Direct reduction process using a single fluidised bed

US8038766B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Outotec Oyj · FI

Inventors

• Andreas Orth · Friedrichsdorf, DE
• Heinz Eichberger · Bad Soden, DE
• Donald Keith Philp · Fremantle, AU
• Rod Dry · Perth, AU

Key dates

• Filing date: May 20, 2005
• Grant date: Oct 18, 2011
• Expiry date: May 20, 2025

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y02P10/25
• WIPO field: Materials, metallurgy
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

A direct reduction process for a metalliferous material includes supplying the metalliferous material, a solid carbonaceous material, an oxygen-containing gas, and a fluidizing gas into a fluidized bed in a vessel and maintaining the fluidized bed in the vessel, at least partially reducing metalliferous material in the vessel, and discharging a product stream that includes the partially reduced metalliferous material from the vessel. The process comprises (a) reducing the metalliferous material in a solid state in a metal-rich zone in the vessel; (b) injecting the oxygen-containing gas into a carbon-rich zone in the vessel with a downward flow in a range of ±40° to the vertical and generating heat by reactions between oxygen and the metalliferous material (including metallized material), the solid carbonaceous material and other oxidizable solids and gases in the fluidized bed, and (c) transferring heat from the carbon-rich zone to the metal-rich zone by movement of solids within the vessel. The metal-rich zone is formed in a lower section of the vessel and the carbon-rich zone is an intermediate section below an upper section of the vessel. Oxygen-containing gas is injected into a…