Patent ID: 6053961
Filing Date: 2000-04-25
Classification: C21B,Y02P,Y10S

Abstract:
A method of smelting iron ore comprising:introducing iron ore into a first reaction zone having a preheat section to predominately preheat said iron ore, thereby to form hot ore and a reduction section to predominately partly reduce said iron ore, thereby to produce partly reduced iron ore;introducing said partly reduced iron ore together with hot char and a first oxidant into a second reaction zone so that said partly reduced iron ore is further reduced and is melted to form a molten iron product and said char is partially oxidized to form a first reducing gas comprising carbon monoxide and hydrogen;the first reducing gas being introduced into said reduction section of said first reaction zone to produce a second reducing gas;introducing a carbonaceous material and a second oxidant into a third reaction zone and partially oxidizing volatile substances contained within said carbonaceous material to produce said hot char and a heating gas containing a remainder of said volatile substances;oxidizing said remainder of said volatile substances within said heating gas in the presence of a third oxidant to produce heat; andintroducing at least part of said second reducing gas and said heating gas into said preheat section of said first reaction zone to preheat said iron ore.