2219/00—Chemical, physical or physico-chemical processes in general; Their relevant apparatus
  • B01J2219/19—Details relating to the geometry of the reactor
  • B01J2219/194—Details relating to the geometry of the reactor round
  • B01J2219/1941—Details relating to the geometry of the reactor round circular or disk-shaped
  • B01J2219/1946—Details relating to the geometry of the reactor round circular or disk-shaped conical
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F27—FURNACES; KILNS; OVENS; RETORTS
  • F27D—DETAILS OR ACCESSORIES OF FURNACES, KILNS, OVENS, OR RETORTS, IN SO FAR AS THEY ARE OF KINDS OCCURRING IN MORE THAN ONE KIND OF FURNACE
  • F27D15/00—Handling or treating discharged material; Supports or receiving chambers therefor
  • F27D15/02—Cooling
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F27—FURNACES; KILNS; OVENS; RETORTS
  • F27D—DETAILS OR ACCESSORIES OF FURNACES, KILNS, OVENS, OR RETORTS, IN SO FAR AS THEY ARE OF KINDS OCCURRING IN MORE THAN ONE KIND OF FURNACE
  • F27D3/00—Charging; Discharging; Manipulation of charge
  • F27D3/16—Introducing a fluid jet or current into the charge
  • F27D2003/166—Introducing a fluid jet or current into the charge the fluid being a treatment gas
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F27—FURNACES; KILNS; OVENS; RETORTS
  • F27D—DETAILS OR ACCESSORIES OF FURNACES, KILNS, OVENS, OR RETORTS, IN SO FAR AS THEY ARE OF KINDS OCCURRING IN MORE THAN ONE KIND OF FURNACE
  • F27D99/00—Subject matter not provided for in other groups of this subclass
  • F27D99/0001—Heating elements or systems
  • F27D99/0006—Electric heating elements or system
  • F27D2099/0025—Currents through the charge
• • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
  • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
  • Y02P—CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PRODUCTION OR PROCESSING OF GOODS
  • Y02P10/00—Technologies related to metal processing
  • Y02P10/10—Reduction of greenhouse gas [GHG] emissions
  • Y02P10/134—Reduction of greenhouse gas [GHG] emissions by avoiding CO2, e.g. using hydrogen
• • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
  • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
  • Y02P—CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PRODUCTION OR PROCESSING OF GOODS
  • Y02P10/00—Technologies related to metal processing
  • Y02P10/20—Recycling

Definitions

• This invention relates to a process for the chemical reduction of iron oxides into metallic iron at temperatures below the melting point of iron (1,530°C), commonly known as irect reduction.” More specifically, the present invention is directed to a process for the direct reduction (“DR") of iron ores using solid carbon as the reductant in which the heat needed for the reduction reactions is provided by resistively heating the reactant materials while they are in a fluidized bed formed by a mixture of reactant materials and free carbonaceous particles. The invention additionally provides a unique direct reduced iron (DRI) product as a result of the inventive process.
• DRI direct reduced iron
• Iron ores of various types are found in enormous amounts throughout the world. Most iron ores are oxides of iron, mainly hematite (Fe 2 0 3 ) . To make metallic iron, the ore is chemically reduced using agents that are in most cases derived from coal or natural gas (methane) . The reduction of iron oxide to form metallic iron is endothermic, that is, heat is required to achieve the removal of oxygen atoms from the iron oxide molecule . [0003] The method most commonly used for the industrial production of iron for steelmaking is the blast furnace. The furnace itself is a tall, very large diameter, generally cylindrical steel vessel that is lined with re ractories.
• Lump iron ore and now more commonly pelletized iron ore, is fed with solid carbon (coke) into the top of the blast furnace. Air is introduced near the base of the furnace to burn a portion of the carbon to generate heat and carbon monoxide. This gas then reduces the iron oxide into metallic iron. The downward movement of the ore against the rising flow of reducing gas makes the blast furnace a highly efficient countercurrent reactor for the production of metallic iron from iron ores. The partial combustion of the coke provides the necessary heat for the reduction and for the melting of the metallic iron formed by the reduction.
• the iron melts As the iron melts, it trickles downward through the unburned coke and forms a pool of molten metal which is periodically tapped and transferred to other vessels where it is either solidified as a high carbon "pig iron" , or treated in the molten state to remove carbon and to add alloying agents to form various steel products .
• Another reason for the popularity of DR is the flexibility of producing a granular or briquetted iron product that can be shipped elsewhere for melting and production of steel, making the full investment , for an integrated steel mill unnecessary.
• DR processes are of two basic types depending on whether the reducing agent is gaseous or it is a form of solid carbon.
• Most operating DR plants use shaft or fluidized bed (FB) furnaces using gaseous reductants derived from natural gas. These are known generally by their acronyms MIDREX, HYL, etc.
• FB fluidized bed
• natural gas itself is not an effective reductant, it can be converted into hydrogen or mixtures of hydrogen and carbon monoxide by "reforming” .
• the reforming of natural gas is well established technology that involves several process reactors and catalytic conversion, thus entailing significant capital and operating costs .
• Gaseous reduction systems are also generally operated at elevated pressure to increase the reduction rate and productivity per unit of reactor volume so that the vessel size can be held within the limits of practical construction.
• the elevated pressure requires expensive pressure vessels and the solid feed and product handling must be done using "lock hoppers.” This adds significantly to the cost of the DR plant .
• a basic disadvantage of DRI processes has been the heat it requires.
• the reduction reactions are slow at low temperature, and it is necessary to operate the reduction reactors at temperatures above 650°C to achieve reasonable processing rates.
• the direct partial combustion of the reducing gases within the DR reactor is a possible means to achieve the heating, but this procedure is difficult to control and can be dangerous.
• the ore is preheated in a separate reactor to a temperature above the desired reduction temperature so that the excess heat provides the heat needed to maintain the desired temperature for reduction.
• the reducing gas is generally preheated by indirect heat exchange before introducing it into the reduction reactor.
• Preheaters add complexity and cost and are not a highly efficient means to add heat to the reaction system.
• DR processes For locations that do not have natural gas, DR processes have been developed that use coal as a solid reductant.
• the predominant processes of this type have used long, horizontal refractory lined rotary kilns as the process vessel. These processes are known generally by their acronyms SL/RN, DRC, and ACCAR/OSIL.
• Coal, iron ore and some limestone are fed to the kiln which is operated at temperatures between about 850-1, 050°C.
• Auxiliary burners fired with various fuels, including pulverized coal are generally provided to heat the charge materials from above. The rate of the reduction reactions with relatively coarse solid carbon and iron ore is not rapid, and the plants using this type of reducing reactor are limited in capacity to approximately 100,000 metric tons per year.
• the rotary kiln processes are subject to the problem of the tendency for the formation of accretions on the wall of the kiln.
• rotary kiln based DR plants have been built in many places of the world, the combined annual capacity of these is less than 2.5 million metric tons, which constitutes less than 5 percent of the total DR production capacity.
• the heating is also done through use of auxiliary burners positioned in the roof of the rotary hearth furnace . These can be operated with various fuels. Heat may also be generated by burning a portion of the combustible gases (primarily CO) produced by the reduction reactions and any volatile matter that evolves from the coal .
• the source of heat within the rotary hearth furnace, as in the rotary kiln, is generated above the charge material, and the rate of heating is largely by radiation from the flames above. To achieve reasonable rates of heat transfer to the charge to sustain the reduction, it is necessary to limit the thickness of the layers of pellets on the hearth to only two or three times the maximal pellet diameter (20-40 mm) .
• the fluidized bed portion of the furnace is designed so as to include two distinct zones, namely, an upper zone with vertical walls and a generally constant cross-sectional area and a lower zone of a reduced cross-sectional area that terminates in an inverted conical section in which the fluidizing gas distributor is located.
• This design provides for active fluidization in the top zone of a particulate mixture having a high concentration of granular carbon and green DRI pellets and a low concentration of reduced DRI pellets.
• a mixture of reduced DRI pellets with a low content of granular carbon is fluidized in the lower zone.
• the furnace is designed without any interior horizontal surfaces. More particularly, all internal surfaces are at an angle equal to or greater than the angle of repose for the reduced pellets.
• the electrodes that enter the fluidized bed to enable current flow therethrough are positioned to be in contact only with the upper fluidized bed zone that is rich in granular carbon. This minimizes the possibility of heating the iron-rich pellets to a temperature above the melting point of metallic iron, which would cause uncontrolled agglomeration of iron onto the surface of the electrodes and other internal surfaces .
• Fig. 1 is a vertical cross-sectional view of an electrothermal fluidized bed furnace according to one aspect of the present invention.
• FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of the process for a method of achieving rapid and efficient reduction of iron oxide in an electrothermal fluidized bed furnace according to another aspect of the present invention.
• the reduction of the iron ore pellets is conducted in a fluidized bed comprising a mixture of coarse carbon particles (cokes such as petroleum or metallurgical coke, coal with low sulfer content, pure synthetic graphite, etc.) and partially- reduced iron ore pellets .
• Carbon particles provide electrical conductivity for the fluidized bed and heat generation internally within the fluidized bed is due to passing the electrical current through fluidized bed.
• the carbon-rich fluidized bed zone helps to reduce the product gases back from C0 2 to CO and, if water is present, to CO and H 2 .
• the dimensions of the dry green pellets and carbon particles are chosen to provide uniform fluidization of both materials with a degree of reduction of less than 25-35 percent.
• the apparent specific density of DRI pellets changes from 2.1-2.25 g/cc, for pellets with Fe 2 0 3 content of approximately 75 percent (and approximately 50 percent of total iron), to 4.2-5.2 g/cc for reduced pellets with total iron content of approximately 80-85 percent and Fe 2 0 3 of approximately 2-5 percent.
• the shrinkage in volume of DRI pellets is between approximately 25-35 percent. While the inventive process has particular utility for the direct reduction of iron oxide, other metallic oxides, such as nickel oxide (NiO) , vanadium oxide (V 2 0 5 ) , tungsten oxide (WO) , and oxides of cobalt (Co) and chromium (Cr) , etc., may also be reduced by the inventive process .
• the EFB furnace generally designated 50, comprises a housing vessel having an upper fluidized bed section 52a with vertical walls and a generally constant cross-sectional area and a lower fluidized bed portion 52b that has a reduced cross-sectional area as compared to the upper section 52a.
• the cross-sectional area of the upper section 52a is from 2 to 5 times greater than the cross-sectional area of section 52b.
• the diameter of section 52a is from 1.5 to 2.5 times greater than the diameter of section 52b.
• the lower fluidized bed portion 52b is conical in cross-section.
• section 52b may also have vertical walls throughout its major portion and terminate in a conical section, with a tapered transition joining sections 52a and 52b.
• a lower fluidizing gas distribution section 54 depends from section 52b which has sloping walls and a cross-sectional area that decreases from its upper, end toward its bottom.
• These furnace sections are preferably cylindrical, with a circular horizontal cross-section, or oval, with an ellipsoidal horizontal cross-section. Also, several such furnaces may be ganged together to form an array, thus providing for increased capacity.
• the pellets and granular carbon are fed into the EFB furnace 50 through inlet 60 and falls through furnace freeboard space 62 and into the upper part of the fluidized- bed of material contained in section 52a. Fluidizing gas is made to enter the base of EFB furnace 50 into conical section 54 through nozzles 66. As the pellets become reduced, the density of the pellets increases to a density higher than that which can be fluidized by the rising gases within section 52a. These denser pellets move downward into the lower, smaller diameter fluidized bed section 52b and into conical or tapered section 54 where the gas velocity is higher and thus capable of fluidizing the denser partially reduced pellets.
• the coke particles are substantially less dense than either the green pellets or the partially reduced pellets, the majority of the coke particles remain in the upper section 52a, whereas the denser, partially reduced pellets are contained mainly in lower section 52b.
• the denser, partially reduced pellets are contained mainly in lower section 52b.
• the density becomes 4.2-5.2 g/cc, and at this higher density they move to the lower part of conical section 54 and are removed through discharge feeder 6 .
• the lower portion 54 has a conical appearance.
• the slope of the walls in the lower section must be steeper than the angle of repose for the reduced pellets (preferably 15-20° from vertical) so that none collect on the walls of the lower section.
• the reduced cross-sectional area of the lower section 54 promotes the separation and segregation of the free coke from the pellets and the re-circulation of the pellets into the upper section 52a of the furnace 50.
• the fluidizing gas is fed to the nozzles through a tubular heat exchanger 68 that encircles the lower section 54 before connecting to a manifold that includes the inlet nozzles 66.
• a tubular heat exchanger 68 that encircles the lower section 54 before connecting to a manifold that includes the inlet nozzles 66.
• the temperature of the fluidizing gas is raised before it is injected into the furnace, while the temperature of the reduced pellets that pass through the lower section 54 is lowered to a temperature more likely to inhibit the reoxidation and agglomeration of the reduced pellets .
• a separate heat exchanger may be provided below the bottom of section 54 for which the fluidizing gas may also be used as the coolant.
• the spent fluidizing gas and the gaseous products of reduction (CO) exit the freeboard space 62 through a flue outlet 70.
• the gas can be advantageously used to dry and pre-heat the green pellets and/or as a fuel in related steel making steps in an integrated steel-making facility to, e.g., melt the reduced pellets, resulting in potential cost savings from reducing the need for other energy sources .
• the electrothermal heating of the furnace is accomplished by locating one or more vertically-oriented electrodes 56 of a first polarity spaced from the walls of upper fluidized bed section 52a.
• electrodes 56, 58 There can be a number of ways to locate electrodes. For example, with a cylindrical process vessel and using 3-phase AC electrical power, three electrodes could be located spaced away from the inner walls. If one or more electrodes 58 of opposite polarity are located along the inner walls of upper section 52a, a voltage applied across the electrodes 56 and 58 would cause electric current to flow from electrode (s) 58 through the fluidized-bed of material contained in section 52a.
• the electrodes 56, 58 may be graphite, baked carbon, etc.
• section 52a provides sufficient electrical conductivity to allow current to flow through the bed of fluidized solids contained in section 52a and generate the heat needed for the reduction by direct resistive heating of the material in section 52a. Although the resistive heating occurs essentially entirely within section 52a, the high degree of mixing of the materials in section 52a and section 52b provides effective heating of the denser iron ore particles throughout the time of their residence within the EFB furnace such that the reduction reactions continue to completion.
• the residence time of the pellets within the reaction zone is dependent on the amount of material contained within the fluidized bed and the rate of feeding of the pellets to the furnace. It follows therefore that for a furnace of a given cross-section, the residence time can be varied by varying the feed rate and by independently varying the height of the fluidized bed in section 52 to accommodate a greater amount of material .
• This feature illustrates one of the major differences in the fluidized-bed furnace from the rotary hearth type that has limited ability to increase residence time except by reducing the throughput .
• Feed bin 10 contains iron oxide
• feed bin 12 contains solid reductant (green petroleum coke, pulverized coal, coke breeze, petroleum coke, light coal, etc.); and feed bin 14 contains binder (bentonite, organic resin, etc.).
• the iron oxide and solid reductant are preferably in the form of particles sized smaller than 100 mesh, and more preferably smaller than 150 mesh, to insure good contact therebetween.
• the solid reductant preferably has a low sulfur content (from between 0.3 to 1.0 percent (wt.)), a low ash content (less than 2 percent (wt . ) ) , and a volatile content (C n H ra ) of greater than 2 percent (wt.).
• the ratio may change depending upon the type of metal oxide and the reaction conditions .
• Raw materials from the feed bins 10, 12 and 14 are mixed together in proper proportions in a blender 16.
• the dry mixture contains approximately 75 percent (by weight) iron oxide, up to approximately 23 percent (by weight) solid reductant, and approximately 1 to 2 percent (by weight) binder.
• the mixture 17 is then processed through a size reduction mill 18 to reduce the components to a generally uniformly-sized powder.
• the powdered materials are then introduced to a pelletizer 20, where water is also added, to form "wet" green pellets 21.
• the green pellets 21 are transported to a dryer 22 where they are dried at between approximately 110-130°C (230-260°F) to remove moisture to less than 0.5-1.0 percent.
• the exhaust gases from the dryer 22 are passed through a cyclone 23. Any dust in the gas is recycled back to the blender 16 or to the pelletizer 20 for reprocessing into green pellets.
• the exhaust gas is then pumped by exhauster 24 through an electrostatic precipitator or other type dust collector before being exhausted to atmosphere.
• the dry green pellets 25 are then sent to screener 26 to separate out pellets that are sized between 6 mesh and 40 mesh (-3.5 + 0.425 mm).
• the pellets larger than 6 mesh are sent to a size reduction mill 27 to be reduced in size, and then returned to the screener 26 to be redivided.
• Pellets smaller than 40 mesh are recycled directly to the pelletizer 20 to be reformed.
• the dry green pellets with sizes between 6 and 40 mesh are loaded into the bin 29, and from it into an EFB furnace 32. As illustrated, the dry pellets are passed through a heater 34 before entry into the EFB furnace 32.
• the fresh coke (coal, coke or other material having good • electrical conductivity) can be used. This fresh coke can be supplemented with coke recovered as the non-magnetic fraction by magnet separation of the mixture of coke and reduced pellets, is loaded into the EFB furnace from the bin 30 in proper proportion with the dry green iron oxide pellets, preferably in a ratio of between about 3:1 and 5:1 (by weight) of iron oxide pellets to free coke.
• Any low cost, high content granular carbon material with low sulfur content may be used.
• the granular carbon has a particle size smaller than 3.36 mm (-4 mesh) and larger than 0.3 mm (+50 mesh). However, the size range may vary depending upon the green pellet sizes and the velocity of the fluidizing gas .
• the solid particles are fluidized by a gas, which may be nitrogen or carbon monoxide, recirculated furnace gases (such as CO) , hydrogen (H 2 ) , and natural gas (CH 4 ) .
• a gas which may be nitrogen or carbon monoxide, recirculated furnace gases (such as CO) , hydrogen (H 2 ) , and natural gas (CH 4 ) .
• gaseous reductant in the fluidizing gas increases the rate of DRI pellet reduction and affects the residue content of free carbon in the reduced DRI pellets so that it falls within a range of from 1 to 20 wt . percent.
• the initial carbon content of the green DRI pellets can be reduced to below the stoichiometric amount due to the gaseous reductant in the fluidizing gas.
• the fluidizing gas is introduced into the bottom of the conical section of EFB furnace 32.
• the green pellets are reduced in the fluidized bed at temperatures between approximately 850-1, 100°C (1, 562-2, 012°F) and residence times of between approximately 15-60 minutes.
• the reduced DRI pellets 37 and minor amounts of carbon particles 38 are discharged from EFB furnace 32, cooled in a heat exchanger 36, and sent to a magnetic separator 39.
• the reduced pellets are preferably cooled to prevent iron reoxidation and particle agglomeration.
• the reduced DRI pellets with a total iron content of 85-95 percent and a carbon content of 5-15 percent are separated from the free coke by common physical separation methods, such as magnetic separation.
• the free carbon is returned to the bin 30 and loaded back into the EFB furnace 32 for fluidized bed stabilization.
• the flue gas 40 from the EFB furnace may be cleaned in a cyclone 42.
• the collected dust is sent back to the bin 30. If a large amount of iron ore is in the dust, the dust can be stockpiled and the fine particles of iron ore separated out.
• the flue gas from the cyclone 42 is cleaned by a bag house or electrostatic precipitator 44 and may be either burned and exhausted to the atmosphere or recycled.
• part of the clean mixture of nitrogen and carbon monoxide 43 is recycled and burned for pellet drying in the dryer 22, while part of the EFB furnace flue gas 40 can be used directly, without cleaning, for preheating of the pelletized iron ore in the heater 34 before introduction into the EFB furnace 32.
• the hot exhaust from the heater 34 can also be recycled to the pellet dryer 22.
• an EFB furnace is provided that is particularly suited for use in the direct reduction of iron oxide set forth above.
• the fluidized bed of an EFB furnace for DRI pellet production is designed to have a fluidized bed zone with a top zone having vertical walls and constant cross-sectional area and bottom zone having a reduced cross-sectional area, with a smooth transition from the top zone of fluidized bed to the bottom zone of the fluidized bed. This provides a decreasing gas velocity from the bottom of the fluidized bed to the top of the fluidized bed. Due to the differences in density of granular carbon particles and reduced pellets, the granular carbon circulates within the entire fluidized bed.
• DRI pellets with a low degree of reduction circulate in the top zone of the fluidized bed, while the iron-rich pellets concentrate in the bottom zone of the fluidized bed. Consequently, active mixing of particles occurs within both fluidized bed zones and rapid heat transfer between the zones is promoted.
• DRI DRI
• the production of DRI pellets was conducted at the following operation parameters in a pilot EFB furnace having an inside FB diameter of 61 cm (24 in.) .
• FB diameter 61 cm (24 in.)
• Examples 2 and 3 infra., Flexi coke brand of petroleum coke and Desulco 9010 brand of granular carbon were used for expediency.
• Fine iron oxide 99.3% Fe 2 0 3 , 100% ⁇ 100 mesh, ⁇ 150 ⁇ m
• Flexi coke (-6% of volatile components, 100% ⁇ 100 mesh) -23.5%
• Bentonite (100% ⁇ 100 mesh) -1.5%
• Composition "Green” DRI pellets : Desulco 9010 70 : 30 "Desulco 9010" particle sizes: - 4 + 30 mesh
• Feeding rate 105 -115 lb/hr
• the DRI pellets resulting from this method exhibited a very low rate of reoxidation. Specifically, the content of metallic Fe in the pellets was substantially unchanged when measured six months after reduction. This is believed to result from some of the carbon acting as a protection against oxidation, as well as the slow cooling of the reduced pellets in a non-reactive N 2 atmosphere.
• EXAMPLE 2 DIRECT REDUCTION OF IRON OXIDE FINES IN ELECTROTHERMAL FB WITHOUT PRELIMINARY PREPARATION
• Fine iron oxide 99.3% Fe 2 0 3 ,
• Composition Iron oxide fines 50%, w
• Composition Fine iron oxide (99.3% Fe 2 0 3 , 100% ⁇ 100 mesh, ⁇ 150 ⁇ m) : 50 - 60% Flexi coke (-6% of volatile components, 100% ⁇ 100 mesh) -38 - 48% Bentonite (100% ⁇ 100 mesh) -2% Pellet size: -8 +40 mesh
• Average retention time of DRI pellets in FB ⁇ 45 min Discharge rate of mixture IBC pellets (50/48) and Desulco 9010: 92 - 100 lb/hr IBC pellets (60/38) : Desulco 9010 105 - 113 lb/hr Content of magnetic fraction in the discharge IBC pellets (50/48) : ⁇ 59% IBC pellets (60/38) : ⁇ 66%
• the EFB furnace provides for a controlled thermal reaction and the reduced cross-section of the fluidizing gas distribution portion of the furnace promotes segregation of the free carbon from the reduced pellets.
• Test results with this process show that properly formed dry pellets mixed with free coke with a weight relation from approximately 3:1 to approximately 5:1 can be reduced in EFB furnace with the fluidized bed formed initially by the same type of coke at temperatures between approximately 850-1, 100°C with direct furnace heating by electrical power without agglomeration of reduced pellets.
• the use of electrical power for direct heating provides for a simple furnace design.
• the effluent gases, mainly CO, can be used as a fuel for drying and pre-heating the iron oxide pellets and for melting the DRI product to achieve improved overall thermal efficiency.

Landscapes

• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Organic Chemistry (AREA)
• Manufacturing & Machinery (AREA)
• Materials Engineering (AREA)
• Metallurgy (AREA)
• Dispersion Chemistry (AREA)
• Environmental & Geological Engineering (AREA)
• Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
• Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
• General Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
• Geochemistry & Mineralogy (AREA)
• Geology (AREA)
• Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
• Manufacture And Refinement Of Metals (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Publications (2)

Family

ID=28454698

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (4)

Families Citing this family (14)

Citations (5)

Family Cites Families (19)

• 2003
  • 2003-03-19 US US10/506,764 patent/US20050092130A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2003-03-19 AU AU2003230680A patent/AU2003230680A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2003-03-19 WO PCT/US2003/008347 patent/WO2003080874A1/en not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 2003-03-19 EP EP03723770A patent/EP1529121A4/de not_active Withdrawn

Patent Citations (5)

Non-Patent Citations (1)

Also Published As

Similar Documents

Legal Events