SEPARATION OF INSUFFICIENTLY COOLED SPONGE IRON PELLETS FROM THOSE WHICH HAVE BEEN ADEQUATELY COOLED.

摘要

A method of eliminating hot spots in a mass of sponge iron particles made by gaseous reduction of iron ore. A layer of the particulate product is moved to a separating station, near which the layer is viewed by an infra-red detector that generates a control signal when insufficiently cooled particles register therewith. The control signal is used to shift the position of a particle guide member at the separating station to cause insufficiently cooled particles to be diverted from the main particle stream. Preferably the separation is carried out in two stages. Apparatus for carrying out the method is disclosed and claimed.