Two-zone countercurrent smelter system and process
Abstract
A process for continuously smelting iron ore by use of coal to yield molten iron or semi-steel is disclosed. The process comprises the steps of establishing a melt covered by slag; inducing the slag and the molten iron to flow countercurrently to one another, toward opposite ends of the smelter; maintaining iron oxide-reducing conditions in that zone of the smelter towards which the slag flows; maintaining carbon-oxidizing conditions in that zone of the smelter towards which the molten iron flows; continuously or semicontinuously tapping the slag from the reducing zone end of the smelter; continuously or semicontinuously tapping the molten iron from the oxidizing zone end of the smelter; and adding to both zones iron ore, coal, oxygen, and flux at addition rates sufficient to keep the molten iron in the reducing zone substantially saturated with carbon, maintain in the slag being tapped an FeO content of about 5 weight percent or less, and maintain in the molten iron being tapped a carbon content of about 0.5 to 5 weight percent. A slag dam preferably is included in the smelter, to impede the backflow of the slag from the reducing zone to the oxidizing zone. A metal bath dam withmore »
- Inventors:
-
- Toronto, CA
- Murrysville, PA
- (late of Winchester, MA)
- Issue Date:
- Research Org.:
- American Iron and Steel Inst., Pittsburgh, PA (United States)
- OSTI Identifier:
- 869687
- Patent Number(s):
- 5378260
- Assignee:
- United States of America as represented by Department of Energy (Washington, DC)
- Patent Classifications (CPCs):
-
C - CHEMISTRY C21 - METALLURGY OF IRON C21B - MANUFACTURE OF IRON OR STEEL
Y - NEW / CROSS SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES Y02 - TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE Y02P - CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PRODUCTION OR PROCESSING OF GOODS
- DOE Contract Number:
- FC07-89ID12847
- Resource Type:
- Patent
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- two-zone; countercurrent; smelter; process; continuously; smelting; iron; coal; yield; molten; semi-steel; disclosed; comprises; steps; establishing; melt; covered; slag; inducing; flow; countercurrently; opposite; maintaining; oxide-reducing; conditions; zone; towards; flows; carbon-oxidizing; semicontinuously; tapping; reducing; oxidizing; adding; zones; oxygen; flux; addition; rates; sufficient; substantially; saturated; carbon; maintain; tapped; feo; content; weight; percent; dam; preferably; included; impede; backflow; metal; bath; flow-through; portals; submerged; below; hot; oxidizing conditions; weight percent; iron oxide; process comprises; hot metal; molten iron; reducing conditions; carbon content; smelting iron; /75/266/
Citation Formats
Cox, James H, Fruehan, Richard J, and Elliott, deceased, John F. Two-zone countercurrent smelter system and process. United States: N. p., 1995.
Web.
Cox, James H, Fruehan, Richard J, & Elliott, deceased, John F. Two-zone countercurrent smelter system and process. United States.
Cox, James H, Fruehan, Richard J, and Elliott, deceased, John F. Sun .
"Two-zone countercurrent smelter system and process". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/869687.
@article{osti_869687,
title = {Two-zone countercurrent smelter system and process},
author = {Cox, James H and Fruehan, Richard J and Elliott, deceased, John F.},
abstractNote = {A process for continuously smelting iron ore by use of coal to yield molten iron or semi-steel is disclosed. The process comprises the steps of establishing a melt covered by slag; inducing the slag and the molten iron to flow countercurrently to one another, toward opposite ends of the smelter; maintaining iron oxide-reducing conditions in that zone of the smelter towards which the slag flows; maintaining carbon-oxidizing conditions in that zone of the smelter towards which the molten iron flows; continuously or semicontinuously tapping the slag from the reducing zone end of the smelter; continuously or semicontinuously tapping the molten iron from the oxidizing zone end of the smelter; and adding to both zones iron ore, coal, oxygen, and flux at addition rates sufficient to keep the molten iron in the reducing zone substantially saturated with carbon, maintain in the slag being tapped an FeO content of about 5 weight percent or less, and maintain in the molten iron being tapped a carbon content of about 0.5 to 5 weight percent. A slag dam preferably is included in the smelter, to impede the backflow of the slag from the reducing zone to the oxidizing zone. A metal bath dam with one or more flow-through portals also is preferably used, submerged below the slag dam, to impede the backflow of the hot metal.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Sun Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1995},
month = {Sun Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1995}
}
Works referenced in this record:
The QSL reactor for lead and its prospects for Ni, Cu and Fe
journal, December 1989
- Queneau, Paul E.
- JOM, Vol. 41, Issue 12