Patent ID: 6383251
Filing Date: 2002-05-07
Classification: C21B,Y02P

Abstract:
A process for direct iron steelmaking which comprises heating and reducing iron oxides containing pieces in a gas-solid reduction zone within a reduction reactor yielding hot solid reduced iron pieces, and advancing said reduced iron pieces into a gas-solid-liquid melting zone containing a partially melted metal bath carried within the inner side walls of an elongate rotary furnace having at least a partial top cover of floating slag and fired by combustible and oxygen-containing gases generating a gas stream of hot furnace gases passing above the bath surface supplying heat for continually melting said hot reduced iron to yield liquid iron and steel, said gas stream exiting through an annular end opening of said furnace, including the following steps, in combination:advancing said hot solid reduced iron pieces into a transfer duct connecting into at least one solids injection lance directed through an annular end opening of said rotary furnace into said melting zone with a nozzle angled downwards towards said bath surface; introducing pressurized carrier gases into said transfer duct entraining and propelling said hot solid reduced iron-pieces through said solids injection lance projecting a jet of said carrier gases and hot reduced iron pieces downwards from said nozzle penetrating said metal bath surface thereby submerging and dispersing said solid reduced iron pieces within said partially melted metal bath; and dispersing said reduced iron pieces further within said metal bath following said submerging by means of the propelling action of said inner side walls rotating against the bottom perimeter of said metal bath.