IT202100020669A1 - APPARATUS AND PROCEDURE FOR CONTAINING AND TRANSPORTING FEED MATERIAL FOR A STEEL PRODUCTION PLANT - Google Patents

Description

Description of the invention entitled:

"APPARATUS AND PROCEDURE FOR CONTAINING AND TRANSPORTING FEED MATERIAL FOR A STEEL PRODUCTION PLANT"

FIELD OF APPLICATION

The present invention relates to an apparatus, and to a relative method, for containing and transporting feed material for a steel production plant. The charge material mainly comprises pellets of pre-reduced iron or DRI (Direct Reduced Iron), plus? in particular cold DRI (Cold-DRI).

STATE OF THE ART

? It is known that the common production of steel is basically obtained with two cycles: the electric cycle, or from scrap, and the integral cycle, or from ore.

In both cases, the charge material pi? flexible and controllable, and therefore mostly used, ? the DRI that ? used as a partial replacement of minerals in blast furnaces for the production of cast iron, while in electric furnaces or steel furnaces? used as a partial or total replacement of scrap.

The DRI? obtained through a process of direct reduction of iron ore using reducing gas and ? known in the? industry of? steel also as iron-sponge, or pre-reduced iron, meaning by this term a metallic structure of porosity? high containing inclusions and abundant non-metallic phases.

The DRI? characterized by high reactivity to the oxidative processes, which can? assume a pyrophoric character, and that, for the products obtained from processes carried out at low temperatures, for example below 600°C, ? particularly marked even at room temperature. The burning of the DRI ? due toH? exothermicity? of the oxidative reactions of metallic iron, occurs without flame production and can? reach the melting point of iron. Contact with water can? speed up the process and make it more? dangerous, since hydrogen produced by the decomposition of water molecules is available.

The characteristics of reactivity? of the DRI involve considerable problems, both in terms of storage and handling and transport of the product, above all for long distances and/or long journey times for the load. In addition, even the meteorological conditions - degree of humidity, atmospheric precipitations - present during the various movements of the DRI are a factor to be taken into consideration because? could increase the probability? of accidents - fire, explosion - or otherwise.

And known that the DRI pu? be produced, stored and handled both in bulk, in granular or pellet form, and in the form of briquettes. In both cases, the handling of the product involves a high dispersion of dust and fragments (or fines) in the surrounding environment.

The configuration in briquettes, which are obtained by hot mechanical compression (about 600-700?C) and are called HBI (Hot Briquetted Iron), ? logistically advantageous why? the? compressed agglomeration ? substantially inert and no longer? responsive, there? simplifying transport and reducing the risk of fire, typical of Cold-DRI in pellet form. In fact, the briquettes, thanks to the compression action, substantially do not have porosity? and therefore have a high resistance to oxidation.

However, making the briquettes has a very high cost, both in plant engineering and in management. Furthermore, once introduced into a steelmaking apparatus, such as an electric arc furnace, blast furnace or converter, briquettes require high energy to smelt. increasing the costs and, in the case of an electric arc furnace, also the consumption of the electrodes.

In addition to this?, the realization of the briquettes requires a DRI with a carbon content not exceeding 2% as, following the hot compression, a high percentage of carbon would generate the formation of graphite, this? making the briquette too brittle. Therefore, the briquettes are a low carbon filler material and the molten pool should be be, from time to time, corrected to favor the carburation of the bath with a consequent increase in costs and times between one casting and the next.

Cold-DRI, which would be preferable as it would require less energy for fusion before being used, ? subjected to a period of ?aging? during which it is passivated to prevent influenza and loss of metallization. However, this aging process is not sufficient to guarantee the safety standards required by national and international transport bodies, especially maritime ones. There? it currently limits the use of Cold-DRI to smelting plants combined or located very close to the direct reduction plant.

Furthermore, the use of Cold-DRI would be preferable to briquettes because, due to its morphology, it can have a carbon content also from 2% up to 3%-4%, there? favoring the carburation of the molten bath inside the furnace and therefore limiting the traditional corrective actions always necessary, however, in the case of using briquettes.

Is there therefore a need? to improve an apparatus and method for containing and transporting filler material, in particular Cold-DRI in granular or pellet form, to a steel production plant, which can overcome at least one of the drawbacks of the prior art.

To do what? ? necessary to solve the technical problem relating to the safe transport of Cold-DRI in granular or pellet form, ie? it is not?briquetted?, above all for long distances, also to take advantage of the modality? of intermodal transport, using the existing infrastructures for example in the ports, and at the same time respecting the safety norms relative to the possibilities? of? fire / inflammability? of the product.

In particular, an object of the present invention ? that of realizing a containment and transport apparatus suitable for securing the Cold-DRI during its transport, in particular maritime transport, and which at the same time allows compliance with the relative safety standards in force.

Another aim of the present invention ? is to create such an apparatus that allows the transport of Cold-DRI in a simple, less expensive, and much more? advantageous, above all in economic terms, compared to the transformation of the product in the form of briquettes.

Another object of the present invention ? that of making available an apparatus that allows the transport of Cold-DRI with limited and controlled airborne dispersions of powders or fines.

Another aim of the present invention ? that of providing a procedure for the safe containment and transport of Cold-DRI which is simple, can be standardized with respect to traditional storage and transport infrastructures and which is environmentally safe.

To obviate the drawbacks of the prior art and to obtain these and further objects and advantages, the Applicant has studied, tested and implemented the present invention.

DISCOVERY DISPLAY

The present found ? expressed and characterized in the independent claims. The dependent claims disclose other characteristics of the present invention or variants of the idea of the main solution.

In accordance with the aforementioned purposes and to solve the aforementioned technical problem in a new and original way, ? an apparatus according to the present invention is provided for containing and transporting feed material, in particular Cold-DRI in granular or pellet form, for a steel production plant.

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention , the aforesaid apparatus comprises a transport kit having a containment structure defining inside it, or containing, a storage chamber which can be selectively inertised and hermetically sealed to receive the aforesaid filler material provided in loose form or packaged in quantity? predefined within a plurality? of containers or casings.

What? doing, ? possible to transport the load material in a very safe way, in particular Cold-DRI, to simplify its shipment and its handling especially if the load material ? already packaged in quantity default to inside of containers or casings. Furthermore, this mode of containment and transport guarantees the absence of dust and loss of fines during transport, for example by ship, by truck or train. Furthermore, to handle the charge material so? confined allows to speed up transport and reduce costs.

An additional benefit of using containers or casings? that by providing the latter in a material having a certain carbon content, for example but not only a plastic material or a metallic material, the filler material together with its container or casing can be introduced directly into an apparatus for the production of steel. In this way, the container or casing contributes to the carburation of the molten bath allowing to avoid or limit the corrections which are typically performed by introducing carbon with lances.

In accordance with a further aspect of the present invention , the containment structure of the transport kit is a standard size container of 10, 20 or 40 feet equipped with cargo monitoring systems or can? be a normal maritime container and therefore devoid of said load monitoring systems. Envisaging the use of sea containers or equivalent of standardized dimensions makes it possible to simplify handling and transport which can be carried out with traditional handling systems, already? present in ports, warehouses, etc.

Providing standard size containers also makes it easier to stack, handle and transport the apparatus or more? of one of them.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the transport kit comprises load monitoring devices controlled by a unit? control and configured to detect specific safety parameters relating to the state of the charge material and/or the atmosphere of the storage chamber.

In accordance with a further aspect of the present invention, the aforesaid apparatus comprises delivery means configured to deliver an inert gas to inertize the atmosphere of the aforesaid containment chamber and sealing means for watertight insulation of the latter. This arrangement allows, in synergy with the isolability? watertight storage chamber, to increase safety by reducing even more? the possibility? that bulk feedstock may react with liquids and gases such as water and air to produce explosive or pyrophoric atmospheres.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention , the aforesaid transport kit comprises at least one loading hopper and a discharge hopper selectively communicating with the exterior of the apparatus and with the aforesaid storage chamber and substantially included in the? overall dimensions of the aforesaid containment structure. This configuration? advantageous if the filler material is introduced into the storage chamber in bulk form.

In accordance with a further aspect of the present invention, the aforesaid loading and unloading hoppers are equipped with a respective shutter or trap door which can be operated to close or open access to said storage chamber. There? if necessary, it allows the storage chamber to be opened and closed to generate a controlled atmosphere. Possibly ? provision is made for sealing means to be associated with the aforesaid shutters or hatches.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention , the aforesaid transport kit can be equipped with an active system for extinguishing fires provided with at least one cylinder of an extinguishing agent, and with nozzles suitably positioned to advantageously reach the entire surface of said storage chamber. Such a system? useful why? in the case of ignition of fires due to the reactivity? of the charge material, these can be immediately suffocated in the bud, avoiding damage to the structure or the surrounding environment.

In accordance with a variant of the present invention, the aforesaid transport kit can understand only a plurality? of inerted and insulated watertight containers or casings and one or more? protective packaging wrapped around each or more? of one of said containers or casings in order to avoid damage to the containers themselves and facilitate their handling at the same time also reducing costs given that it is not? necessary to use real containment structures. Embodiments of the present invention also refer to a process for containing and loading material, in particular Cold-DRI in granular or pellet form, for a steel production plant.

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention , the method provides, after a production step of the aforesaid filler material in a direct reduction plant, an aging or passivation step in air (for example of 2-3 days) which produces a thin oxide layer and reduces the reactivity? of the filler material, a step for conferring and transporting said filler material with a containment and transport apparatus. In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, before the aforesaid transfer and transport step, it can Is there a possible phase of partitioning and packaging of the aforesaid filler material in a partitioning and packaging plant where said filler material in loose form? packaged in containers or casings made of a material having a certain carbon content, in particular a plastic material, or of a metallic material.

In accordance with a further aspect of the present invention, the aforesaid partitioning and packaging step provides for a filling sub-step in which the aforesaid containers or wrappings, in the form of bags and/or big-bags and/or rigid containers at least partly rigid or semi-rigid, or rigid and semi-rigid, or partially flexible, are filled in a quantized manner with said bulk filler material, being optionally bundled. When grouped, these containers or casings are packaged by placing a certain number of them inside the package. interior of containers or casings pi? big. If these containers or casings are bags, the casing more? great ? a big bag.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention , after the aforementioned filling sub-step ? a closing sub-phase is provided in which the aforementioned bags and/or big-bags and/or containers are sealed watertight, also generating an inert atmosphere inside them through the introduction of an inert gas, for example nitrogen.

In accordance with a further aspect of the present invention, after the aforementioned filling sub-phase or the aforementioned closing sub-phase ? foreseen a sub-phase of coating in which each or more? of one of said containers or casings ? wrapped in protective packaging and the container or casing and protective packaging assembly is handled and transported directly, without further intermediate means of containment. Said coating sub-step ? particularly advantageous, for example, when a big bag is filled directly without using additional bags. small and in this case the protective packaging placed externally helps to increase the mechanical resistance to punctures or tears, especially when transport takes place without containers.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, once loading of the filler material, loose or packaged in an inerted and sealed manner or not, has been completed in the storage chamber of the containment and transport apparatus, said storage chamber ? sealed watertight and inside it an inert atmosphere is created by means of delivery of an inert gas, while a unit? controller receives monitoring signals from load monitoring devices. In the event that the containers are inerted and sealed, the atmosphere of the storage chamber can not be controlled and managed.

In accordance with a further aspect of the present invention, once it has arrived at the aforesaid steel production plant, the filler material in bulk or packaged in the containers or casings ? unloaded on conveyances that send it to a steelmaking apparatus or to intermediate storage facilities.

In accordance with a further aspect of the present invention, the aforesaid containers or casings are fed with their Cold DRI content directly to the aforesaid apparatus for the production of steel.

In accordance with embodiments ? Is the use of a maritime container optionally configured to safely contain a charge material, in particular Cold-DRI in granular or pellet form, in bulk form and/or packaged in quantity? default to interior of containers or casings made of a material having a certain carbon content, for example but not only a plastic material or a metallic material.

ILLUSTRATION OF THE DESIGNS

These and other aspects, characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become clear from the following description of some embodiments, provided by way of non-limiting example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

- figure 1 ? a schematic side view and in section of a charge material containment and transport apparatus for a steel production plant according to the present invention;

- figure 2 ? a further embodiment of the apparatus of figure 1; - figures 2a-2d show possible embodiments of the containers or casings usable for transporting the filler material, in particular Cold-DRI;

- figure 3 ? a further embodiment of the apparatus for containing and transporting the charge material for a steel production plant according to a variant;

- figure 4 ? an enlarged view of a pre-filled big bag lined with protective packaging;

- figure 4a ? an enlarged detail in section of fig. 4 showing the layers constituting the container or casing and the protective packaging;

- figure 5 ? a further embodiment of the apparatus for containing and transporting charge material for a steel production plant according to a variant which does not provide for a selectively inertizable and isolable watertight storage chamber; figure 6 schematically illustrates the process for containing and transporting feed material for a steel production plant according to the present invention.

It should be noted that in this description the phraseology and terminology used, as well as the figures of the attached drawings also as described have the sole function of illustrating and better explaining the present invention having a non-limiting exemplifying function of the invention itself, being the scope of protection defined by the claims.

For ease of understanding, identical reference numerals have been used wherever possible to identify identical commonalities in the figures. It should be understood that elements and features of one embodiment may be conveniently combined or incorporated into other embodiments without further specification.

DESCRIPTION OF SOME FORMS OF EMBODIMENT OF

PRESENT FOUND

With reference to figures 1 to 4, a containment and transport apparatus 10, according to the present invention ? configured to allow the containment for a predefined time, the handling and transport of a certain quantity? of a charge material M intended for a steel production plant 300. Said apparatus 10 ? configured to allow handling and transport by intermodal means of transport, such as a cargo ship, a truck, a freight train, or the like.

The loading material M considered here? Cold-DRI. However, this containment and transport apparatus, hereinafter apparatus, 10 can be generally used for the containment and transport of any type of material that requires high safety standards for example, but not only, why? said material? reactive to water, air or other liquid or gaseous components, or why? particularly polluting.

The filler material M in granular or pellet form can? be transported with the apparatus 10 both in loose form, that is? not confined in small volumes, is packaged in quantity? predefined inside suitable containers or casings 50, how will it be? more described in detail below. By way of example only, and to distinguish the filler material M considered with respect to other filler materials such as briquettes or the like, it can have density? apparent of about 3,4-3,6g/cm<3>, a density? pile of about 1.6-1.9g/cm <3 > and have a spheroidal shape, whole or partial, more? or less irregular.

The apparatus 10 comprises a transport kit 20 for transporting, in loose or packaged form, the filler material M in a selectively inertizable and sealable manner, so that the charging material M does not interact with the atmosphere outside the transport kit 20.

In accordance with the embodiment of figures 1 and 2, the transport kit 20 comprises a perimetric containment structure 11, having the shape of a parallelepiped, inside which ? a storage chamber 12 is provided for containing the filler material M and at least one access opening 13, 14 through which the filler material M can be introduced into the storage chamber 12 and taken from the latter. Storage chamber 12 can be defined by the same walls that form the containment structure 11 or by further walls more? internal.

In the latter case, between the containment structure 1 1 and the storage chamber 12 there can be there should be an interspace 15, a cavity or a double bottom configured to insulate the storage chamber 12 and possibly to allow the housing of service or auxiliary components for the operation of the apparatus 10, or to position insulating, water-absorbing means, fireproof, or means which can absorb or dampen a possible explosion, preventing damage to the containment structure 11 and its propagation towards the outside.

At least storage room 12 ? insulating watertight. For this reason, all the openings, passages, holes configured for various purposes such as entry/exit of the charge material M, insertion of probes, sensors, nozzles, dispensers, filtering systems, active systems for extinguishing fires, etc. ., can be equipped with gaskets, or more? in general of means of sealing. In particular the watertightness ? guaranteed against the ingress of air and water which could react with the filler material M generating heat and hydrogen.

Transport Kit 20 can? comprise load monitoring devices 16 arranged inside the containment structure 11 and configured to detect some specific safety parameters relating to the state of the charge material M.

These safety parameters can be the temperature of the air present in the inside the storage chamber 12 or of the loading material M, the air pressure present in the inside the storage chamber 12, the level of oxygen or combustible gas, the percentage of humidity, the temperature, possibly also that of the filler material M, and/or other parameters.

The load monitoring devices 16 can be arranged in suitable areas of the storage chamber 12 in such a way as to be able to detect the relative safety parameter, temperature, pressure, presence of gas and percentage, etc.

Transport Kit 20 can? understand a? unit? control unit 17 to which the load monitoring devices 16 are operationally connected and configured to receive control signals from the latter and send, in the event that said parameters are out of range, an alarm signal to a local alarm device 19 including in the apparatus 10 and/or to a remote alarm device.

The unit control 17 pu? be powered by a power supply device 18, for example a battery, suitably sized to operate at least for the necessary time, for example at least for the period of time in which the charge material M remains inside the storage chamber 12. Advantageously , the battery power supply device 18 makes the apparatus 10 of the stand-alone type, therefore energetically independent from external sources.

The unit control unit 17, the power supply device 18 and possibly the local alarm device 19 can be arranged at the? inside the containment structure 11, in an independent compartment with respect to the storage chamber 12 or in the interspace between the storage chamber 12 and the containment structure 11, in any case in an easily accessible position for carrying out maintenance and checking of all the components.

Storage room 12 ? selectively isolable in such a way that an inert atmosphere can be generated and maintained inside it.

Transport Kit 20 can? comprise supply means 21 of inert gas, for example nitrogen, configured to inertize the atmosphere of the containment chamber 12 when it? selectively isolated from the outside. This expedient allows to reduce the presence of oxygen and hydrogen, preferably O2<5% and H<1% by volume, and therefore the possibility? of development of oxidation reactions of the charge material M which can cause fires and/or explosions. The delivery means 21 may include nozzles, pipes and cylinders of inert gas or others.

The transport kit 20 can, moreover, be equipped with an active system for extinguishing fires 22 provided with at least one cylinder 23 of an extinguishing liquid or foam, and with nozzles 24 suitably positioned to preferably reach the whole surface of the chamber storage 12. The active fire extinguishing system 22 can? be operated by? unit? control 17 following a measured oxygen value, or other gas, outside the threshold.

According to embodiments illustrated in figure 1, the storage chamber 12 can be filled with charge material M in bulk, the cio? not placed in containers or casings 50. If so, is the transport kit 20 ? equipped with at least a loading hopper 25 and a discharge hopper 26 and the storage chamber 12 can? be provided with walls inclined towards the unloading hopper 26 to favor, at the right moment, the evacuation of the bulk feed material M.

Both the loading hopper 25 and the unloading hopper 26 remain substantially inside the inside of overall dimensions of the containment structure 11 so that? the latter can be easily transported and stacked with other similar or assimilable containment structures, for example containers.

The loading 25 and unloading hoppers 26 can be equipped with a respective shutter or trap door 27, 28 which can be operated to close or open access to the storage chamber 12. The shutters 24, 25 can be controlled by actuator means possibly connected to the unit? control 17, or can be operated remotely in mode? wireless or through a control panel associated externally to the containment structure 11.

According to a further embodiment illustrated in figure 2, the storage chamber 12 can be loaded with a plurality? of containers or casings 50 each filled with a quantity? of charge material M. Thanks to the packaging of the charge material M in containers or casings 50, dispersions of fine powders which traditionally cause losses of material and high pollution both in deposits and during transport are eliminated. In this case, the containment structure 11, and more? specifically, the containment chamber 12 allows the containers or casings 50 to be preserved from knocks, punctures or tears during transport.

In this case, the containment structure 11 can? be provided with an access portal 29 through which ? It is possible to access with handling means of the known type, for example with a forklift or a crane, both to provide for the loading and for the unloading of the containers or casings 50 inside the storage chamber 12.

The containers or casings 50 are advantageously made of a material having a certain carbon content, for example but not only a plastic material such as polyvinyl chloride and others. In this way, said containers or casings 50 can be introduced directly with their contents into an apparatus for the production of steel 320 so that the carbon content of which ? constituted their packaging contributes to the carburation of the molten bath allowing corrections to be avoided or limited, for example, between the introduction of carbon with lances.

Alternatively, the containers or casings 50 can be made of metallic material.

Said containers or casings 50 can be positioned individually inside the storage chamber 12 or they can be grouped and further packaged in an adequate number.

Said containers or wrappers 50 can comprise bags 50a (figure 2a), having dimensions for example of 0.3m x 0.4m, which in turn can be inserted into smaller bags. large, or big-bags, 50b (figure 2b) for greater protection against tears or breakages and to facilitate and make more? their shipping fast. For example, overall a 50b big-bag pu? have the shape of a parallelepiped with a base of 0.9m x 0.9m and a height of about lm with a capacity of containment greater than a ton, for example of about 1.5 ton.

The big-bags 50b can in any case be filled directly with the bulk filler material M (figure 2c).

In other embodiments, said containers or casings 50 can comprise containers 50c (figure 2d) at least partly rigid or semi-rigid or rigid and semi-rigid, or partly flexible, made of plastic or metallic material such as, for example, bins or other similar or similar containers. Said containers 50c can have a capacity containment greater than that of the bags 50a and less than that of the big-bags 50b.

The containers or casings 50 can be selectively inertizable and sealable watertight or they can only be sealable since the vacuum can be self-generated by oxygen consumption due to the natural oxidation/passivation process of the filler material M.

According to an advantageous embodiment, the containment structure 11 can be a standard size container of 10, 20 or 40 feet in length, equipped with the cargo monitoring systems described above or can? be a normal shipping container and therefore devoid of said cargo monitoring systems. In this last case the maritime container will have to? be loaded with containers or casings 50 already? sealed and inerted Since the containment structure 11 pu? be a container, the apparatus 10 can? be treated like any other container thus allowing? an intermodal transport as all the transport structures (ships, trucks, wagons, cranes, bridge cranes, storage parks, warehouses, etc.) are already? prepared for the management of such means of containment.

According to a further embodiment illustrated in figures 3, 4 and 4a, the transport kit 20 does not include the container and comprises only a plurality of containers. of containers or casings 50, in the case of big-bags 50b pre-filled with filler material M, selectively inerted and sealed watertight. In this case the protection from tears, punctures, etc. ? delegated to one or more? protective packaging 51 with suitable mechanical characteristics wrapped around each or more? of one of said containers or casings.

The protective packaging can by way of example be made of laminated polypropylene or other similar or similar materials.

The protective packaging 51 can? allow the passage of gripping means to be easily hooked and moved with a crane and/or also of a rigid or semi-rigid bottom for stable support on the platform of the means of transport used, whether they are trucks, ships, trains or other. The embodiments illustrated in figure 5 refer to a method for containing and transporting the aforementioned filler material M, in particular Cold-DRI in granular or pellet form towards a steel production plant 300.

Following a production step and an aging step of the filler material M in granular or pellet form, in a direct reduction plant 100, the process provides for a step for conferring and transporting the filler material through the apparatus 10 in accordance with the previously described embodiments.

The charging material M can? therefore it can be delivered in loose form, for example through the loading hopper 22, or in packaged form, in the storage chamber 12 of the apparatus 10, or it can? be conferred in containers or casings 50 further packed and transported without further intermediate containment means.

In possible embodiments, the feed material M in granular or pellet form produced in the direct reduction plant 100 can undergo a plasticization process in which the individual pellets are coated with a plastic film.

Before the aforementioned conferment phase, pu? a phase of partitioning and packaging of the filler material M is provided in a partitioning and packaging plant 200 where the filler material M, which arrives in loose condition from storage areas adjacent to the direct reduction plant 100 or from silos after a period of ?aging? for example of 2-3 days, ? packed in containers or wrappers 50.

The partitioning and packaging phase in the aforementioned partitioning and packaging plant 200 can, for example, provide for a filling sub-phase in which bags 50a and/or big-bags 50b and/or rigid, semi-rigid containers 50b, or partially rigid and partly semi-rigid, or partly flexible are filled in a quantized way and closed.

At the filling sub-phase can? follow a closure substep in which said bags 50a and/or big bags 50b and/or containers 50c are sealed watertight, furthermore generating an inert atmosphere inside them. In case the transport takes place without containers, after the filling sub-phase or the closing sub-phase ? foreseen a sub-phase of coating in which each or more? of one of the containers or casings 50 ? wrapped in protective packaging 51 and the container or casing 50 and protective packaging 51 assembly is handled and transported directly, without further intermediate containment means, by trucks, ships or trains.

At the sub-phase of filling or closing pu? follow the orderly delivery phase of the bags 50a and/or the big bags 50b and/or the containers 50c inside the storage chamber 12 of the apparatus 10.

Alternatively, after the filling and/or closing sub-phase it can? be provided a grouping sub-phase in which a certain number of bags 50a can be inserted into the inside a big bag 50b to form a container 50 that can be easily manipulated with traditional handling means such as cranes, bridge cranes, forklifts, or others, to be positioned inside the interior of the storage chamber 12 in the subsequent orderly delivery phase.

Once the storage chamber 12 has been filled with a certain number of containers or casings 50 or with filler material M in bulk form, the latter is sealed watertight and an inert atmosphere is possibly created by means of the dispensing means 21 of inert gas, while the unit? control unit 17 receives monitoring signals from load monitoring devices 16. The control of the atmosphere of the storage chamber 12 can? not be necessary if the containers or casings 50 have been previously inerted and sealed. When a foreseen number of apparatuses 10 have been prepared, these can be handled in the traditional way and loaded onto means of transport such as a cargo ship, a truck, a train wagon, or the like, and subsequently sent to a production plant for steel 300. In the steel production plant 300, the bulk filler material M or the containers or casings 50 are unloaded onto conveyor belt means 310, or the like, to be sent to an apparatus for the production of steel 320, which can ? be an electric arc furnace (Electric Are Fumace -EAF), a blast furnace (Blast Fumace - BF) or a converter (Basic Oxygen Fumace - BOF) or bulk feed material M or 50 containers or casings can be further stored in silos or intermediate warehouses.

Advantageously, the containers or casings 50 are loaded into the steelmaking apparatus 320 directly comprised of their packaging made of a material having a certain carbon content, for example but not limited to a plastic material, or a metallic material.

This procedure is particularly advantageous because? allows Cold-DRI to be handled safely and economically, proposing a valid alternative to the traditional use of briquettes which are produced with a very expensive process and have percentages of carbon which do not meet the characteristics required by downstream smelting processes.

? It is clear that modifications and/or additions of parts can be made to the containment and transport apparatus 10 and to the process described up to now, without thereby abandoning the scope of the present invention as defined by the claims.

It is also clear that, although the present invention has been described with reference to some specific examples, an expert in the field could realizing other equivalent forms of an apparatus and method for containing and transporting charge material for a steel production plant, having the characteristics set forth in the claims and therefore all falling within the scope of protection defined therein.

In the claims that follow, the references in brackets have the sole purpose of facilitating reading and must not be considered as limiting factors of the scope of protection defined by the claims themselves.

Claims (19)

1. Apparatus (10) for containing and transporting feed material (M) for a steel production plant (300), in particular Cold-DRI in granular or pellet form, characterized in that it comprises a transport kit ( 20) having a containment structure (11) defining inside it, or containing, a selectively inertizable and isolable watertight storage chamber (12) to accommodate said filler material (M) provided in loose form or packaged in quantities predefined within a plurality? of containers or casings (50). 2. Apparatus (10) as in claim 1, characterized in that said transport kit (20) comprises delivery means (21) configured to deliver an inert gas to inertize the atmosphere of said storage chamber (12) and means seal for the watertight insulation of the latter. 3. Apparatus (10) as in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said transport kit (20) comprises load monitoring devices (16) controlled by a unit? control (17) and configured to detect specific safety parameters relating to the state of said charge material (M) and/or of the atmosphere of said storage chamber (12). 4. Apparatus (10) as in any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that said transport kit (20) comprises at least one loading hopper (25) and one unloading hopper (26) selectively communicating with the? exterior of said apparatus (10) and with said storage chamber (12) and substantially included in the? overall dimensions of said containment structure (11) for the introduction and withdrawal of said filler material (M) in loose form. 5. Apparatus (10) as in claim 4, characterized in that said loading (25) and unloading (26) hoppers are equipped with a respective shutter or trap door (27, 28) which can be operated to close or open access to said storage chamber (12). 6. Apparatus (10) as in any one of claims from 1 to 5, characterized in that said transport kit (20) is equipped with an active system for extinguishing fires (22) provided with at least one cylinder (23) of an extinguishing agent and with nozzles (24) suitably positioned to reach the entire surface of said storage chamber (12). 7. Apparatus (10) as in any one of claims from 1 to 6, characterized in that said containment structure (11) ? a sea container having a length of 10, 20 or 40 feet. 8. Apparatus (10) for containing and transporting charge material (M) for a steel production plant (300), in particular Cold-DRI in granular or pellet form, characterized in that it comprises a traditional maritime container inside ? Inside which are arranged a plurality? of containers or casings (50) already? inerted and sealed watertight. 9. Apparatus (10) for containing and transporting feed material (M) for a steel production plant (300), in particular Cold-DRI in granular or pellet form, characterized in that it comprises a transport kit ( 20) consists only of a plurality? of containers or casings (50) inerted and insulated watertight and one or more? protective packaging (51) wrapped around each or more? of one of said containers or casings (50). 10. Apparatus (10) as in claim 8 or 9, characterized in that said containers or casings (50) are inerted and insulated individually or in groups for watertight sealing. 11. Process for containing and transporting filler material (M), in particular Cold-DRI in granular or pellet form, for a steel production plant (300), characterized in that said process provides, after a phase of its production and subsequent aging in a direct reduction plant (100), a step of conferring and transporting said material (M) with an apparatus (10) as in any one of the preceding claims. 12. Process as in claim 11, characterized in that before said transfer and transport step ? a phase of partitioning and packaging of said filler material (M) is provided in a partitioning and packaging plant (200) where said filler material (M) in bulk form? packaged in containers or casings (50) made of a material having a certain carbon content, in particular a plastic material, or of a metallic material. 13. Process as in claim 12, characterized in that said partitioning and packaging step provides for a filling sub-step in which said containers or casings (50), in the form of bags (50a) and/or big-bags (50b) and The containers (50c) at least partly rigid or semi-rigid, or rigid and semi-rigid, or partly flexible are filled in a quantized way with said bulk filler material (M), being optionally grouped. 14. Process as in claim 13, characterized in that after said filling sub-step ? a closing sub-phase is provided in which said bags (50a) and/or big-bags (50b) and/or containers (50c) are sealed watertight, furthermore generating an inert atmosphere inside them. 15. Process as in claim 13 or 14, characterized in that after said filling sub-phase or said closing sub-phase ? foreseen a sub-phase of coating in which each or more? of one of said containers or casings (50) ? wrapped in a protective packing (51) and the container or casing (50) and protective packing (51) assembly is handled and transported directly, without further intermediate containment means. 16. Process as in any one of claims 11 to 14, characterized in that once the loading of said filler material (M), loose or packaged in an inerted and sealed manner or not, has been completed in the storage chamber (12) of the apparatus (10), as in any one of claims 2 to 9, said storage chamber (12) ? sealed watertight and an inert atmosphere is created inside it by delivery means (21) of an inert gas, while a unit? controller (17) receives monitoring signals from load monitoring devices (16). 17. Process as in any one of claims 12 to 16, characterized in that once it arrives at said steel production plant (300), said bulk filler material (M) or said containers or casings (50) are unloaded on means of transport (310) which send them to a steel production apparatus (320) or to intermediate storage facilities. 18. Process as in claim 17, characterized in that said containers or casings (50) are fed to said steel production apparatus (320) directly including their packaging made of a material having a given carbon content, in particular a plastic material, or in a metallic material. 19. Use of an optionally configured sea container to safely contain a bulk material (M), in particular Cold-DRI in granular or pellet form, in bulk form or packaged in quantity? predefined inside containers or casings (50) made in a material having a given carbon content, in particular a plastic material, or in a metallic material.