PROCESSES AND APPPARATUS FOR THE SMELTING REDUCTION OF SMELTABLE MATERIALS

摘要

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSUREA process for the smelting reduction of oxide ores, inparticular iron ores, employs a mixture of the finely dividedore with equally finely divided reductant, which in the case ofiron ores preferably is a coal. The mixture is fed into theinterior of a heated tubular reaction vessel and movedpositively through a heated reaction zone by a screw conveyorembedded in the charge. The conveyor breaks away any accretionsthat stick to the wall before they can build to a size that willstall the conveyor. The particles are in the range 75-1400micrometers with a preferred size of at least 95% less than 600micrometers, and the preferred ratio of ore to reductant is inthe range of ratios 18:82 to 30:70. The reduced iron can be feddirectly into a melting furnace for separation of metal andnon-metal, it can be powdered and separated magnetically or itcan be briquetted. Multiple screw conveyors can be used to movemultiple charges and the process can be used with nickel oresand in the production of metallurgical coke.