Patent ID: 7695544
Filing Date: 2010-04-13
Classification: C21B,C22B,F27B

Abstract:
1. A method for use in production of metallic iron nuggets comprising the steps of: providing a hearth comprising refractory material; providing a hearth material layer on the refractory material, the hearth material layer comprising at least carbonaceous material; providing a layer of a reducible mixture on at least a portion of the hearth material layer, at least a portion of the reducible mixture comprising at least reducing material and reducible iron bearing material; forming a plurality of channel openings in the reducible mixture extending into the layer of reducible mixture to define a plurality of nugget forming reducible material regions; sufficiently filling the plurality of channel openings with nugget separation fill material comprising at least carbonaceous material such that one or more metallic iron nuggets are formed from the reducible material with thermally treating the layer of reducible mixture in one or more of the plurality of the nugget forming reducible material regions by melting.