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Title: Method for reducing iron losses in an iron smelting process

Patent ·
OSTI ID:335447

A process of smelting iron that comprises the steps of: (a) introducing a source of iron oxide, oxygen, nitrogen, and a source of carbonaceous fuel to a smelting reactor, at least some of said oxygen being continuously introduced through an overhead lance; (b) maintaining conditions in said reactor to cause (1) at least some of the iron oxide to be chemically reduced, (2) a bath of molten iron to be created and stirred in the bottom of the reactor, surmounted by a layer of slag, and (3) carbon monoxide gas to rise through the slag; (c) causing at least some of said carbon monoxide to react in the reactor with the incoming oxygen, thereby generating heat for reactions taking place in the reactor; and (d) releasing from the reactor an offgas effluent, is run in a way that keeps iron losses in the offgas relatively low. After start-up of the process is complete, steps (a) and (b) are controlled so as to: (1) keep the temperature of the molten iron at or below about 1550 C and (2) keep the slag weight at or above about 0.8 ton per square meter. 13 figs.

Research Organization:
American Iron and Steel Institute
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
DOE Contract Number:
FC07-94ID13284
Assignee:
Steel Technology Corp., Washington, DC (United States)
Patent Number(s):
US 5,885,322/A/
Application Number:
PAN: 8-823,012
OSTI ID:
335447
Resource Relation:
Other Information: PBD: 23 Mar 1999
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

References (1)