US1592862A

US1592862A - Ore reduction

Info

Publication number: US1592862A
Application number: US501385A
Authority: US
Inventors: Johann E Leonarz
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1921-09-17
Filing date: 1921-09-17
Publication date: 1926-07-20
Anticipated expiration: 1943-07-20

Description

J. E. LEONARZ ORE REDUCTION Filed Sept. 17 1921 July 20, 1926.

Patented July 20, 1926.

. 1,592,862 PATENT OFFICE.

v J'bI-IANN E. LEONARZ,OF TAOUBAYA, MEXICO.

ORE REDUCTION.

Application filed September 17, 1821. Serial No. 501,385.

Distinct advantages in economical production of materials such as iron, manganese, and the like. can be carried out by a step by step treatment of the ore whereby the same is partially reduced prior to the intro dnction of carbonaceous material and the ultimate reduction to metallic form. By separatin the two reducing" steps and controlling tie supply of reducing gases, it is found that the reactions are carried out with a minimum of added heating and with substantial conservation of the reagents required in the process. My invention relates to a process whereby the above advantages are obtained.

It is a further object of my invention specifically to obtain the reduction to metallic form of those ores which in ordinary processes are considered to'be refractory or to resist the customary metallurgical process. I

In carrying out my process the reducing gases are regenerated between each reducing step. Furthermore, the reducing gases are maintained practicall free from objectionable gases articular y nitrogen. It is also intended tiat these gases shall be maintained in a circuit without substantial loss in temperature.

The above and other purposes of my'invention will be apparent from the following description and drawing.

The drawing illustrates in-sectional elevation a preferred mode of carrying .out my process. m N

A metallur ical furnace in which the ore 5 reduced is shown to include a reducing kiln 1 of any suitable type from which the material after partial reduction is delivered to the bin 2.

Another bin 3 supplies carbonaceous fuel and such'other material as may be found desirable.

A conveyor 4 delivers the parti duced material from bin 2 to the retort 5. Carbon from bin 3 is delivered directlyfto retort 5 or after mixture with the' metallic oxide being conveyed .by' the conveyer 4. A supplemental conveyer 4 is rovided' for delivering carbon or liquid uel to one chamber-of the retort 5*:tor pur-. poses hereinafter'to be described. Retort 5 has an outer wall 6 resting on foundation 7 and providing'an archway or opening 8 at its base.

An inner wall 9 is similarly mounted upon the base 7 and cut away to form the arch 10. The retort 5 has a top wall 11. Mounted on foundation 7 and extending upwardly in the retort 5 is a partition 12, also provided with an arched opening 13 at its-base. The partition 12 extends upwardly to within a short distance of the top wall 11 and is spaced near the inner wallv 9. This pro vides a vertical channel at the side of the material inthemain portion of retort 5'.

The side wall 9 serves as one side of the tower 14 having opposite outer wall 15 and a top 16 which is prolonged to form an opening 17. This opening 17 forms a close bearing with the kiln 1. A charging device 18,

of customary form, is providedin the top 16 in order to replenish the materials in the molten bath at the base of the tower.

A heating furnace 19 is provided at one side of the retort 5. A gas inlet 20 is shown to pass through this heating chamber and under the adjacent wall 6. A lip 21 extends transversely'of the wall 6 and opposite the end of the inlet 20. By this means gas is passed into the retort 5. It will be evident that the inlet pipe 20 may be placed in any convenient position and need not pass through the heating furnace.

The heating chamber, the retort 5 and the tower 14 are all su ported upon a foundation 22 in which a s 0 ing bottom 23 for the ,molten bath is provi ed.

The ore after customary heating anda lower order than that in which it is naturally found. The degree to which the reduction is carried out in this step is dependent upon the nature of the metal. It is generally. found desirable to reduce the oxygen present in the ore by one-half in this step.

The partially reduced ore falls in bin 2.

The material from bin 2 is charged into re tort, 5 together with carbon from bin '3. During the charging operation thesematerials may be intimately blended. The retort 5- normally carries aconsiderable body of these materials undergoing complete reduction of the metal. The oxygen of the lower metallicoxides present in retort .5

will combine with the carbon and prolatter. During the upward travel of these 1 gases they materially aid in accomplishing directly the reduction of the metal and hasten the carrying off of the gaseous'products of the reaction. a

The gaseous products of the second step in reduction pass downwardly between wall 9 and partition 12. Supplemental pipe 4' delivers carbon or hydrocarbon fuel to this chamber and there is thus maintained a quantity of carbon on the surface of the molten metal at the base of this'channel. The gases coming in contact with the carbon are forced to pass through the molten metal and escape through the tower 14.

The tower 14 is filled with highly heated coke which is maintained incandescent by contact with the hot metal and radiation therefrom. The gases passing down the channel and upwardly through the tower 14 are further reduced to carbon monoxide and hydrogen. From the tower 14 the gases pass to the kiln 1 where they enter into reucing reaction upon fresh charges'of ore. Means to withdraw thespent gases from the kiln 1 and to return a portion of the same to the second phase of reduction are shown to include a return pipe 23 and a steam injector 24.

While I have shown the heat to be applied to the bath and chambers from an external source, it is obvious that heat may be applied to' the retort 5 and tower 14, as for example by any suitable means of localized electric heating.

Various changes in minor details may be made without departing from the spirit of my invention as'the same is defined in the following claims.

What I claim is V 1. The process of obtaining metal from with reducing gastoparitally reduce the ore, introducing the partially reduced ore andcarbon into a'reaction chamber over a bath of the liquid metal passing the gas from said reaction chamber through the molten metal and through highly heated coke,'then passing it through the initial reducing chamber, and returning a portion of the gas to the reaction chamber.

' ,2. Theprocess of obtaining metal from ore which consists in treating the heated ore with reducing gas to partially reduce. the ore, introducing the partially reduced ore and carbon into a reaction chamber 'over a bath ofthe liquid metal, adding carbon or liquid fuel to the gas from the reaction chamber. passing this mixture through the molten metal and through highly heated coke. then passing it through the initial reducing chamber, and returning a portion of the gas to the reaction chamber.

3. The processof obtaining metal from ore which consists in partially reducing the ore, introducing the partially reduced ore and carbon into a reaction chamber over a batlr'of the liquid metal, forcing the gases from said reaction chamber to pass downwardly through the body of molten. metal and to pass therefrom through a mass ofheated carbon whereby the gas is regenerated for use in the first reducing step.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto affixed my signature. 1 V

' I JOHANN- E. LEONARZ.

.ore which consists in treating the heated ore