WO2023214070A1

WO2023214070A1 - Hydrogen plasma smelting reduction furnace, use of a hydrogen plasma smelting reduction furnace to reduce a metal oxide, method for the hydrogen plasma smelting reduction of metal oxide

Info

Publication number: WO2023214070A1
Application number: PCT/EP2023/062050
Authority: WO
Inventors: Andreas Carl WEBER
Original assignee: Ferrum Decarb GmbH
Priority date: 2022-05-06
Filing date: 2023-05-05
Publication date: 2023-11-09

Abstract

The invention relates to a hydrogen plasma smelting reduction furnace (1) for reducing a metal oxide, more particularly for reducing iron oxide, comprising: - a reaction chamber (2), - a counter electrode disposed in the reaction chamber, and - a first hollow electrode disposed partly in the reaction chamber, the first hollow electrode being designed to feed a plasma gas, hydrogen and metal oxide, more particularly iron oxide, to the reaction chamber (2) and to cooperate with the counter electrode to form a first arc (21), in order to generate a first plasma jet (22) by electrically exciting the plasma gas and the hydrogen. According to the invention, a second hollow electrode is provided, which is designed to feed a plasma gas, hydrogen and metal oxide, more particularly iron oxide, to the reaction chamber (2) and to cooperate with the counter electrode to form a second arc (31), in order to generate a second plasma jet (32) by electrically exciting the plasma gas and the hydrogen, such that the first plasma jet (22) and the second plasma jet (32) attract each other as a result of a Lorentz force and form, at least in parts, a unified plasma jet (34) and/or plasma.

Description

Hydrogen plasma melt reduction furnace, use of a hydrogen plasma melt reduction furnace for reducing a metal oxide, method for hydrogen plasma melt reduction of metal oxide

The invention relates to a hydrogen plasma melt reduction furnace according to the preamble of claim 1, the use of such a hydrogen plasma melt reduction furnace and a method for hydrogen plasma melt reduction of metal oxide, in particular iron oxide, with the hydrogen plasma melt reduction furnace.

The invention relates to a hydrogen plasma melt reduction furnace for reducing a metal oxide, in particular for reducing iron oxide, comprising:

- a reaction space, - a counter electrode arranged in the reaction space, and

- a first hollow electrode arranged in sections in the reaction space, the first hollow electrode being designed to supply a plasma gas, hydrogen and metal oxide, in particular iron oxide, to the reaction space and to interact with the counter electrode to form a first arc in order to stimulate the plasma gas by electrical excitation and the hydrogen to generate a first plasma jet. The melt reduction of metal oxides to a metal, especially iron oxide to iron, especially steel, is well known.

In the traditional iron reduction process, iron ores are reduced with coke and oxygen in a blast furnace with significant CO2 emissions and energy requirements. Furthermore, direct reduction processes are known, such as the Midrex process, in which iron is reduced to solid sponge iron in a first stage and then melted in a melting unit (e.g. electric arc furnace).

By using gaseous or molecular hydrogen as a reducing agent, CO2 emissions can be reduced, but at the same time this process sequence also has disadvantages. On the one hand, melting in an electric arc furnace requires a very high iron content in the ore, which can only be partially covered by existing global iron ore resources. Furthermore, the use in the shaft furnace requires a prior agglomeration of fine and fine sterts. Finally, the necessary reduction stage - concerning iron from FeO to Fe - is also comparatively energy-intensive if molecular hydrogen is used as a reducing agent.

To overcome these disadvantages, methods using hydrogen plasma are known, for example as described in EP 1 275 739 A2.

In the process, based on plasma reduction, fine ore containing iron oxide is blown into a reactor vessel with hot hydrogen and optionally a further reaction or carrier gas, the fine ore being directly or pre-reduced by the hot hydrogen. The reduced iron particles are then sucked off and blown into a melting reactor through an arc electrode; In particular, the directly reduced iron is sucked off using hydrogen flow pumps and blown into the melting reactor through a plasma torch or the aforementioned arc electrode. In this melting reactor, these reduced iron particles are then melted in the arc or the plasma of the plasma torch or the arc electrode mentioned. The reduction of the fine ore is technically separate from the melting of the directly reduced iron particles. This requires more complex system technology and reduces the turnover of the process and thus the efficiency of steel production. In contrast, the reduction carried out using a hydrogen plasma melt reduction furnace of the type mentioned at the beginning and the simultaneous melting of the reduced iron oxide by a reduction plasma in a reaction space offer, among other things, plant engineering advantages. Such a technically improved process of hydrogen plasma melt reduction (HPSR) is, for example, from the article “Reduction of Hematite Using Hydrogen Thermal Plasma” by Seftejani et al. announced on April 23, 2019, published as doi:10.20944/preprints201904.0261 .v1 . A plasma arc reactor used for this purpose has an anode arranged in a reaction space as a counter and bottom electrode and a single hollow electrode which interacts with it to form an arc as a hollow cathode in the form of a hollow graphite electrode. This HPSR arrangement is designed to supply a plasma gas, hydrogen and iron oxide to the reaction space and to generate a first plasma jet in the reaction space by electrically stimulating the plasma gas and hydrogen. Specifically, a gas mixture of argon and hydrogen is ionized using an electric arc to create a reduction plasma. This reduction plasma is formed by argon and hydrogen, with different species of hydrogen (e.g. in atomic form) reducing the iron oxides. As a plasma gas, argon ensures the stability of the reduction plasma and is not involved in the actual reduction reaction. Hydrogen is involved as a reducing agent in the actual reduction, but on its own it has difficulty forming a stable plasma through ionization.

The gas mixture with argon and hydrogen is passed through the hollow cathode into the reaction space, with a transmitted arc between the hollow cathode as a graphite hollow electrode and the spaced anode as a bottom electrode ionizing the gas mixture emerging from the opening of the hollow cathode on the reaction space side. Carbon from the hollow graphite electrode, the steel crucible and the ignition pin is introduced into the melt and contributes to the reduction process of the iron oxides. Furthermore, a powder made of fine or fine sterts is fed into the reaction space through the hollow cathode. However, only a limited proportion of the powder from fine ores hits the reduction plasma in order to be reduced by it in an endothermic reaction and melted by the heat input. The heat input required for the endothermic reduction reaction is advantageously provided by the reduction plasma itself. The reduction reaction of hematite from the fine ore ore explained there occurs in several stages.

For example, in a first stage, hematite is reduced to FeO by the reduction plasma. Fe ₂ Q ₃ + ZHydrogen plasma

In a second stage, the FeO is reduced to pure iron.

FeO 4 hydrogen plasma (2H,

However, due to the hydrogen, the stability of the reduction plasma is impaired and there is a spatial inconsistency of the reduction plasma along the arc.

Since the fine ores are blown into the reaction space through the hollow cathode or supplied in some other way, they are largely assigned to a defined position. However, the position of the reduction plasma or the arc and thus also of the resulting plasma jet fluctuates within the respective reactor. Thus, a relatively high proportion of the fine ores is not captured by the spatially inconsistent plasma jet and is therefore not reduced and melted. This leads to a relatively high level of iron slagging and a high proportion of iron oxide in the slag.

In another article by Seftejani et al. in “Metals” from 2018, 8, 1051 (December 11, 2018) it is described that in hydrogen plasma melt reduction (HPSR), in order to increase the degree of hydrogen ionization and accordingly to increase the reduction rate of the iron ore particles, the Reduction reactions in the plasma arc should take place due to the high temperatures of the plasma arc in HPSR. Here too, in the plasma arc reactor used for this purpose, an upper graphite hollow electrode as a cathode is opposite a bottom electrode as an anode in the melt in the reaction space of the plasma arc reactor.

It would be desirable to improve the yield or the degree of reduction in the hydrogen plasma melt reduction of metal oxides to a metal, in particular of iron oxide to iron, i.e. generally fine or fine steres, in particular steel.

Against this background, the invention was based on the object of overcoming at least one of the disadvantages known in the prior art. In particular, the invention lay the object is to improve the efficiency of the hydrogen plasma melt reduction of metal oxide to a metal, in particular of iron oxide, in particular in fine or fine steres, to steel.

The invention solves the underlying problem in a first aspect by a hydrogen plasma melting reduction furnace according to claim 1.

Regarding the first alternative of claim 1, the invention is based on a hydrogen plasma melt reduction furnace for reducing a metal oxide, in particular for reducing iron oxide, comprising:

- a reaction space,

- a counter electrode arranged in the reaction space, and

- a first hollow electrode arranged in sections in the reaction space, the first hollow electrode being designed to supply a plasma gas, hydrogen and metal oxide, in particular iron oxide, to the reaction space and to interact with the counter electrode to form a first arc in order to electrically excite the plasma gas and the Hydrogen to generate a first plasma jet.

According to the invention it is provided that

- the counter electrode is designed as a cathode, and

- the first hollow electrode is designed as a hollow anode, and

- a second hollow anode is arranged, which is designed to supply a plasma gas, hydrogen and metal oxide, in particular iron oxide, to the reaction space and to interact with the cathode to form a second arc in order to generate a second plasma jet by electrically stimulating the plasma gas and the hydrogen,

- wherein the first hollow anode and the second hollow anode are arranged at a distance from one another and from the cathode in such a way that the first plasma jet and the second plasma jet attract each other as a result of a Lorentz force and at least in sections form a combined plasma jet and / or plasma.

In the first alternative, the invention is based on a hydrogen plasma melting reduction furnace of the type mentioned at the beginning.

The invention follows the basic general approach of providing a first and second hollow electrode and a counter electrode, in particular a first and second one Hollow electrode to be provided opposite a counter electrode in the reaction space of a plasma arc reactor.

According to the invention, the first and second hollow electrodes are each designed to supply a plasma gas, hydrogen and metal oxide, in particular iron oxide, to the reaction space and to cooperate with the counter electrode to form a first or second arc in order to produce a first or .to generate second plasma jet.

In a particularly preferred development, the counter electrode can be designed as a bottom electrode; i.e. in the lower aggregate area of the plasma arc reactor. In a particularly preferred development, the first and second hollow electrodes are at the top --i.e. arranged in the upper aggregate area of the plasma arc reactor opposite and above the bottom electrode.

According to the concept of the invention, the first hollow electrode and the second hollow electrode are arranged at a distance from one another and from the counter electrode in such a way that the first plasma jet and the second plasma jet attract each other as a result of a Lorentz force and at least in sections form a combined plasma jet and / or plasma.

According to the invention, it is provided here that the counter electrode is designed as a cathode.

According to the invention, it is further provided in the present case that the first hollow electrode is designed as a hollow anode.

The invention significantly further proposes a second hollow electrode according to the present invention - in this approach according to the invention, therefore a second hollow anode. In particular, a second hollow electrode is provided which is arranged in sections in the reaction space. According to the invention, the second hollow electrode is designed as a second hollow anode.

The second hollow anode is set up to supply a plasma gas, hydrogen and fine ore to the reaction space and to interact with the counter electrode, here the cathode according to the invention, to form a second arc in order to be activated by the electrical excitation of the plasma gas and the hydrogen to generate a second plasma jet. There are the first hollow anode and the second hollow anode arranged at a distance from one another and from the cathode in such a way that the first plasma jet and the second plasma jet attract each other as a result of the Lorentz force and fuse at least in sections to form a plasma jet.

The Lorentz force describes the force that a moving charge experiences in a magnetic or electric field. It always acts perpendicular to the direction of movement of the charge and to the magnetic field lines.

An arc is created by impact ionization when the electrical potential difference and current density are sufficiently high.

The invention proposes the “reversed” electrode arrangement in contrast to the prior art for a hydrogen plasma melt reduction furnace of the type mentioned at the outset; Very simply, in other words, “a voltage that is the opposite of that in the prior art” is provided on the counter electrode on the one hand and the first and second hollow electrodes on the other, i.e. the circuit of the bottom electrode as a cathode and the hollow electrodes arranged in the upper aggregate area as anodes. Nevertheless, this picture is highly simplistic for the actually “reversed” electrode arrangement, which leads to a “reversal” of the direction of movement of the charged particles (especially hydrogen cations and electrons).

The hydrogen cations therefore increasingly move downwards and thus towards the slag or the metal bath. This greatly promotes the meeting of iron oxide from or in the slag and the hydrogen cations mentioned. Since hydrogen cations are an extremely effective reducing agent with regard to iron oxide, the degree of reduction can also be increased.

In the present case, the interaction of the first and second hollow anodes and the cathode as a counter electrode is also understood to mean the interaction of the first and second hollow anodes with additional metal, in particular metal scrap or steel scrap, which is conductively connected to the cathode. To generate the arc, steel scrap is preferably introduced into the reaction space and conductively connected to the cathode. The arc is ignited by briefly connecting the respective first or second hollow anode to the steel scrap.

The first or second arc formed here between the first and second hollow anodes and the cathode is in each case a transferred one Electric arc. Such an arc between the anode and a cathode can be ignited continuously or periodically. The electrical excitation caused by the impact ionization causes a gas discharge. Such electrical excitation of a plasma-capable medium produces a plasma or a plasma gas surrounding an arc (of the first or second arc) in which the atoms or molecules are at least partially ionized. In the case of such a plasma of the transmitted arc (or the first and second) formed by ionization of the hydrogen and the plasma gas, one can speak of a moving stream of charges that are fundamentally subject to a Lorentz force.

Following the knowledge of the invention, with the inventive arrangement of the first and second hollow anodes and the associated same current direction of the moving currents of charges of the plasmas formed in the first and second transmitted arcs, it results that the first plasma jet and the second plasma jet move as a result of the Lorentz force put on. According to the concept of the invention, the selected arrangement and the extent of the plasmas formed of the first and second plasma jets of the transmitted arcs are such that the first and second plasma jets combine at least in sections to form a single common plasma jet or plasma.

In the sense of the invention, it is also a reduction plasma and in particular a high-temperature plasma. The arc surrounded by the plasma or a plasma gas is referred to herein as a plasma jet.

The course of the first plasma jet and the second plasma jet combine or fuse to form a single plasma jet as a result of the Lorentz force. The Lorentz force causes the attraction of the first arc and the second arc to each other. The first plasma jet and the second plasma jet thus strike the cathode or a metal bath formed in the area of the cathode as a single combined plasma jet or plasma and run in a section adjacent to the cathode as a combined plasma jet or plasma.

For the purposes of the invention, a combined plasma jet or plasma is understood to mean a plasma jet and/or plasma (i.e. plasma region without a further jet continuation of the plasma stream) formed from the first plasma jet and the second plasma jet, in particular focused. The course of the first plasma jet, the second plasma jet and the combined plasma jet or plasma can be represented graphically approximately by a Y. The invention does this magnetic effect of charge transport as a result of the Lorentz force, which leads to an attraction of the two plasma jets through the effect of the Lorentz force.

The combined plasma jet and/or plasma has a higher stability and therefore a higher spatial consistency. The combined plasma jet has a higher inertia compared to the first plasma jet and the second plasma jet, so that the probability of collision of the combined plasma jet and the supplied metal oxide, in particular iron oxide or fine or fine steric ore, is increased. In addition to the increased stability of the combined plasma jet, its cross section is also increased, so that the combined plasma jet has an increased effective radius compared to the two individual plasma jets.

In the present case, the first hollow electrode and the second hollow electrode are designed according to the concept of the invention as a first and second hollow anode and are arranged at a distance from one another and from the counter electrode designed as a counter cathode in such a way that the first plasma jet and the second plasma jet attract each other as a result of a Lorentz force and at least in sections form a combined plasma jet and/or plasma.

In addition, the aforementioned arrangement - to put it simply, the "reversal" of the voltage - causes the increased interaction of hydrogen cations and iron oxide in the slag. This increases the degree of reduction even further; This effect occurs in addition to the plasma stabilized with the Lorentz force. In fact, the present inventive concept is aimed at designing the counter electrode as a cathode with appropriate effort and designing the first and second hollow electrodes each as a hollow anode and also connecting them accordingly. Overall, this increases the degree of reduction as a result of the stabilized plasma and also due to the strongly favored interaction of iron oxide from or in the slag and the hydrogen cations mentioned.

Regarding the second alternative of claim 1, the invention is based on a hydrogen plasma melt reduction furnace of the type mentioned at the beginning.

The invention is therefore based on a hydrogen plasma melt reduction furnace for reducing a metal oxide, in particular for reducing iron oxide, comprising:

- a reaction space,

- a counter electrode arranged in the reaction space, and - a first hollow electrode arranged in sections in the reaction space, the first hollow electrode being designed to supply a plasma gas, hydrogen and metal oxide, in particular iron oxide, to the reaction space and to interact with the counter electrode to form a first arc in order to electrically excite the plasma gas and the Hydrogen to generate a first plasma jet.

According to the invention it is provided that

- the counter electrode is designed as an anode, and

- the first hollow electrode is designed as a hollow cathode, and

- a second hollow cathode, which is designed to supply a plasma gas, hydrogen and metal oxide, in particular iron oxide, to the reaction space and to interact with the anode to form a second arc in order to generate a second plasma jet by electrically stimulating the plasma gas and the hydrogen, the first hollow cathode and the second hollow cathode are arranged at a distance from one another and from the anode in such a way that the first plasma jet and the second plasma jet attract each other as a result of a Lorentz force and at least in sections form a combined plasma jet and / or plasma.

This relates to a hydrogen plasma melt reduction furnace for reducing a metal oxide, in particular for reducing iron oxide, comprising: a reaction space, an anode arranged in the reaction space, and a first hollow cathode arranged in sections in the reaction space, the first hollow cathode being designed to produce a plasma gas, To supply hydrogen and metal oxide, in particular iron oxide, to the reaction space (2) and to cooperate with the anode to form a first arc in order to generate a first plasma jet by electrically stimulating the plasma gas and hydrogen.

According to the invention, the hydrogen plasma melt reduction furnace is characterized by a second hollow cathode, which is designed to supply a plasma gas, hydrogen and metal oxide, in particular iron oxide, to the reaction space and to interact with the anode to form a second arc (31) in order to electrically excite the plasma gas and to generate a second plasma jet of hydrogen, wherein the first hollow cathode and the second hollow cathode are arranged at a distance from one another and from the anode in such a way that the first plasma jet and the second plasma jet attract each other as a result of a Lorentz force and at least in sections form a combined plasma jet and / or plasma.

In the second alternative for a hydrogen plasma melting reduction furnace of the type mentioned, the invention therefore proposes a second hollow cathode, which is designed to supply a plasma gas, hydrogen and fine ore to the reaction space and to interact with the anode to form a second arc, to generate a second plasma jet by electrically stimulating the plasma gas and hydrogen. The first hollow cathode and the second hollow cathode are arranged at such a distance from each other and from the anode that the first plasma jet and the second plasma jet attract each other as a result of the Lorentz force and fuse at least in sections to form a plasma jet.

In the present case, the interaction of hollow cathode and anode is also understood to mean the interaction of the cathode with additional metal, in particular metal scrap or steel scrap, which is conductively connected to the anode. To generate the arc, steel scrap is preferably introduced into the reaction space and conductively connected to the anode. The arc is ignited by briefly connecting the respective hollow cathode to the steel scrap.

The arc formed here between the hollow cathode and anode is a transferred arc. The arc between the anode and cathode can be ignited continuously or periodically. The electrical excitation caused by the impact ionization causes a gas discharge. Such electrical excitation of a plasma-capable medium produces a plasma or a plasma gas surrounding the arc, in which the atoms or molecules are at least partially are ionized. With such a plasma of the transmitted arc formed by ionization of the hydrogen and the plasma gas, one can speak of a moving stream of charges that are fundamentally subject to a Lorentz force.

Following the knowledge of the invention with the inventive arrangement of the first and second hollow cathodes and the associated same current direction of the moving currents of charges of the plasmas formed of the first and second transmitted arc, the first plasma jet and the second plasma jet attract each other as a result of the Lorentz force. According to the concept of the invention, the selected arrangement and the extent of the plasmas formed of the first and second plasma jets of the transmitted arcs are such that the first and second plasma jets combine at least in sections to form a single common plasma jet or plasma.

For the purposes of the invention, it is also a reduction plasma and in particular a high-temperature plasma. The arc surrounded by the plasma or a plasma gas is referred to herein as a plasma jet.

The course of the first plasma jet and the second plasma jet combine or fuse to form a single plasma jet as a result of the Lorentz force. The Lorentz force causes the attraction of the first arc and the second arc to each other. The first plasma jet and the second plasma jet thus strike the anode or a metal bath formed in the area of the anode as a single combined plasma jet or plasma and run in a section adjacent to the anode as a combined plasma jet or plasma.

For the purposes of the invention, a combined plasma jet or plasma is understood to mean a plasma jet and/or plasma (i.e. plasma region without a further jet continuation of the plasma stream) formed from the first plasma jet and the second plasma jet, in particular focused. The course of the first plasma jet, the second plasma jet and the combined plasma jet or plasma can be represented graphically approximately by a Y. The invention makes use of the magnetic effect of charge transport as a result of the Lorentz force, which leads to an attraction of the two plasma jets through the effect of the Lorentz force.

The combined plasma jet and/or plasma has a higher stability and therefore a higher spatial consistency. The combined plasma jet has a higher inertia compared to the first plasma jet and the second plasma jet, so that the probability of collision between the combined plasma jet and the supplied metal oxide, in particular iron oxide or fine ore, is increased. In addition to the increased stability of the combined plasma jet, its cross section is also increased, so that the combined plasma jet has an increased effective radius compared to the two individual plasma jets.

In summary, the invention relates to a hydrogen plasma melt reduction furnace for reducing a metal oxide, in particular for reducing iron oxide, comprising:

- a reaction space,

- a counter electrode arranged in the reaction space, and

According to the invention it is conceptually provided that

- a second hollow electrode is arranged, which is designed to supply a plasma gas, hydrogen and metal oxide, in particular iron oxide, to the reaction space and to interact with the counter electrode to form a second arc in order to generate a second plasma jet by electrically stimulating the plasma gas and the hydrogen, such that

- The first plasma jet and the second plasma jet attract each other as a result of a Lorentz force and form a combined plasma jet and/or plasma at least in sections.

Advantageous developments of the invention can be found in the subclaims, which further develop the subject matter of the invention in relation to particularly advantageous configurations and possibilities with regard to the task and with further advantages.

Regarding the first alternative of claim 1, the following developments have proven to be advantageous.

In a particularly preferred development, the counter electrode is designed in the form of the cathode as a bottom electrode. In a particularly preferred further training is the first and second hollow anode arranged at the top, ie in the upper aggregate region, opposite and above the bottom electrode in the form of the cathode; In other words, to put it simply, above a melt.

Preferably the plasma gas is argon. Argon is a useful and sufficiently stable plasma gas, which promotes the necessary stability of the plasma flow. The argon content is preferably 50% or less of the gas mixture, particularly preferably 20% or less.

Preferably the cathode and/or the anode comprises graphite. In particular, the first and second hollow anodes are each designed as a first and second hollow graphite anode. More preferably, the cathode is designed as a metal strip. A metal strip offers constructive advantages and only slightly reduces the free reaction space.

Preferably, the first hollow anode and the second hollow anode are set up for blowing plasma gas, hydrogen and fine ore into the reaction space, in particular in the direction of the cathode. The fine ore powder is thus blown directly into the plasma jet that forms at the outlet of the hollow anode. The small grain size of the fine or fine stere enables finer distribution, increased reaction surface and reduced energy use for melting the fine or fine stere.

More preferably, the first hollow anode and the second hollow anode are arranged in the vertical direction above the cathode. Gravity can thus be used to introduce the fine ore into the reaction space and to promote it in an area in which the first plasma jet, the second plasma jet or the combined plasma jet impinges on the fine ore.

Further preferably, the first hollow anode and the second hollow anode are each spaced apart from the cathode at a height in the vertical direction and at a distance in the horizontal direction. In other words, the height of the first hollow anode relative to the cathode in the vertical direction and its distance in the horizontal direction relative to the cathode do not differ from the corresponding height of the second hollow anode relative to the cathode and its distance in the horizontal direction. The first hollow anode and the second hollow anode are thus arranged evenly spaced from the cathode in two spatial directions. The first plasma jet and the second plasma jet thus run essentially mirror-symmetrical to one another, with the plane of symmetry running through the cathode.

According to a preferred embodiment, the first hollow anode and the second hollow anode are accommodated in a wall of the reaction space so that they can move in a longitudinal direction, such that the height can be changed by moving the first hollow anode and the second hollow anode in the longitudinal direction. By changing the height of the first hollow anode and the second hollow anode relative to the cathode, the length of the first plasma jet and the second plasma jet as well as the point at which the first plasma jet and the second plasma jet combine to form a common plasma jet can be changed. The height or length of the combined or unified plasma jet can thus be adjusted as required to the amount of fine or fine stere to be reduced and melted.

Preferably, the hydrogen plasma melt reduction furnace further comprises a lance which is arranged at a distance from the first hollow anode and the second hollow anode and is designed to supply plasma gas and hydrogen and/or fine ore to the reaction space, such that additional plasma gas and hydrogen and/or or fine ore ore are fed to the combined plasma jet. An additional supply of plasma gas and hydrogen increases the amount of plasma and thus the energy input as well as the reducing agent present. By additionally adding metal oxide, such as iron oxide, the throughput or conversion amount of the fine ore can be increased. Additional fine or fine ore can therefore be added as required, for example in the area of the combined or combined plasma jet, which would otherwise be further distributed in the reaction space when added through the first hollow anode or the second hollow anode.

More preferably, the lance is arranged at a variable lance height to the cathode and is accommodated in the wall of the reaction space so that it can move in the longitudinal direction, such that the lance height can be changed by moving the lance in the longitudinal direction. By changing the lance height relative to the cathode, the supply of further fine ore or the hydrogen-argon mixture is made possible if necessary, depending on the design and beam path of the plasma jets.

According to a further preferred embodiment, the hydrogen plasma melting reduction furnace further comprises at least one actuator which is used to actuate the movement. supply of the first hollow anode and the second hollow anode and / or the lance is set up in the longitudinal direction. Preferably, the hydrogen plasma melt reduction furnace further comprises at least one seal which interacts with the wall and the first hollow cathode and the second hollow cathode and/or the lance for sealingly closing the reaction space. This means that the reaction space is not contaminated by the hollow anodes or the lance, which are movably accommodated in the wall, and the escape of hydrogen is prevented.

According to a further preferred embodiment, the hydrogen plasma melting reduction furnace further comprises a measuring device, in particular a measuring system, which is set up to monitor at least one of the following measured variables: hydrogen concentration, argon concentration, height of the first hollow cathode and the second hollow cathode, lance height.

Further preferably, the measuring device, in particular the measuring system, cooperates with a control that is set up to carry out at least one of the following control operations depending on the measured variable: controlling the at least one actuator, controlling the supply of hydrogen and argon and / or fine or .Fine ore through the first hollow anode and the second hollow anode, controlling the supply of hydrogen and argon and/or fine ore through the lance.

Further preferred are the plasma gas, hydrogen and fine ores with a volume flow in the plasma jet of preferably 75,000 - 200,000 standard m3 per hour of hydrogen gas, and preferably 125 - 175 t per hour of fine and fine steres (preheated to 550 - 750 if possible degrees Celsius, including additives) are fed to the reaction space through the first hollow anode and the second hollow anode or lance. The quantities refer to a production quantity of essentially 100 t of steel or metal per hour; Corresponding deviations in the production quantity upwards or downwards, for example in the range of 80t-120t of steel, become noticeable in relation to the limits of the aforementioned volume flows. The hydrogen gas should make up around 55-95% of the Ar-H2 mixture, which should be preheated to 550 - 750 degrees Celsius).

More preferably, a voltage of is applied to the first hollow anode and the second hollow anode to form the plasma jet, which should correspond approximately to an electrical power of 100 - 250 MW (based on the previously mentioned production quantity). In particular, the distance between the cathodes is 80 - 250cm and the aggregate a diameter of 3-8m and a height of 1.5-5m, depending on the production quantity to be achieved, and is preferably equipped at least in sections with a fireproof casing, in particular a fireproof wall. The smelting reduction furnace preferably includes the refractory lining and the area of the hollow anodes.

With particular advantage, a distance between the first and second hollow anode is 50cm to 300cm, preferably 80-250cm, in particular 100-200cm.

Taking into account the distance between the first and second hollow anodes, an anode can advantageously have a diameter of 40 to 150 cm; the diameter can vary depending on the performance.

This distance between the anodes has proven to be particularly advantageous with a size of an aggregate of the smelting reduction furnace, which has a diameter of 3-8m and a height of 1.5-5m.

This distance, which is preferred for the anode arrangement, is particularly advantageous for a smelting reduction furnace in which - plasma gas, hydrogen and metal oxide, in particular iron oxide in fine and fine sterts, with a volume flow of 50,000 - 250,000 standard m3 per hour, preferably 75,000 - 200,000 standard m3 per hour, of hydrogen gas (based on a production quantity of 100 t of steel or metal per hour), as well as 125 - 175 t per hour of fine and fine ores (advantageously preheated to 550 - 750 degrees Celsius, including surcharges, based on a production quantity of 100 t Steel or metal per hour) are supplied to the reaction space through the first hollow anode and the second hollow anode.

Additionally or alternatively, it has proven to be advantageous that a voltage that should correspond to an electrical power of 100 - 250 MW (based on a production quantity of 100 liters of steel or metal per hour) is applied to the first hollow anode and the second hollow anode .

Additionally or alternatively, it has proven to be particularly advantageous that the hydrogen gas makes up 55-95% of the Ar-H2 mixture, in particular which is preheated to 550 ° C - 750 ° C. The reaction space enclosed by the wall preferably has a round or oval cross section. The thermal and mechanical loads acting on the wall are therefore introduced more evenly.

The melt reduction furnace preferably also has a cooling device, in particular a water cooling device, which is set up to cool the wall. The cooling device is preferably provided at least in the area of the hollow anodes.

In a particularly advantageous embodiment, the first hollow electrode and the second hollow electrode are designed as first and second hollow anodes and these are part of a plurality of hollow anodes. Each of the plurality of hollow electrodes in the form of hollow anodes is designed to supply a plasma gas, hydrogen and metal oxide, in particular iron oxide, to the reaction space and to interact with the cathode to form a further arc in order to generate a further plasma jet by electrically stimulating the plasma gas and the hydrogen . The plurality of hollow anodes are arranged at a distance from each other and from the counter electrode designed as a counter cathode in such a way that the first plasma jet and the second plasma jet and the further or plurality of plasma jets attract each other as a result of a Lorentz force and at least in sections a combined plasma jet and / or plasma form.

It is preferably to be understood that if the first plasma jet and the second plasma jet and the further or plurality of plasma jets attract each other as a result of a Lorentz force and at least in sections form a combined plasma jet and / or plasma for this purpose and, if necessary, the plurality of Hollow anodes can be arranged at a distance from one another and from counter electrodes formed from a suitable number of counter cathodes; This is particularly true if the suitable number of counter electrodes formed from counter cathodes are so close together that the first plasma jet and the second plasma jet and the further or plurality of plasma jets attract as a result of a Lorentz force and at least in sections form a combined plasma jet and/or plasma.

A method in this regard may further include one, several or all of the following steps:

- Generating a plurality of plasma jets, in particular by ionizing the plasma gas and the hydrogen at the respective outlet openings of the plurality of hollow anodes, by means of interaction of the first, second and further hollow anodes or the plurality of hollow anodes and the cathode as a counter electrode, forming a plurality of arcs,

- combining at least sections of the plurality of plasma jets into a combined plasma jet and / or plasma by attracting the plasma jets to one another as a result of the Lorentz force, and

- Reducing the metal oxide, especially the iron oxide, by the combined plasma jet or plasma.

According to a further preferred embodiment, the melting reduction furnace has a plurality of hollow anodes which are arranged at a uniform distance from one another, the uniform distance corresponding in particular to half the distance of the first hollow anode and the second hollow anode to the cathode. The plurality of anodes thus includes the first hollow anode and the second hollow anode. All of the hollow anodes are at an identical distance from one another, i.e. from each of the anodes of the plurality of hollow anodes. In particular, but not exclusively, in embodiments in which the hydrogen plasma melt reduction furnace has a lance, the hollow anodes are preferably evenly distributed in a plan view along a circle, in particular around the lance, i.e. arranged point-symmetrically to the lance or a circle center. More preferably, the angles between the hollow anodes are constant. The combined plasma jet is thus formed centrally between all hollow anodes in the area of a projection surface of the lance, which is designed to reduce and melt the fine ore.

A hydrogen plasma melt reduction furnace in the sense of the invention preferably has a width and a length of several meters, so it has dimensions suitable for industrial use.

The invention solves the aforementioned problem in a second aspect by using a hydrogen plasma melt reduction furnace for the reduction and melting of fine ore, the hydrogen plasma melt reduction furnace being designed according to the first aspect of the invention.

By using such a hydrogen plasma melt reduction furnace, the invention according to the second aspect takes advantage of the advantages described above in relation to the first aspect of the invention. Preferred embodiments and advantages in relation to the first aspect of the invention are therefore also preferred embodiments and advantages in relation to the second aspect of the invention. The invention solves the aforementioned problem in a third aspect by a method for the hydrogen plasma melt reduction of fine ore, the method being carried out in particular by means of a hydrogen plasma melt reduction furnace according to the first aspect of the invention. The method according to the third aspect of the invention comprises the steps:

- supplying, in particular blowing in, plasma gas, hydrogen and fine ore into a reaction space through a first hollow anode,

- supplying, in particular blowing in, plasma gas, hydrogen and fine ore into a reaction space through a second hollow anode,

- Generating a first plasma jet by ionizing the plasma gas and the hydrogen at an outlet opening of the first hollow anode by means of a first arc formed by the interaction of the first hollow anode and a cathode,

- Generating a second plasma jet by ionizing the plasma gas and the hydrogen at an outlet opening of the second hollow anode by means of a second arc formed by the interaction of the second hollow anode and a cathode,

- fusing at least sections of the first plasma jet and the second plasma jet into a combined plasma jet by attracting the first plasma jet and the second plasma jet as a result of the Lorentz force, and

- Reducing the metal oxide, in particular the iron oxide, in the fine ore by the combined plasma jet.

By generating a second plasma jet by ionizing the plasma gas and the hydrogen at an outlet opening of the second hollow anode and forming a plasma jet that is combined at least in sections, the method according to the invention takes advantage of the advantages described at the beginning with regard to the first aspect of the invention. The advantages and preferred embodiments described in relation to the first aspect of the invention are therefore also preferred embodiments and advantages of the method according to the third aspect of the invention.

According to a preferred embodiment, the method further comprises one, several or all of the following steps:

- supplying, in particular blowing, plasma gas, hydrogen and/or fine ore into a reaction space through a lance,

- withdrawing a process exhaust gas from the reaction space, the process exhaust gas containing hydrogen, and - Supplying the process exhaust gas to a pre-reduction stage for pre-reducing fine ore.

By withdrawing a process exhaust gas, also referred to as off-gas, from the reaction space, the method according to the invention makes use of the knowledge that this gas contains both hydrogen and a high amount of energy in the form of thermal energy. The hydrogen and the energy of the process exhaust gas can therefore be reused for parallel or upstream process steps. For example, it is advantageous to supply such a process exhaust gas to a pre-reduction stage, for example for reducing metal oxide, in particular iron oxide, in the fine ore.

Regarding the second alternative of claim 1, the following developments have proven to be advantageous.

Preferably the plasma gas is argon. Argon is a practical and sufficiently stable plasma gas that enables the energy supply necessary to melt the steel. The argon content in the supplied gas mixture is preferably higher than the hydrogen content. The argon content is particularly preferably 60% or more, so that the plasma has sufficient stability.

Preferably the cathode and/or the anode comprises graphite. More preferably, the anode is designed as a metal strip. A metal strip offers constructive advantages and only slightly reduces the free reaction space.

Preferably, the first hollow cathode and the second hollow cathode are set up for blowing plasma gas, hydrogen and fine ore into the reaction space, in particular in the direction of the anode. The fine ore powder is thus blown directly into the plasma jet that forms at the outlet of the hollow cathode. The small grain size of the fine or fine stert enables finer distribution and reduced energy use for melting the fine or fine stere.

More preferably, the first hollow cathode and the second hollow cathode are arranged in the vertical direction above the anode. Gravity can thus be used to introduce the fine ore into the reaction space and to promote it in an area in which the first plasma jet, the second plasma jet or the combined plasma jet impinges on the fine ore. Further preferably, the first hollow cathode and the second hollow cathode are each spaced apart from the anode at a height in the vertical direction and at a distance in the horizontal direction. In other words, the height of the first hollow cathode relative to the anode in the vertical direction and its distance in the horizontal direction relative to the anode do not differ from the corresponding height of the second hollow cathode relative to the anode and its distance in the horizontal direction. The first hollow cathode and the second hollow cathode are thus arranged evenly spaced from the anode in two spatial directions. The first plasma jet and the second plasma jet thus run essentially mirror-symmetrically to one another, with the plane of symmetry running through the anode.

According to a preferred embodiment, the first hollow cathode and the second hollow cathode are accommodated in a wall of the reaction space so that they can move in a longitudinal direction, such that the height can be changed by moving the first hollow cathode and the second hollow cathode in the longitudinal direction. By changing the height of the first hollow cathode and the second hollow cathode relative to the anode, the length of the first plasma jet and the second plasma jet as well as the point at which the first plasma jet and the second plasma jet combine to form a common plasma jet can be changed. The height or length of the combined plasma or combined plasma jet can therefore be adjusted as required to the amount of fine ore to be reduced and melted.

Preferably, the hydrogen plasma melt reduction furnace further comprises a lance which is arranged at a distance from the first hollow cathode and the second hollow cathode and is designed to supply plasma gas and hydrogen and/or fine ore to the reaction space, such that additional plasma gas and hydrogen and/or or fine or fine ore is fed to the combined plasma jet. An additional supply of plasma gas and hydrogen increases the amount of plasma and thus the energy input as well as the reducing agent present. By additionally adding metal oxide, such as iron oxide, the throughput or conversion amount of the fine ore can be increased. Additional fine or fine ore can therefore be added as required, for example in the area of the combined plasma or combined plasma jet, which would otherwise be further distributed in the reaction space when added through the first hollow cathode or the second hollow cathode.

Further preferably, the lance is arranged at a variable lance height to the anode and is accommodated in the wall of the reaction space so that it can be moved in the longitudinal direction, such that the lance height can be changed by moving the lance in the longitudinal direction. By changing the lance height relative to the anode, the supply of further fine ore or the hydrogen-argon mixture is made possible if necessary, depending on the design and beam path of the plasma jets.

According to a further preferred embodiment, the hydrogen plasma melting reduction furnace further comprises at least one actuator which is set up to actuate the movement of the first hollow cathode and the second hollow cathode and/or the lance in the longitudinal direction. Preferably, the hydrogen plasma melt reduction furnace further comprises at least one seal which interacts with the wall and the first hollow cathode and the second hollow cathode and/or the lance for sealingly closing the reaction space. This means that the reaction space is not contaminated by the hollow cathodes or the lance, which are movably accommodated in the wall, and the escape of hydrogen is prevented.

Further preferably, the measuring device, in particular the measuring system, cooperates with a control that is set up to carry out at least one of the following control operations depending on the measured variable: controlling the at least one actuator, controlling the supply of hydrogen and argon and / or fine or .Fine ore through the first hollow cathode and the second hollow cathode, controlling the supply of hydrogen and argon and/or fine ore through the lance.

Further preferred are the plasma gas, hydrogen and fine ores with a volume flow in the plasma jet of preferably 75,000 - 200,000 standard m3 per hour of hydrogen gas, and preferably 125 - 175 t per hour of fine and fine steres (preheated to 550 - 750 if possible degrees Celsius, including additives) are supplied to the reaction space through the first hollow cathode and the second hollow cathode. The quantities refer to a production quantity of essentially 100 t of steel or metal per hour; Corresponding deviations in the production quantity upwards or downwards, for example in the range of 80t-120t of steel, become noticeable in relation to the limits of the aforementioned volume flows. The hydrogen gas should be approximately 5-45% of the Ar-H2 mixture, which should be preheated to 550 - 750 degrees Celsius).

More preferably, a voltage of is applied to the first hollow cathode and the second hollow cathode to form the plasma jet, which should correspond approximately to an electrical power of 100 - 250 MW (based on the previously mentioned production quantity). In particular, the distance between the cathodes is 80 - 250cm and the aggregate has a diameter of 3-8m and a height of 1.5-5m, depending on the production quantity to be achieved, and is preferably at least partially covered with a fireproof jacket, in particular one Fireproof wall equipped. The smelting reduction furnace preferably includes the refractory lining and the area of the hollow cathodes.

With particular advantage, a distance between the first and second hollow cathodes is 50cm to 300cm, preferably 80-250cm, in particular 100-200cm.

This distance between the cathodes has proven to be particularly advantageous with a size of an aggregate of the smelting reduction furnace, which has a diameter of 3-8m and a height of 1.5-5m.

This distance, which is preferred for the cathode arrangement, is particularly advantageous for a smelting reduction furnace in which

- Plasma gas, hydrogen and metal oxide, in particular iron oxide in fine and fine sterts, with a volume flow of 50,000 - 250,000 standard m3 per hour, preferably 75,000 - 200,000 standard m3 per hour, of hydrogen gas (based on a production quantity of 100 t of steel or metal per hour), as well as 125 - 175 t per hour of fine ores (advantageously preheated to 550 - 750 degrees Celsius, including additives, based on a production quantity of 100 t of steel or metal per hour) through the first hollow cathode and the second Hollow cathode is fed to the reaction space.

Additionally or alternatively, it has proven to be advantageous that

- a voltage that should correspond to an electrical output of 100 - 250 MW (based on a production quantity of 100 t of steel or metal per hour) is applied to the first hollow cathode and the second hollow cathode.

Additionally or alternatively, it has proven particularly advantageous that - the hydrogen gases make up 5-45% of the Ar-H2 mixture, which is preheated to 550 - 750 degrees Celsius.

The reaction space enclosed by the wall preferably has a round or oval cross section. The thermal and mechanical loads acting on the wall are therefore introduced more evenly.

The melt reduction furnace preferably also has a cooling device, in particular a water cooling device, which is set up to cool the wall. The cooling device is preferably provided at least in the area of the hollow cathodes.

According to a further preferred embodiment, the melting reduction furnace has a plurality of hollow cathodes which are arranged at a uniform distance from one another, the uniform distance corresponding in particular to half the distance of the first hollow cathode and the second hollow cathode to the anode. The plurality of cathodes thus includes the first hollow cathode and the second hollow cathode. All of the hollow cathodes are at an identical distance from one another, i.e. from each of the cathodes of the plurality of hollow cathodes. In particular, but not exclusively, in embodiments in which the hydrogen plasma melt reduction furnace has a lance, the hollow cathodes are preferably evenly distributed in a plan view along a circle, in particular around the lance, i.e. arranged point-symmetrically to the lance or a circle center. More preferably, the angles between the hollow cathodes are constant. The combined plasma jet is thus formed centrally between all hollow cathodes in the area of a projection surface of the lance, which is designed to reduce and melt the fine ore.

The invention solves the aforementioned problem in a second aspect by using a hydrogen plasma melt reduction furnace for the reduction and melting of fine ore, the hydrogen plasma melt reduction furnace being designed according to the first aspect of the invention. By using such a hydrogen plasma melt reduction furnace, the invention according to the second aspect takes advantage of the advantages described above in relation to the first aspect of the invention. Preferred embodiments and advantages in relation to The first aspect of the invention is therefore also preferred embodiments and advantages in relation to the second aspect of the invention.

The invention solves the aforementioned problem in a third aspect by a method for the hydrogen plasma melt reduction of fine ore, the method being carried out in particular by means of a hydrogen plasma melt reduction furnace according to the first aspect of the invention. The method according to the third aspect of the invention comprises the steps:

Supplying, in particular blowing, plasma gas, hydrogen and fine ore into a reaction space through a first hollow cathode,

Supplying, in particular blowing, plasma gas, hydrogen and fine ore into a reaction space through a second hollow cathode,

Generating a first plasma jet by ionizing the plasma gas and the hydrogen at an outlet opening of the first hollow cathode by means of a first arc formed by the interaction of the first hollow cathode and an anode, generating a second plasma jet by ionizing the plasma gas and the hydrogen at an outlet opening of the second hollow cathode by means of a second arc formed by the interaction of the second hollow cathode and an anode, at least sectional fusion of the first plasma jet and the second plasma jet to form a combined plasma jet by attracting the first plasma jet and the second plasma jet as a result of the Lorentz force, and

Reducing the metal oxide, in particular the iron oxide, in the fine ore by the combined plasma jet.

By generating a second plasma jet by ionizing the plasma gas and the hydrogen at an outlet opening of the second hollow cathode and forming a plasma jet that is combined at least in sections, the method according to the invention takes advantage of the advantages described at the beginning with regard to the first aspect of the invention. The advantages and preferred embodiments described in relation to the first aspect of the invention are therefore also preferred embodiments and advantages of the method according to the third aspect of the invention.

According to a preferred embodiment, the method further comprises one, several or all of the following steps: Supplying, in particular blowing, plasma gas, hydrogen and/or fine ore into a reaction space through a lance,

Withdrawing a process exhaust gas from the reaction space, the process exhaust gas comprising hydrogen, and

Supplying the process exhaust gas to a pre-reduction stage for pre-reducing fine ore.

By withdrawing a process exhaust gas, also referred to as off-gas, from the reaction space, the method according to the invention takes advantage of the knowledge that this gas includes both hydrogen and a high amount of energy in the form of thermal energy. The hydrogen and the energy of the process exhaust gas can therefore be reused for parallel or upstream process steps. For example, it is advantageous to supply such a process exhaust gas to a pre-reduction stage, for example for reducing metal oxide, in particular iron oxide, in the fine ore.

Such an off-gas with an exemplary composition of the gas mixture supplied to the reaction space of 60% argon and 40% hydrogen includes, for example, approximately 50% Ar, 30% H2, 16% H20, 3% CO, 0.5% CO2.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described below with reference to the drawing in comparison to the prior art, some of which is also shown. This is not necessarily intended to represent the embodiments to scale; rather, where useful for explanation, the drawing is carried out in a schematic and/or slightly distorted form. With regard to additions to the teachings immediately recognizable from the drawing, reference is made to the relevant state of the art. It should be noted that various modifications and changes can be made to the form and detail of an embodiment without departing from the general idea of the invention. The features of the invention disclosed in the description, in the drawing and in the claims can be essential for the development of the invention both individually and in any combination. In addition, all combinations of at least two of the features disclosed in the description, the drawing and/or the claims fall within the scope of the invention. The general idea of the invention is not limited to the exact form or detail of the preferred embodiment shown and described hereinafter, or limited to a subject matter that would be limited compared to that claimed in the claims Object. For specified design ranges, values within the specified limits should also be disclosed as limit values and can be used and claimed as desired. Further advantages, features and details of the invention result from the following description of the preferred embodiments and from the drawing with the attached figures.

The invention is described below with reference to the attached figures using preferred embodiments. Show here:

Fig. 1: in a preferred embodiment, a first functional diagram

Hydrogen plasma melt reduction furnace relating to the second alternative of claim 1;

Fig. 2: in a preferred embodiment, a first according to the invention

Hydrogen plasma melt reduction furnace relating to the second alternative of claim 1; and

Fig. 3: in a preferred embodiment, a second functional diagram

Hydrogen plasma melt reduction furnace relating to the first alternative of claim 1;

Fig. 4: in a preferred embodiment, a second according to the invention

Hydrogen plasma melt reduction furnace relating to the first alternative of claim 1; and

Fig. 5: a flowchart of a process for hydrogen plasma melt reduction of iron oxide.

For the sake of clarity, the same reference numbers are used below for the same or similar features or features of the same or similar function.

1 shows, in a preferred embodiment relating to the second alternative of claim 1, a functional diagram of a hydrogen plasma melt reduction furnace 1 with a first hollow cathode 20.1 and a second hollow cathode 30.1 arranged at a distance from this. The first and second hollow cathodes 20.1, 30.1 are arranged at a height H1 at a distance from an anode 1 1.1. The first hollow cathode 20.1 has a distance A from the second hollow cathode 30.1. By applying a voltage, sufficiently high potential difference and current density through impact ionization, a first arc 21 is formed between the first hollow cathode 20.1 and the anode 1 1 .1 and a second arc 31 between the second hollow cathode 30.1 and the anode 1 1 .1. In the respective arc 21, 31, negative charge carriers are transported from the respective hollow cathode 20.1, 30.1 to the anode 1 1 .1, similar to a current-carrying wire. The respective arc 21, 31 is surrounded by a magnetic field B like a current-carrying conductor. In the view shown, the Lorentz force F acts inwards, so that the arcs move towards one another as a result of the Lorentz force and attract each other. If the potential difference and charge density are sufficiently high, the Lorentz force is sufficiently high that the first arc 21 and the second arc 31 fuse and form a common arc 33. The common arc 33 is only indicated here.

If, as shown in FIG plasma-capable medium M. Through such excitation, the plasma-capable medium is ionized and a plasma or plasma gas is generated which surrounds the arc 21, 31. Thus, by generating a plasma around the first arc 21 (see FIG. 1 ), a first plasma jet 22 is generated and by generating a plasma around the second arc 31 (see FIG. 1 ), a second plasma jet 32 is generated.

2 shows a hydrogen plasma melt reduction furnace 1 in a preferred embodiment relating to the second alternative of claim 1. The smelting reduction furnace 1 comprises a first hollow cathode 20.1 and a second hollow cathode 30.1 as well as an anode 1 1 .1 spaced from the hollow cathodes 20.1, 30.1 at a height H1, which are arranged at least in sections in a reaction space 2. A wall 7 encloses the reaction space 2. The first hollow cathode 20.1 and the second hollow cathode 30.1 are movably accommodated in the wall 7. The first and second hollow cathodes 20.1, 30.1 preferably comprise graphite.

A lance 3 is preferably arranged between the first hollow cathode 20.1 and the second hollow cathode 30.1, which is preferably movably accommodated in the wall 7. If necessary, input materials, for example additives such as CaO, fine ores or an argon-hydrogen mixture, can preferably be introduced into the reaction space 2 through the lance 3. The electrical excitation of a plasma-capable medium M produces a plasma or a plasma gas surrounding the respective arc 21, 31 (see FIG. 1), in which the atoms or molecules are at least partially ionized. Such a plasma formed by ionization of the hydrogen and the plasma gas is a reduction plasma and in particular a high-temperature plasma. The arc 21, 31 surrounded by the plasma or a plasma gas each forms a plasma jet 22, 32.

The course of the first plasma jet 22 and the second plasma jet 32 combine to form a single plasma jet 34 and/or plasma as a result of the Lorentz force F (see FIG. 1 ). The Lorentz force causes the attraction of the first arc 21 and the second arc 31 to one another. The first plasma jet 22 and the second plasma jet 32 thus strike the anode 11.1 or a steel bath 14 surrounding it as a single combined plasma jet 34 and/or plasma and run in one to the anode 11.1 or that surrounding it Steel bath 14 adjacent section as a combined plasma jet 34 and / or plasma.

The wall 7 preferably comprises, at least in sections, a refractory lining 17. The wall 7 preferably also has a seal 12, which sealingly surrounds the hollow cathodes 20.1, 30.1, so that the reaction space 2 enclosed by the wall 7 is sealed. The melting reduction furnace 1 can also have a large number of further seals 12, which are arranged at a suitable location.

Process exhaust gas, i.e. off-gas, is preferably withdrawn from the reaction space 2 via an exhaust device 9.

Preferably, the melting reduction furnace 1 further comprises a cooling device 8, which is set up to cool the first hollow cathode and the second hollow cathode and preferably the wall 7 in the area of the refractory lining 17.

Furthermore, the melting reduction furnace 1 includes a feed for feedstock 5, through which feedstock can be introduced into the reaction space 2.

In the embodiment shown, the first and second hollow cathodes 20.1, 30.1 are arranged in the vertical direction above the anode 1 1.1. During the process, an iron or steel bath 14 forms at the bottom of the reaction space and is removed from the reaction space 2 via a tap 6. Above the iron or steel bath 14 is formed a slag layer 15, which can be removed from the reaction space through a slag tap 10 arranged at a suitable height.

To monitor the process and in particular the concentration of the argon, hydrogen or the mass of the fine ores in the reaction space and/or the temperature or the pressure or the volume flow supplied to the reaction space and preferably to monitor the cathode height H1 or the lance height H2, the includes Melting reduction furnace 1 also has a measuring device 4. The measuring device 4 cooperates, for example, with a manometer 13, which monitors the pressure in the reaction space 2. The measuring system or the measuring device 4 preferably also monitors the voltage applied to the hollow cathodes 20.1, 30.1. Furthermore, the measuring device 4 preferably cooperates with actuators (not shown), through which the hollow cathodes 20.1, 30.1 and/or the lance 3 can be actuated. Furthermore, the melting reduction furnace 1 preferably comprises at least one flushing stone 16, which is arranged at the bottom of the reaction space 2. The flushing stone 16 is set up to blow in process gases, such as argon or nitrogen, for homogenizing or degassing the steel bath 14. At the same time, carbon carriers can be blown in via the flushing stone 16, which preferably results in the formation of a foam slag. The carbon introduced reduces the iron monoxide available in the slag, producing carbon monoxide, which leads to foam formation. The formation of foam ensures that the arcs are shielded from the side and thus offers protection for the refractory lining 17 or the wall 7 from the high heat radiation of the plasma jets 22, 32 and lower heat-radiation losses.

In a preferred embodiment relating to the first alternative of claim 1, Fig. 3 shows a functional diagram of a hydrogen plasma melt reduction furnace 1 with a first hollow anode 20.2 and a second hollow anode 30.2 arranged at a distance from this. The first and second hollow anodes 20.2, 30.2 are arranged at a height H1 at a distance from a cathode 1 1 .2. The first hollow anode 20.2 has a distance A from the second hollow anode 30.2. By applying a voltage, with a sufficiently high potential difference and current density, a first arc 21 is formed between the first hollow anode 20.2 and the cathode 1 1 .2 and a second arc 31 between the second hollow anode 30.2 and the cathode 1 1 .2 by impact ionization. In the respective arc 21, 31, negative charge carriers are transported from the cathode 1 1 .2 to the respective hollow anode 20.2, 30.2, similar to a current-carrying wire. The respective arc 21, 31 is like a conductor through which current flows Magnetic field B surrounds. In the view shown, the Lorentz force F acts inwards, so that the arcs move towards one another as a result of the Lorentz force and attract each other. If the potential difference and charge density are sufficiently high, the Lorentz force is sufficiently high that the first arc 21 and the second arc 31 fuse and form a common arc 33. The common arc 33 is only indicated here.

If, as shown in Fig. 4, a plasma-capable medium M is introduced in the area of the first or second arc 21, 31 (see Fig. 3), electrical excitation occurs due to the arc 21, 31 and thereby a gas discharge of the plasma-capable medium M. Through such excitation, the plasma-capable medium is ionized and a plasma or plasma gas is generated which surrounds the arc 21, 31. Thus, by generating a plasma around the first arc 21 (see FIG. 3), a first plasma jet 22 is generated and by generating a plasma around the second arc 31 (see FIG. 3), a second plasma jet 32 is generated.

4 shows a hydrogen plasma melt reduction furnace 1 in a preferred embodiment relating to the first alternative of claim 1. The melting reduction furnace 1 comprises a first hollow anode 20.2 and a second hollow anode 30.2 as well as a cathode 1 1 .2 spaced from the hollow anodes 20.2, 30.2 at a height H1, which are arranged at least in sections in a reaction space 2. A wall 7 encloses the reaction space 2. The first hollow anode 20.2 and the second hollow anode 30.2 are movably accommodated in the wall 7. The first and second hollow anodes 20.2, 30.2 preferably comprise graphite.

A lance 3 is preferably arranged between the first hollow anode 20.2 and the second hollow anode 30.2, which is preferably movably accommodated in the wall 7. If necessary, additives such as CaO, fine ores or an argon-hydrogen mixture can preferably be introduced into the reaction space 2 through the lance 3.

The electrical excitation of a plasma-capable medium M produces a plasma or a plasma gas surrounding the respective arc 21, 31 (see FIG. 3) in which the atoms or molecules are at least partially ionized. Such a plasma formed by ionization of the hydrogen and the plasma gas is a reduction plasma and in particular a high-temperature plasma. The one from that Arc 21, 31 surrounded by plasma or a plasma gas each forms a plasma jet 22, 32.

The course of the first plasma jet 22 and the second plasma jet 32 combine to form a single plasma jet 34 and/or plasma as a result of the Lorentz force F (see FIG. 3). The Lorentz force causes the attraction of the first arc 21 and the second arc 31 to one another. The first plasma jet 22 and the second plasma jet 32 thus impinge on the cathode 11.2 or a surrounding steel bath 14 or slag 15 as a single combined plasma jet 34 and/or plasma and extend in one direction onto the cathode 11.2 or the surrounding steel bath 14 or slag 15 adjacent section as a combined plasma jet 34 and / or plasma.

When used to reduce iron oxide to iron or steel, the metal bath can have a temperature of 1,600 - 1,650 °C, depending on the phosphorus content of the iron ore, for example. The pressure in the reaction space of the unit can be around 1 to 2 bar.

The wall 7 preferably comprises, at least in sections, a refractory lining 17. The wall 7 preferably also has a seal 12, which sealingly surrounds the hollow anodes 20.2, 30.2, so that the reaction space 2 enclosed by the wall 7 is sealed. The melting reduction furnace 1 can also have a large number of further seals 12, which are arranged at a suitable location.

In the embodiment shown, the first and second hollow anodes 20.2, 30.2 are arranged in the vertical direction above the cathode 1 1 .2. During the process, an iron or steel bath 14 forms at the bottom of the reaction space and is removed from the reaction space 2 via a tap 6. Above the iron or steel bath 14 forms there is a slag layer 15, which can be removed from the reaction space through a slag tap 10 arranged at a suitable height.

In the embodiment shown, the first and second hollow anodes 20.2, 30.2 are arranged at such a distance from one another and from the cathode 11.2 that the first plasma jet 22 and the second plasma jet 32 attract each other as a result of the Lorentz force, as explained, and at least in sections the combined plasma jet 34 and/or form the plasma.

In a modified embodiment not explicitly shown here, the first and second hollow anodes 20.2, 30.2 can be part of a plurality of hollow anodes, each of the plurality of hollow anodes supplying a plasma gas, hydrogen and metal oxide, in particular iron oxide, to the reaction space 2, and with the cathode 1 1 .2 cooperates to form a first, second and at least one further arc 21, 31 in order to generate a first, second and at least one further plasma jet 22, 32 by electrical excitation of the plasma gas and hydrogen.

In this modified embodiment, too, the plurality of hollow anodes 20.2, 30.2 are arranged at such a distance from each other and from the counter electrode designed as a counter cathode 1 1 .2 that the first plasma jet and the second plasma jet and the at least one further plasma jet or the plurality of plasma jets 22, 32 attract as a result of the Lorentz force and at least in sections form a combined plasma jet 34 and / or plasma.

In the corresponding method, the metal oxide, in particular the iron oxide, is reduced by the combined plasma jet 34 and/or the plasma.

To monitor the process and in particular the concentration of the argon, hydrogen or the mass of the fine and fine steres in the reaction space and/or the temperature or the pressure or the volume flow supplied to the reaction space and preferably to monitor the anode height H1 or the lance height H2 Melting reduction furnace 1 also has a measuring device 4. The measuring device 4 cooperates, for example, with a manometer 13, which monitors the pressure in the reaction space 2. The measuring system or measuring device 4 preferably also monitors the voltage applied to the hollow anodes 20.2, 30.2. Furthermore, the measuring device 4 preferably cooperates with actuators (not shown), through which the hollow anodes 20.2, 30.2 and/or the lance 3 can be actuated. Furthermore, the melting reduction furnace 1 preferably comprises at least one flushing stone 16, which is arranged at the bottom of the reaction space 2.

The flushing stone 16 is set up to blow in process gases, such as argon or nitrogen, for homogenizing or degassing the steel bath 14. At the same time, carbon carriers can be blown in via the flushing stone 16, which preferably results in the formation of a foam slag. The carbon introduced reduces the iron monoxide available in the slag, producing carbon monoxide, which leads to foam formation. The formation of foam ensures that the arcs are shielded from the side and thus offers protection for the refractory lining 17 or the wall 7 from the high heat radiation of the plasma jets 22, 32 and lower heat-radiation losses.

5 shows in a preferred embodiment relating to the method of claim 21 or 22 (or relating to the first and second alternatives of claim 1) a method 100 for hydrogen plasma melt reduction of fine or fine sterts FE.

The hydrogen plasma melt reduction furnace 1 can, as explained according to the embodiment of FIG. 2, have the first and second hollow cathodes 20.1, 30.1 or, according to the modified embodiment, have one or more further hollow cathodes; As explained above, the first and second hollow cathodes 20.1, 30.1 can be part of a plurality of hollow cathodes. The method of the embodiment of FIG. 5 described below relates to the aforementioned embodiment of the hydrogen plasma melting reduction furnace 1 of FIG. 2 as well as to the modified embodiment of the hydrogen plasma melting reduction furnace.

The hydrogen plasma melt reduction furnace 1 can, as explained, have the first and second hollow anodes 20.2, 30.2 according to the embodiment of FIG. 4 or, according to the modified embodiment, have one or more further hollow anodes; As explained above, the first and second hollow anodes 20.2, 30.2 can be part of a plurality of hollow anodes. The method of the embodiment of FIG. 5 described below relates to the aforementioned embodiment of the hydrogen plasma melting reduction furnace 1 of FIG. 4 as well as to the modified embodiment of the hydrogen plasma melting reduction furnace. In addition to the hydrogen plasma melt reduction, the method 100 preferably includes a pre-reduction stage and preferably the utilization or aftertreatment of off-gas O as process exhaust gas.

Fine and fine sterts FE are fed to a pre-reduction unit 41 in step 1 17. Furthermore, additives Z and preferably additional process gases P are supplied to the pre-reduction unit 41 in step 118. The additives Z are preferably calcium oxide and/or magnesium oxide.

To reduce the fine and fine ore FE in the pre-reduction unit 41, processed and purified off-gas O is also fed to it in a cleaning unit 47 in step 103. The off-gas O prepared in the cleaning unit 47 is provided by removing off-gas O in step 102 from a hydrogen plasma melt reduction furnace 1.

Furthermore, heat is supplied to the pre-reduction unit 41 in step 1 12 through a heat exchanger 45. The heat exchanger 45 is supplied with hydrogen in step 1 10 from an electrolysis device 48 and preferably with off-gas O dedusted in a dedusting device 46. This off-gas O is preferably fed from the pre-reduction unit 41 in step 105 to the dedusting device 46. The dedusted off-gas O is then fed to the heat exchanger 45 in step 1 1 1.

The hydrogen plasma melt reduction furnace 1 is preferably supplied with additives and alloys and additional process gases P in step 1 19. Furthermore, in step 104, pre-reduced fine and fine sterts FE' are supplied. Preferably, in step 107, solid residues separated from the pre-reduction in the pre-reduction unit 41 via the off-gas O in the dedusting device 46 are fed to the hydrogen plasma melt reduction furnace 1 in step 107. These solid residues are dusts containing iron oxide. Furthermore, a mixture of argon and hydrogen is fed to the hydrogen plasma melting reduction furnace 1 in step 1 14, with argon being fed to a mixing unit 43 to produce the mixture in step 123 and hydrogen in step 1 16, preferably with further argon, which is used for fine adjustment of the Argon-hydrogen gas mixture is set up.

The argon-hydrogen gas mixture supplied to the mixing unit 43 in step 1 16 is provided by a separation device 44. The heat exchanger 45 further forwards off-gas O to the separation device 44 in step 122. The separating device 44 is there for this set up to separate water via the heat exchanger 45 from the pre-reduction unit 41 in step 122 supplied off-gas O. The separated water is fed to the electrolysis device 48 in step 113. The argon and hydrogen are then fed to the mixing unit 43 in step 116. The electrolysis device 48 is preferably supplied with additional water in step 1 15 and electrical energy E in step 121.

The electrolysis device 48 is set up to provide the heat exchanger 45 with hydrogen from the water and the energy supplied in step 110

In the sense of the invention, the pre-reduction stage in the pre-reduction unit 41 can be dispensed with and the fine ore FE can be fed directly to the hydrogen plasma melt reduction furnace 1. The off-gas O removed from this can then be fed directly to a dedusting device 46, which separates solid particles from the off-gas O so that they can be fed again to the hydrogen plasma melt reduction furnace 1. The remaining off-gas O is fed to the heat exchanger 45, which forwards the off-gas O to the separation device 44 and also supplies the energy necessary for the mixing unit 43 to fine-tune the ratio of argon and hydrogen in the argon-hydrogen gas mixture.

The pre-reduction unit 41 is preferably a fluidized bed unit.

Reference character list

1 hydrogen plasma melt reduction furnace

2 reaction space

3 lance

4 measuring device

5 Supply for resources

6 racking

7 wall

8 cooling device

9 trigger device

10 slag tap

11.1 Anode

11.2 Cathode

12 seal

13 pressure gauges

14 iron or steel bath

15 slag layer

16 sink

17 Refractory lining

20.1 first hollow cathode

20.2 first hollow anode

21 first arc

22 first plasma jet

30.1 second hollow cathode 0.2 second hollow anode 1 second arc 2 second plasma jet

33 common arc

34 combined plasma jet and/or combined plasma

41 pre-reduction unit

43 mixing aggregate

44 separation device

45 heat exchangers

46 dust removal device

47 cleaning unit

48 electrolysis device

100 procedures

H1 height

H2 lance height

A distance

B magnetic field

F Lorentz force

M plasma-compatible medium

E electrical energy

O off gas

FE fine and fine stere ores FE' pre-reduced fine and fine sterts

Z Aggregates and alloys

P additional process gases

Claims

EXPECTATIONS

1 . Hydrogen plasma melt reduction furnace (1) for reducing a metal oxide, in particular for reducing iron oxide, comprising:

- a reaction space (2),

- a counter electrode arranged in the reaction space, and

- a first hollow electrode arranged in sections in the reaction space, the first hollow electrode being designed to supply a plasma gas, hydrogen and metal oxide, in particular iron oxide, to the reaction space (2) and to interact with the counter electrode to form a first arc (21) in order to electrical excitation of the plasma gas and hydrogen to generate a first plasma jet (22), characterized in that

- the counter electrode is designed as a cathode (1 1 .2), and

- the first hollow electrode is designed as a hollow anode (20.2), and

- a second hollow anode (30.2) is arranged, which is designed to supply a plasma gas, hydrogen and metal oxide, in particular iron oxide, to the reaction space (2) and to interact with the cathode (1 1 .2) to form a second arc (31), in order to generate a second plasma jet (32) by electrically exciting the plasma gas and the hydrogen, the first hollow anode (20.2) and the second hollow anode (30.2) being arranged at such a distance from one another and from the cathode (1 1 .2), that the first plasma jet (22) and the second plasma jet (32) attract each other as a result of a Lorentz force and form a combined plasma jet (34) and/or plasma at least in sections, OR

- the counter electrode is designed as an anode (1 1 .1), and

- the first hollow electrode is designed as a hollow cathode (20.1), and

- a second hollow cathode (30.1), which is designed to supply a plasma gas, hydrogen and metal oxide, in particular iron oxide, to the reaction space (2) and to interact with the anode (1 1 .1) to form a second arc (31). electrical excitation of the plasma gas and the hydrogen to generate a second plasma jet (32), the first hollow cathode (20.1) and the second hollow cathode (30.1) being arranged at such a distance from each other and from the anode (1 1 .1) that the first plasma jet (22) and the second plasma jet (32) attract as a result of a Lorentz force and at least in sections form a combined plasma jet (34) and/or plasma.

2. Smelting reduction furnace according to claim 1, characterized in that the plasma gas is argon or is formed with argon as the predominant component.

3. Smelting reduction furnace according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the first hollow anode (20.2) and the second hollow anode

(30.2) are set up for blowing plasma gas, hydrogen and metal oxide, in particular iron oxide in fine and fine sterts, into the reaction space (2), in particular in the direction of the cathode.

4. Smelting reduction furnace according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the first hollow anode (20.2) and the second hollow anode (30.2) are arranged in the vertical direction above the cathode (1 1.2).

5. Smelting reduction furnace according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first hollow anode (20.2) and the second hollow anode

(30.2) are each spaced apart in the vertical direction at a height (H) and in the horizontal direction at a distance (A) from the cathode (1 1 .2), such that the first plasma jet (22) and the second plasma jet (32) attract each other as a result of the Lorentz force and form a combined plasma jet (34) and/or plasma at least in sections.

6. Smelting reduction furnace according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first hollow anode (20.2) and the second hollow anode

(30.2) are movable in a longitudinal direction (L) and in particular also pivotally accommodated in a wall of the reaction space (2), such that the height (H1) is increased by a movement of the first hollow anode (20.2) and the second hollow anode (30.2). Longitudinal direction (L) can be changed.

7. Smelting reduction furnace according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by a lance which is arranged at a distance from the first hollow anode and the second hollow anode and is designed to receive plasma gas and hydrogen and/or metal oxide, in particular in fine ores, to the reaction space (2) in such a way that additional plasma gas and hydrogen and/or metal oxide is supplied to the combined plasma jet.

8. Smelting reduction furnace according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the lance (3) is arranged at a variable lance height (H2) to the cathode and is movably accommodated in the wall of the reaction space in the longitudinal direction (L), such that the lance height ( H2) can be changed by moving the lance in the longitudinal direction (L).

9. Smelting reduction furnace according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by at least one actuator which is set up to actuate the movement of the first hollow anode (20.2) and the second hollow anode (30.2) and / or the lance (3) in the longitudinal direction (L), and by at least one seal (12) cooperating with the wall and the first hollow anode (20.2) and the second hollow anode (30.2) and/or the lance (3) to seal the reaction space (2).

10. Smelting reduction furnace according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the first hollow cathode (20.1) and the second hollow cathode (30.1) for blowing plasma gas, hydrogen and metal oxide, in particular iron oxide in fine and fine sterts into the reaction space (2), in particular in the direction of the anode.

11. Smelting reduction furnace according to one of claims 1 or 2 or 10, wherein the first hollow cathode (20.1) and the second hollow cathode (30.1) are arranged in the vertical direction above the anode (11.1).

12. Smelting reduction furnace according to one of claims 1 or 2 or 10, or 11, characterized in that the first hollow cathode (20.1) and the second hollow cathode (30.1) are each at a height (H) in the vertical direction and at a distance in the horizontal direction (A) are spaced from the anode (11.1), such that the first plasma jet (22) and the second plasma jet (32) attract each other as a result of the Lorentz force and at least in sections form a combined plasma jet (34) and / or plasma.

13. Smelting reduction furnace according to claim 12, characterized in that the first hollow cathode (20.1) and the second hollow cathode (30.1) are movable in a longitudinal direction (L) and in particular also pivotally accommodated in a wall of the reaction space (2), such that the Height (H1) can be changed by moving the first hollow cathode (20.1) and the second hollow cathode (30.1) in the longitudinal direction (L).

14. Smelting reduction furnace according to one of claims 1 or 2 or one of claims 10 to 13, characterized by a lance which is arranged at a distance from the first hollow cathode and the second hollow cathode and is designed to produce plasma gas and hydrogen and / or metal oxide, in particular in fine - and fine sterts, to the reaction space (2) in such a way that additional plasma gas and hydrogen and / or metal oxide are supplied to the combined plasma jet.

15. Smelting reduction furnace according to one of claims 1 or 2 or one of claims 10 to 14, characterized in that the lance (3) is arranged at a variable lance height (H2) to the anode and is movable in the longitudinal direction (L) in the wall of the reaction space is recorded, such that the lance height (H2) can be changed by moving the lance in the longitudinal direction (L).

16. Smelting reduction furnace according to one of claims 13 or 15, characterized by at least one actuator which is set up to actuate the movement of the first hollow cathode (20.1) and the second hollow cathode (30.1) and / or the lance (3) in the longitudinal direction (L). , and by at least one seal (12) cooperating with the wall and the first hollow cathode (20.1) and the second hollow cathode (30.1) and/or the lance (3) to seal the reaction space (2).

17. Smelting reduction furnace according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by a measuring device (4), in particular a measuring system, which is set up to monitor at least one of the following measured variables:

- hydrogen concentration,

- argon concentration,

- mass of molten metal,

- Height (H1) of the first hollow anode (20.2) and the second hollow anode (30.2), OR Height (H1) of the first hollow cathode (20.1) and the second hollow cathode (30.1),

- Lance height (H2), the measuring device (4) cooperating with a controller which is set up to carry out at least one of the following control operations depending on the measured variable recorded,

- Controlling the at least one actuator,

- Controlling the supply of hydrogen and argon and/or metal oxide, in particular iron oxide, through the first hollow anode (20.2) and the second hollow anode (30.2), OR controlling the supply of hydrogen and argon and/or metal oxide, in particular iron oxide, through the first hollow cathode ( 20.1) and the second hollow cathode (30.1).

18. Smelting reduction furnace according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a distance between the first and second hollow anodes (20.2, 30.2) is 50cm to 300cm, preferably 80cm to 250cm, in particular 100cm to 200cm, OR a distance between the first and second hollow cathode (20.1, 30.1) is 50cm to 300cm, preferably 80cm to 250cm, in particular 100cm to 200cm.

19. Smelting reduction furnace according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that

- the melting reduction furnace has a plurality of hollow anodes, which are arranged at a uniform distance (D) from one another, which corresponds in particular to half the distance (A) of the first hollow anode and the second hollow anode to the cathode, OR

- The melting reduction furnace has a plurality of hollow cathodes which are arranged at a uniform distance (D) from one another, which corresponds in particular to half the distance (A) of the first hollow cathode and the second hollow cathode to the anode.

20. Use of a hydrogen plasma melt reduction furnace for reducing a metal oxide, in particular for reducing and melting iron oxide, characterized in that the hydrogen plasma melt reduction furnace is designed according to one of the preceding claims.

21. Method for the hydrogen plasma melt reduction of metal oxide, in particular iron oxide, in particular by means of a hydrogen plasma melt reduction furnace according to one of claims 1 to 9 or according to one of claims 17 to 19, comprising the steps:

- supplying, in particular blowing in, plasma gas, hydrogen and metal oxide, in particular iron oxide, into a reaction space (2) through a first hollow anode (20.2),

- supplying, in particular blowing in, plasma gas, hydrogen and metal oxide, in particular iron oxide, into a reaction space through a second hollow anode (30.2),

- Generating a first plasma jet (22) by ionizing the plasma gas and the hydrogen at an outlet opening of the first hollow anode (20.2) by means of a first arc (21) formed by the interaction of the first hollow anode (20.2) and a cathode (1 1 .2),

- Generating a second plasma jet (32) by ionizing the plasma gas and the hydrogen at an outlet opening of the second hollow anode (30.2) by means of a second arc (31) formed by the interaction of the second hollow anode (20.2) and a cathode (1 1 .2),

- fusing at least sections of the first plasma jet and the second plasma jet (22, 32) into a combined plasma jet (34) and/or plasma by attracting the first plasma jet and the second plasma jet as a result of the Lorentz force, and

22. A method for the hydrogen plasma melt reduction of metal oxide, in particular iron oxide, in particular by means of a hydrogen plasma melt reduction furnace according to one of claims 1 or 2 or according to one of claims 10 to 19, comprising the steps:

Supplying, in particular blowing in, plasma gas, hydrogen and metal oxide, in particular iron oxide, into a reaction space (2) through a first hollow cathode (20.1),

Supplying, in particular blowing in, plasma gas, hydrogen and metal oxide, in particular iron oxide, into a reaction space through a second hollow cathode (30.1),

Generating a first plasma jet (22) by ionizing the plasma gas and the hydrogen at an outlet opening of the first hollow cathode (20.1) by means of a first arc (21) formed by the interaction of the first hollow cathode (20.1) and an anode (1 1 .1), -

Generating a second plasma jet (32) by ionizing the plasma gas and the hydrogen at an outlet opening of the second hollow cathode (30.1) by means of a second arc (31) formed by the interaction of the second hollow cathode (20.1) and an anode (11.1), at least fusion of the first plasma jet and the second plasma jet (22, 32) in sections to form a combined plasma jet (34) and/or plasma by attracting the first plasma jet and the second plasma jet as a result of the Lorentz force, and

Reducing the metal oxide, especially the iron oxide, by the combined plasma jet or plasma.

23. The method according to claim 21 or 22, further comprising one, more or all of the following steps:

- supplying, in particular blowing in, plasma gas, hydrogen and metal oxide, in particular iron oxide, into a reaction space through a lance,

- withdrawing a process exhaust gas from the reaction space, the process exhaust gas comprising hydrogen, and

- Supplying the process exhaust gas to a pre-reduction stage for pre-reducing metal oxide, in particular iron oxide.

24. The method according to claim 21 or 23, wherein

- the first and second hollow anodes are part of a plurality of hollow anodes, each of the plurality of hollow anodes supplying a plasma gas, hydrogen and metal oxide, in particular iron oxide, to the reaction space, and interacting with the cathode to form a first, second and at least one further arc, to generate a first, second and at least one further plasma jet by electrically stimulating the plasma gas and hydrogen, and

- the plurality of hollow anodes are arranged at a distance from each other and from the counter electrode designed as a counter cathode in such a way that the first plasma jet and the second plasma jet and the at least one further plasma jet or the plurality of plasma jets attract each other as a result of the Lorentz force and at least in sections a combined plasma jet and/or form plasma,

- Reducing the metal oxide, in particular the iron oxide, by the combined plasma jet and/or the plasma.

25. The method of claim 22, wherein

- the first and second hollow cathodes are part of a plurality of hollow cathodes, each of the plurality of hollow cathodes supplying a plasma gas, hydrogen and metal oxide, in particular iron oxide, to the reaction space, and interacting with the anode to form a first, second and at least one further arc, to generate a first, second and at least one further plasma jet by electrically stimulating the plasma gas and hydrogen, and

- the plurality of hollow cathodes are arranged at a distance from each other and from the counter electrode designed as a counter anode in such a way that the first plasma jet and the second plasma jet and the at least one further plasma jet or the plurality of plasma jets attract each other as a result of the Lorentz force and at least in sections a combined plasma jet and/or form plasma,