Patent · US Expired

Direct smelting process

US6478848B1 · kind B1 · utility

32Cited by
85References
13Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateMar 21, 2000
Grant dateNov 12, 2002
Priority date
Expiry dateMar 21, 2020

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY02P10/134
  • WIPO fieldMaterials, metallurgy
  • WIPO sectorChemistry

Abstract

A direct smelting process for producing metal from a metalliferous feed material is disclosed. The direct smelting process is a molten bath-based process in which smelting occurs predominantly in the metal layer, carrier gas/metalliferous feed material/solid carbonaceous material are injected into the metal layer via lances/tuyeres, and oxygen-containing gas is injected into the top space above the molten bath and post-combusts reaction gases released from the bath. The injection of metalliferous feed material and solid carbonaceous material causes molten material to be projected from the molten bath as splashes, droplets and streams and to form a transition zone. The process is characterized by forming a pipe of a solid material on an outlet end of at least one lance/tuyere while injecting the metalliferous feed material and the carbonaceous material through the lances/tuyeres and thereby extending the effective length of the lance/tuyere or the lances/tuyeres.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.