Patent ID: 7700035
Filing Date: 2010-04-20
Classification: C21B,C21C,F27B,F27D,Y02P

Abstract:
1. A direct smelting plant for producing molten metal from metalliferous feed material, comprising: (a) a pretreatment unit for pretreating metalliferous feed material and producing pretreated feed material having a temperature of at least 200° C.; (b) a direct smelting vessel for smelting pretreated metalliferous feed material to molten metal, the vessel being adapted to contain a molten bath of metal and slag, the vessel including a solids delivery means for receiving and thereafter supplying pretreated metalliferous feed material at a pressure above atmospheric pressure and at a temperature of at least 200° C. into the vessel; (c) a hot feed material transfer apparatus for transferring pretreated metalliferous feed material from the pretreatment unit to the solids delivery means of the direct smelting vessel, the transfer apparatus comprising: (i) a hot feed material storage means for storing pretreated metalliferous feed material at at least 200° C. and at a pressure above atmospheric pressure; (ii) a hot feed material transfer line for transferring pretreated metalliferous feed material at least 200° C. under pressure to the solids delivery means of the direct smelting vessel; (iii) means for unblocking the hot feed material transfer line without the need for manual intervention on the line or shutting down operation of the direct smelting vessel, which means for unblocking the hot feed material transfer line includes a plurality of pressure devices for selectively pressurising the hot feed material transfer line at a series of locations along the length of the line so that the line can be selectively pressurised and depressurised upstream and/or downstream of a blockage in the line and further includes a plurality of discharge lines for discharging dislodged material from a blockage in the hot feed material transfer line at a series of locations along the length of the line; and (iv) a pressurising means for supplying gas at a pressure above atmospheric pressure to the hot feed material storage means for pressurising the storage means and to the hot feed material transfer line for pressurising the transfer line and acting as a carrier gas for transporting pretreated metalliferous feed material along the transfer line to the solids delivery means, wherein the hot feed material transfer apparatus includes a means for returning pretreated metalliferous feed material to the pretreatment unit, which is adapted to operate while the direct smelting vessel is operating on stand-by and does not require pretreated metalliferous feed material.