2 METHOD FOR PRODUCING DIRECT REDUCED IRON WITH LIMITED CO2 EMISSIONS

摘要

A method and apparatus for producing direct reduced iron (DRI), also known as sponge iron, by direct contact of iron oxides with a stream of recycled and regenerated hot reducing gases containing hydrogen and carbon monoxide. The present invention reduces the uncontrolled release of CO ₂ into the atmosphere produced by the combustion of carbon-containing fuels in a reducing gas heater by replacing, at least in part, with a gas flow consisting predominantly of hydrogen instead of conventional carbon- . / RTI The hydrogen fuel stream, which is reduced to CO ₂ by a physical gas separation unit (which may be a PSA / VPSA type absorption unit, a gas separation membrane unit, or a combination of a PSA / VPSA unit and a gas separation membrane unit) / RTI of the reducing gases. The generated hydrogen fuel stream is combusted in the reducing gas heater and / or other thermal equipment in the reduction plant, thus reducing CO ₂ emissions directly to the atmosphere.