Patent ID: 6517605
Filing Date: 2003-02-11
Classification: C21B,Y02P

Abstract:
A procedure for starting up a direct smelting process for producing iron from a metalliferous feed material in a metallurgical vessel, the vessel including a plurality of feed material injection lances/tuyeres, the start-up procedure comprising:(a) preheating the vessel by combusting fuel gas and air in the vessel; (b) supplying a charge of molten iron to the vessel and forming a molten bath in the vessel; (c) supplying carbonaceous material and flux to the molten bath and injecting oxygen-containing gas through one or more than one feed material injection lance/tuyere and combusting carbon and bath derived gas and thereby heating the molten bath and generating slag; and (d) when prescribed conditions including any one or more of molten bath temperature, carbon concentration in the molten bath, and post combustion levels reach a predetermined threshold, supplying metalliferous feed material to the vessel while continuing supply of carbonaceous material and flux and injection of oxygen-containing gas and smelting metalliferous feed material and producing additional molten iron.