Patent ID: 6136066
Filing Date: 2000-10-24
Classification: C21C,C22B,Y02P,Y10S

Abstract:
A process for dehydrating a wet sludge to produce a revert for recycling back into a steelmaking furnace, the dehydrating steps producing a revert having an improved flow rate when handled in a recycle stream, the steps of the process comprising:a) combining wet sludge with hot slag to provide a slag/sludge mixture having a moisture content greater than 10% water by weight, the hot slag having a temperature below the molten liquid state;b) discontinuing said step of combining wet sludge and hot slag and resting the slag/sludge mixture for a time period to enable radiant energy emitted from the hot slag to vaporize water in the slag/sludge mixture to produce a dehydrated slag/sludge mixture having a reduced moisture content of about 10% water by weight or less; andcharging the dehydrated slag/sludge mixture into a furnace during a steelmaking oxidation phase so that oxidation phase temperatures volatilize heavy metals in the dehydrated slag/sludge mixture and remaining iron-bearing materials in the dehydrated slag/sludge mixture fall into and become entrained within the molten metal bath.