Patent ID: 6214085
Filing Date: 2001-04-10
Classification: C21B,Y02P

Abstract:
A method for making molten metal comprising:mixing a metallic bearing material with a carbonaceous material to form a mixture;force feeding the mixture into one end of a reaction chamber by a compacting action applied to said mixture at said end;carbotreating the mixture by heating the mixture in said reaction chamber under pressure in a reducing atmosphere to make a metal/carbon product while generating pressurized reducing gases from the carbonaceous material contained in the mixture, wherein the heating is provided by hot gas;discharging the metal/carbon product from a discharge end of the reaction chamber, wherein said discharging results from said compacting action;transporting the metal/carbon product into a melting furnace;oxymelting the metal/carbon product by using the carbon in the metal/carbon product to supply at least a portion of the thermal energy required to melt the metal in said product by reaction with an oxidant within the melting furnace, resulting in a molten metal and a slag;separating the molten metal from the slag; andcollecting the gases generated and cleaning them.