Patent ID: 8771397
Filing Date: 2014-07-08
Classification: C21B,C21C,F27B,F27D,Y02P

Abstract:
1. A steelmaking plant comprising: a direct reduction reactor for continuously producing hot direct reduced iron, DRI, with a discharge at its lower end; a DRI melting furnace; a separate DRI cooler positioned aside from said reactor; a pressurized disengagement buffer bin located above said melting furnace; a dosing depressurizing bin located in series between said disengagement buffer bin and said melting furnace and having a capacity to hold a charge of DRI of at least one heat size for said furnace; a pneumatic transport apparatus for conducting said hot DRI with a carrier gas from said reactor discharge to feed selectively, at a level above the discharge of said reactor, either said furnace via said bins or said cooler; said disengagement buffer bin having an upper portion, with space sufficient to disengage DRI from the carrier gas, and also having as its lower portion a buffering capacity to receive a continuing influx of DRI in sufficient excess of one heat size for said furnace to accommodate delays in the melting furnace until the buffering capacity is full; a first conduit means for conveying hot DRI from said reduction reactor to said disengagement buffer bin as part of the pneumatic transport apparatus; a second conduit means for conveying hot DRI from said disengagement buffer bin to said dosing depressurizing bin; a third conduit means for conveying hot DRI from said dosing depressurizing bin to said melting furnace; a fourth conduit means for conveying said hot DRI from said reduction reactor to said DRI cooler as part of the pneumatic transport apparatus; and a diverter valve for selectively directing a continuous flow of DRI from the reactor to one at least said first or fourth conduits.