Patent ID: 6488737
Filing Date: 2002-12-03
Classification: C21B,Y02P

Abstract:
Method for the reduction of metallic oxides in a furnace with a ring-shaped rotating hearth in which a carbonaceous reducing agent and metallic oxides are deposited in a strip on a part of the said rotating hearth and are then transported in a roughly helical movement to a discharge device, the method comprising steps of:preheating the reducing agent and the metallic oxides; and mixing the reducing agent with the metallic oxides before and/or during their deposition on the rotating hearth; wherein, in a first reducing stage, the volatile components of the carbonaceous reducing agent are used to initiate the reduction of the metallic oxides, said volatile components comprising methane and hydrogen; and wherein, in a second reducing stage, carbon monoxide is used to reduce the metallic oxides.