System and method for producing metallic iron

Patent · Tue Jan 17 00:00:00 EST 2012

OSTI ID:1035032

Bleifuss, Rodney L ^[1]; Englund, David J ^[2]; Iwasaki, Iwao ^[1]; Fosnacht, Donald R ^[3]; Brandon, Mark M ^[4]; True, Bradford G ^[4]

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1. Grand Rapids, MN
2. Bovey, MN
3. Hermantown, MN
4. Charlotte, NC

A hearth furnace 10 for producing metallic iron material has a furnace housing 11 having a drying/preheat zone 12, a conversion zone 13, a fusion zone 14, and optionally a cooling zone 15, the conversion zone 13 is between the drying/preheat zone 12 and the fusion zone 14. A moving hearth 20 is positioned within the furnace housing 11. A hood or separation barrier 30 within at least a portion of the conversion zone 13, fusion zone 14 or both separates the fusion zone 14 into an upper region and a lower region with the lower region adjacent the hearth 20 and the upper region adjacent the lower region and spaced from the hearth 20. An injector introduces a gaseous reductant into the lower region adjacent the hearth 20. A combustion region may be formed above the hood or separation barrier.

• Research Organization: Univ. of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• DOE Contract Number: FG36-05GO15185
• Assignee: Nu-Iron Technology, LLC (Charlotte, NC)
• Patent Number(s): 8,097,065
• Application Number: 12/418,037
• OSTI ID: 1035032
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE