Process for the production of sponge iron

US4040816A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• Thyssen Purofer GmbH

Inventors

• Klaus Altenhoner
• Walter Jansen · Mülheim an der Ruhr, DE
• Klaus Knop · Geldern, DE
• Ulrich Pohl · Bremen, DE
• Jan G. Reerink · Rio de Janeiro, BR

Key dates

• Filing date: Dec 17, 1975
• Grant date: Aug 9, 1977
• Expiry date: Dec 17, 1995

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y02P10/134
• WIPO field: Materials, metallurgy
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

Sponge iron is produced at a shaft furnace from iron ore, preferably in the form of pellets, whereby a hot reduction gas is passed upwardly through the shaft furnace and the iron ore descends therein. The hot reduction gas is formed in part by a desulfurized fresh gas produced by partial oxidation of a hydrocarbon (generally high sulfur residual oil) and desulfurization and, in part, by recirculated exhaust gas drawn from the head of the furnace and having its carbon-oxide content reduced by about ten volume percent. The fresh gas is mixed with the recirculated exhaust gas in a volume ratio of fresh gas/exhaust gas of 0.8:1.0 to produce a cold mixed gas. The cold mixed gas is heated to a temperature of about 1000.degree. C directly before being introduced into the shaft furnace as reduction gas.