PROCESS FOR PRODUCING SPONGE IRON AND REDUCED IRON POWDER, SPONGE IRON, AND CHARGING APPARATUS

摘要

A process for producing sponge iron, which comprises charging an iron oxide powder and a reducing agent powder into a reaction vessel so that these powders are alternately stacked spirally and reducing the iron oxide. In the process, the efficiency of gas reaction is satisfactory, and high quality and high productivity are attained. The process is advantageous also in production adjustment, for example, because the amounts of the feed materials being charged can be regulated without being limited by reduction time. Also provided is a charging apparatus for the production. More preferably, the ratio of the carbon amount in the reducing agent to the oxygen amount in the iron oxide in the reaction vessel is 1.1 or higher by mole.