Patent ID: 8025711
Filing Date: 2011-09-27
Classification: C21B,F27B,F27D

Abstract:
1. A method of producing metallic iron nodules in a battery of stationary hearth furnaces comprising: (a) assembling a furnace housing having a stationary hearth, an inlet capable of delivering reducible material to the stationary hearth from a first side, and an outlet capable of discharging reduced iron nodules from the stationary hearth from a second side opposite the first side; (b) assembling a heating chamber beneath the stationary hearth capable of having heated fluids circulated thereto and heating the reducible material on the stationary hearth; (c) assembling passageways capable of circulating fluids given off by heating the reducible material positioned on the stationary hearth through ports from the furnace housing above the reducible material to the heating chamber beneath the stationary hearth; (d) assembling burners and air inlet ports in the furnace housing above the stationary hearth and optionally in at least one of the passageways and heating chamber to heat the reducible material on the stationary hearth; (e) loading reducible material and optionally an underlying hearth material onto the stationary hearth through the inlet in the first side of the furnace housing; (f) heating the reducible material to a first temperature in the furnace housing, and heating the reducible material to a second temperature in the furnace housing; and (g) discharging a majority of the metallic iron nodules and optionally related material from the stationary hearth furnace through the outlet in the second side of the furnace housing.