Patent ID: 6267799
Filing Date: 2001-07-31
Classification: C21B,C21C,F27B,F27D,Y02P

Abstract:
A method of producing metals and metal alloys from metal oxides in a metallurgical vessel containing a molten bath, said vessel comprising a sidewall and a roof, the molten bath comprising a metal layer and a slag layer on the metal layer, the method comprising:(i) injecting a solid material being solid carbonaceous material an/or metal oxides with a carrier gas through one or more than one tuyere into the molten bath, wherein each tuyere injecting solid material is angled downwardly and the injected solid material has sufficient momentum so that the solid material and the carrier gas penetrates the metal layer of the molten bath and causes a molten material being molten metal and/or slag to be projected into a space above the surface of the molten bath to form a transition zone; and(ii) injecting an oxygen-containing gas into the space above the molten bath surface to afterburning reaction gases released from the molten bath into the transition zone; and wherein step (i) comprises injecting the solid material and the carrier gas into the molten bath through one or more than one tuyere that is angled downwardly and has an outlet end that is submerged in the molten bath.