PROCESSES AND APPARATUS FOR THE SMELTING REDUCTION OF ORES

Abstract: A process for the smelting reduction of oxide ores, in particular iron ores, employs a mixture of the finely divided ore with equally finely divided reductant, which in the case of iron ores preferably is a coal. The mixture is fed into the interior of a heated tubular reaction vessel (10) and moved positively through a heated reaction zone by a screw conveyor 14 embedded in the charge. The conveyor (14) breaks away any accretions that stick to the vessel wall before they can built to a size that will stall the conveyor (14). The particles are in the range 75-1400 micrometers with a preferred size of at least 95% less than 600 micrometers, and the preferred ratio of ore to reductant is in the range of ratios 18:82 to 30:70. The reduced iron can be fed directly into a melting furnace (34) for separation of metal and non-metal, it can be powdered and separated magnetically or it can be briquetted. Multiple screw conveyors can be used to move multiple charges and the process can be used with nickel ores and in the production of metallurgical coke

Description: PROCESSES AND APPARATUS FOR THE SMELTING REDUCTION OF ORES This invention is concerned with processes and apparatus for the smelting reduction of ores using heat and reducing material that is mixed with the ore, and especially but not exclusively, to processes and apparatus for the smelting reduction of iron ores using heat and carbonaceous reducing material. The smelting reduction of low grade silicate nickel ore by the process has been successfully carried out. The processes and apparatus may also be usd for the preparation of metallurgical coke from mixtures of coals. Processes for the direct reduction of ores have been known from ancient times and are now usually defined as any process in which metal is produced by reduction from a corresponding ore without using a blast furnace. Smelting reduction means that the metal produced passes through the liquid state. The most important commercial direct reduction processes which produce sponge iron are for the production of metallic iron from iron oxide using any one or more of natural gas, coke-oven gas or coal as the reducing agent. Current interest in non-blast furnace reduction processes has been based upon the potentially lower capital investment and more flexible operating conditions, because of the fact that sinter plants, coke oven plants, blast furnaces and pelletization plants are all expensive to build and to operate. A smelting reduction plant using fine ore (direct from the concentrator without agglomeration) and powder coal can replace all four major equipment components in the conventional process to provide liquid iron from ore and coal. A comprehensive review of direct reduction processes and apparatus, including smelting reduction processes and the apparatus required, has been given in a report by Davis et al entitled wDirect-Reduction Technology and Economics" published in 'Ironmaking and Steelmaking 1982', Vol. 9, No. 3, pages 93 to 129. We are aware of one commercial process for smelting reduction at the present time, i.e. electric arc furnace reduction operation by Quebec Iron and Titanium Corp. in the Province of Quebec, Canada. We are also aware of two processes which have been developed to pilot plant scale and subsequently abandoned. A Swedish process entitled DORED and similar to the KALDO steelmaking process failed because of excessive lining wear due to the use of iron oxide rich slags. An Italian development entitled ROTORED, used a cylindrical reactor which rotated in an upright position, the centrifugal force pushing the metal produced upwards along the lining to prevent the corrosive slags from contacting the lining. However, the same force also hinders the mixing which makes this process not commercially viable. Three processes named respectively ELRED, INRED and PLASMASMELT are now being developed in Sweden and are reviewed in the article quoted above. It is the principal object of the present invention to provide new processes for the smelting reduction of ores and carbonization of coals, and new apparatus for carrying out such processes. More specific objects are to provide such new processes and apparatus for the smelting reduction of iron ores to metallic iron and of silicate nickel ores to nickel or iron-nickel alloys, and for the continuous manufacture of metallurgical coke or char from coals. In accordance with the present invention there is provided a new process for the smelting reduction of a metal from an ore thereof by the use of heat and solid reducing material, the process including the steps of: a) mixing finely divided ore to be reduced and finely divided solid reducing material in the proportions required for a charge thereof; b) moving the charge-of mixed finely divided material through a reactor vessel by means of a mechanical moving member which mechanically engages the charge during its residence in the vessel; c) heating the charge within the reactor vessel for a time and temperature such as to effect partial or full reduction of ore to metal, and d) melting the charge produced in the reactor vessel and completing reaction in a pool of liquid metal and slag. A partially metallized charge leaving the reactor vessel drops into a liquid pool, wherein melting and reduction of the residue oxides take place. Also in accordance with the present invention there is provided apparatus for the smelting reduction of metal from ore thereof by use of heat and reducing material, the apparatus comprising: a) a reactor vessel having an inlet to its interior and an outlet therefrom; b) means for delivering a charge to be reduced to the said inlet for conveyance through the interior to the outlet; c) means for receiving a reduced charge from the said outlet; d) a mechanical member movable within the vessel interior to mechanically engage the charge therein during its residence in the vessel and move it from the inlet to the outlet, and means for so moving the mechanical member within the interior; and e) heating means for heating the charge within the reactor vessel interior to the temperature adequate for the reduction of the charge. Preferably the reactor vessel is an elongated tubular container having a longitudinal axis and the mechanical member is a screw conveyor having a longitudinal axis which is embedded in the charge with its longitudinal axis parallel to that of the vessel, the screw conveyor being rotated about its longitudinal axis to move and mix the charge. Preferably also, multiple screw conveyors are provided to convey multiple charges to said reaction vessel interior. Such apparatus can also be used for a corresponding process for the production of metallurgical coke from a charge of coals and/or petroleum cokes, the resulting carbonised charge consisting of the coked or partially coked coal. Processes and apparatus in accordance with the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings wherein: FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic representation of apparatus which is of an embodiment of the invention; FIG. 2 is a horizontal section taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1; FIG. 3 is a graph showing the variation of metallisation of a charge with horizontal feed screw speed; FIG. 4 is a graph showing residual carbon content in the reduced material with horizontal feed screw speed; FIG. 5 shows diagrammatically the physical form taken by the reduced material from a reaction vessel before it is discharged into the melting furnace and FIG. 6 is a graph showing the change in the composition of the output gases with screw feed speed. Referring now to Fig. 1 of the drawings apparatus for effecting smelting reduction of iron ore consists of an elongated tubular reactor vessel 10 of uniform circular cross-section along its length, the vessel having a longitudinal axis 12. The upper half of the tubeEat the discharging end 14g- is removed to improve the direct transfer of heat to resulting sponge. A support 13 is located beneath the tube to prevent premature break-off of the sponge by gravity. An elongated metal screw conveyor 14 of external diameter only slightly smaller than the internal diameter of the tubular vessel is mounted in the interior of the tubular reactor and extends from an inlet 16 thereto to the other open end which constitutes outlet 18 therefrom. The conveyor is rotated about its respective longitudinal axis parallel to the axis 12 by a motor 20 through the usual intermediate mechanism 22 which need not be described in detail. > A pre-mixed mixture of finely divided materials constituting the furnace charge is stored in a hopper 24 from whence it is fed at a controlled rate and bulk density to the vessel interior by a conveyor -screw 26 driven by a motor 28. The tube forming the vessel 10 is made of a refractory material able to withstand the temperatures and mechanical abrasion to which it is subjected in operation while having a sufficiently high heat transmission efficiency. A successful laboratory apparatus has used a tube of Mullite (Trade Mark) a low alloy steel while silicon carbide tubes are also suitable. Larger commercial apparatus will use a combination of these materials. At least the major part of the reactor vessel 10 toward the outlet 18 is placed inside an externally insulated preheating tube 30. The mixture of ore and coal in the case of metal reduction (or mixture of coals and coke breeze and petroleum coke for the manufacture of metallurgical coke) is heated through the wall of the tubelO by the outgoing gases produced by the process and by direct heating of the sponge by radiation and by convection at the outlet 18. Oxidation of part of the residual carbon in the sponge also generates some additional heat. The materials exiting from the outlet 18 discharge into a top chamber 32of ^µ 5 furnace 33 from which they pass by gravity to a bottom chamber 34. The reduction of metal oxides and pyrolysis of coal are both strong endothermic reactions. The heat required may be generated by the partial combustion of fuels, but natural gas is used in this embodiment for convenience, introduced by a gas burner indicated by broken line 36. In commercial operation coal is preferred for economy reasons. The fuel and air (or oxygen enriched air) are introduced, after mixing, into the top chamber 32 and result in combustion. The flame from the burner 36 also reacts with volatile matters which come out of outlet 18 to result in a more protective atmosphere for the sponge or coke. All or part of the gaseous products pass around reaction tube 10 as a heat source and leave the system at outlet 38. Thermocouples 40 are provided at intervals along the tube 10 to determine the temperature of the exterior wall and to control the supply of heat via a controller 42, a recorder 44 also being provided. Temperature measuring probes 40 are also provided in the chamber 32. The resulting reduced spongy metallic iron passes immediately into the lower chamber 34 of the furnace in which the iron and slag are melted quickly under reducing atmospheric conditions to form a metal pool 46 and superposed molten slag layer 48, which are tapped off as necessary. The source of heat for this melting operation can be by any conventional means, such as an arc struck between electrodes, electric induction, or by air- or oxygen-fed gas, oil or powder coal burners, the electrodes or burners being indicated by broken lines at 50. The gaseous products that are generated within the reaction vessel 10 are partially burned in the top chamber 32 and around the reaction tube 10, while being drawn off continuously via outlet 38 and treated by any of the usual processes, illustrated herein by way of example as a dust separator 52, scrubbing tower 54 and storage gasometer 56. An oxygen probe 58 and CO/COz analyser 60 are provided for determination of the corresponding process parameters. A sampling and additive delivery device 62 is provided extending into the interior of furnace chamber 32. In an alternative embodiment which is not specifically illustrated the mixture of spongy iron and slag from the outlet 18 is passed into a cooling unit in which it is cooled under reducing atmospheric conditions as quickly as possible to minimize the possibility of re-oxidation. The reduced mixture can be used into the similar ways as with all other direct reduction products. There is an adequate supply of iron ores in North America available in very finely divided form because of the beneficiation processes from low grade ore bodies which are employed in almost all mines. The finely divided form is a disadvantage in using such ores in conventional, (direct reduction or blast furnace) processes because agglomeration, usually by sintering or pelletization, is necessary. In this invention iron ore concentrates may be used without further treatment and result in significant economic benefits. The range of particle size preferred for the ore in the processes of the invention is that it should be fine enough that 95% is less than 600 micrometers. The processes of the invention permit the direct use of the commercial concentrates, perhaps directly at the mine site, or alternatively by transporting and handling the material in finely divided form. The solid reducing material employed is finely powdered coal and the particular coals employed at the present time are characterised as high in volatiles and of high fluidity, which are the typical characteristics for coking coals. The reactivity of the coal and its volatile content increase together, but a high volatile content or coking property is not directly necessary in the practice of the invention However, high volatile coal has higher shrinkage during the reaction and this assists the escape of the resultant gases from the reacting material and their free flow from the reactor vessel. The ash content of the coal is not particularly important, although of course the lowest economically available ash content is preferred. The coal must also be ground to finely divided state to have close and extensive contact with ore particles; in this particular embodiment the preferred size is 80% less than 600 micrometers. Care must of course be exercised in the handling of such finely divided, highly combustible material because of the possibility of rapid combustion, or even explosion. For reasons of safety the powdered coal may be stored wet, or if dry then under an inert atmosphere. Either type of coal may be mixed with a preheated ore up to about 400-500"C in a non-oxidising atmosphere using the combustible output gas from the reactor as the source of heat, to result in a pre-heated, pre-mixed reactor charge at a temperature of about 3000C. The following Table 1 shows the results of a series of experiments using powdered coal of different average particle size. The mixtures employed consisted of 82% by weight iron ore concentrate (Adams mine) and 18% by weight Devco coal. The furnace was operated at a temperature of 1200"C and at a horizontal conveyor speed of 1.5 r.p.m. to give a reaction time of about 2 minutes and a vertical feed conveyor speed of 1.0 r.p.m. TABLE 1 The Effect of Particle Size on Coal Particle Fe Fe Exp. Size Total Metallic Fem/FeT FeO C Am > 4m (FeT)% (FeM)% x 100 % A 75 80.50 78.79 97.81 2.26 4.76 75 79.69 76.65 95.24 3.62 4.12 B 75 - 150 80.50 76.74 95.33 4.84 4.98 75 - 150 80.70 75.95 94.11 4.75 5.10 C 300 - 600 78.60 63.66 80.99 19.23 5.75 300 - 600 79.12 62.90 79.50 20.88 5.97 D 600-1400 78.13 60.72 77.72 22.38 6.45 600-1400 77.92 59.51 76.37 23.67 6.59 As is to be expected maximum metallisation is obtained with the smallest particle sizes less or equal to 75 micrometers; substantially the same degree of metallisation is obtained with particle sizes between 75 and 150 micrometers. An appreciable drop from about 95% to about 80% is obtained with particles in the range 300-600 micrometers, and another smaller drop to about 77% with particles in the range 600-1400 micrometers. Metallisation can be increased by longer reaction times requiring larger apparatus, or giving smaller throughput, and these disadvantages must be balanced against the additional grinding costs involved as the average particle size is decreased. It is for this reason that an ore particle size of 95% less than 600 micrometers is preferred for a commercial operation. It was also found with the larger size particles (above 600 micrometers) that difficulty developed in moving material through the reaction zone caused, it is believed, by segregation of the particles under the agitation to which they are subjected by the conveyor screw; such segregation is reduced or avoided if both components are of comparable particle size. The preferred particle size of coals for the manufacture of metallurgical coke by the process and apparatus of the invention are Non-coking coal 95% less than 600 micrometers Coking coal 80% less than 600 micrometers Another important parameter of the processes of the invention is the ratio of the ore to be reduced to the amount of solid reductant. It is found in practice that the minimum amount of a high volatile coal should be about 18% by weight; for iron ore concentrate of 68% iron, this amount gives the required metallisation and also gives sufficient carbon in the metal pool in the furnace 33. This carbon is necessary therefore both to reduce the melting point of the metallic iron and also to protect the iron while in the spongy state against re-oxidation. Increasing the amount of coal from about 18-208 up to about 30% by weight does not substantially increase the amount of metallisation, but does increase the amount of carbon in the metal. The presence of a surplus of carbon above stoichiometric has a beneficial effect upon the gases produced in the process, in that the percentages of carbon monoxide and hydrogen are increased, making it more suitable as a chemical feed stock or clean fuel for subsequent processes. Fig. 3 shows inter alia the degree of metallisation obtained with two different mixtures of average particle size less than 75 micrometers treated with different residence times (increased conveyor speeds) in the reactor vessel at a temperature of about 1200 C. The solid line was obtained for a mixture of 21% by weight coal and 79% iron ore, while the broken line is for a mixture of 18% coal and 82% ore; the decrease in metallisation with the smaller proportion of coal is quite small and remains substantially constant. Fig. 4 shows that decreased residence time (increased conveyor speed) results in substantial increase in carbon content in the resultant reduced product, although again the difference between the two mixtures is substantially constant for different residence times. The mixture with the smaller amount of coal results in the smaller percentage of carbon in the reduced product. - It is preferable to employ .a process which results in the minimum amount of slag, since this ease the handling problems and increases the output of the apparatus. It is an advantageous property of the processes that there is a high proportion of sulphur in the slags, with consequent reduction in the metal and in the output gases. Sufficient slag must be available to dissolve the sulphur for this beneficial effect to be obtained, and it may therefore, with some processes, be necessary to add slag-forming materials such as lime or limestone. Up to 5% by weight of lime may be added, or the equivalent weight of limestone (up to 7%). All of the charge must reach a minimum temperature of about 11000C if reduction is to take place in the case for iron ore and nickel ore reduction. Increase of temperature will decrease the necessary reaction time for adequate metallisation and the upper limit is about 13500C if any substantial melting is not to take place in the vessel 10, and render the process inoperable. The preferred range of process temperature in the charge is from about 11500C to about 13000C. The lower chamber 34 will of course operate at a higher temperature and the inner wall of the reaction vessel 10 will also be at a higher value. In this embodiment the screw conveyor 14 is of steel (with or without ceramic tip) and is therefore a heat sink by conduction along its length. In the manufacture of metallurgical coke the preferred temperature is about 9500C in the upper chamber 32; the lower chamber 34 is in such a case a storage space and need not be heated. As mentioned above, the reaction is quite highly endothermic and the heat flux must be sufficient to maintain the reaction temperature despite the resultant heat loss. There is also a substantial 1088 of heat to the by-product gases which contact the higher temperature walls of the vessel as they leave; in commercial processes as much as possible of this heat will be recovered by heat exchange in the cooling of the gases. The constant consumption of heat by the furnace charge and heat transfer to the reaction site will result in a temperature gradient across the reacting mixture. The conveyor screw is shielded or protected to a certain extent against the deleterious effect of the high process temperature by the surrounding evolving by-product gases; the protection provided by these gases is facilitated by the fact that they are inherently reducing in nature. The remaining reacting mixture is also the most effective coolant for the conveyor screw in view of its continued intimate contact therewith. It is of course necessary to make the screw conveyor of materials that retain as much strength as possible at the high temperatures of operation, but there will be the usual compromises between initial and maintenance costs which will dictate whether it is possible to use more resistant, yet costly materials for the conveyor The charge of material entering the reactor vessel may be pre-heated as described above and will require some time to reach an effective reaction temperature, increasing the required residence time in the tube. The discharge end of the reaction tube is partially cut open at 14a as described above, to increase the heat transfer rate and to decrease the residence time. Table 2 below shows the effect of furnace temperature on the metallisation of a mixture of 79% by weight iron ore and 21% by weight Devco coal of average particle size less than about 75 micrometers fed through the reaction vessel with a conveyor speed of 1.5 r.p.m. It will be seen that there is an abrupt increase in the degree of metallisation from 11500C to 12000C and a smaller increase to 12500C. The table shows that 1200"C is adequate but higher temperatures would be more satisfactory for improved and faster chemical reaction and reaction of larger particles, provided that the reaction vessel and the conveyor screw can withstand the increased temperature. TABLE 2 The Effect of Furnace Temperature Exp. Furnace FeT FeM FeM/FeT FeO Fe3 4 C e Tempos t % x 100 8 8 % E 1050 60.45 -- -- 37.12 43.59 11.91 1050 61.20 -- -- 40.50 43.51 11.49 F 1100 63.20 10.11 15.99 44.10 25.95 9.35 1100 62.55 9.13 14.59 46.06 24.41 8.86 G 1150 69.40 32.85 47.33 41.57 5.81 6.90 1150 68.69 33.10 48.18 38.45 5.72 6.75 H 1200 79.15 75.80 95.76 4.31 -- 5.91 1200 78.90 74.60 94.55 5.52 -- 5.83 I 1250 83.14 82.49 99.22 0.83 -- 4.25 1250 83.05 82.07 98.82 1.25 -- 4.67 Although natural gas and gases leaving the reaction tube are employed for heating the reaction vessel it will be apparent that other sources of heat can also be used, for example the combustion of some of the powdered coal, oil, etc., with pre-heating of the combustion air by heat exchange with the off gases. The overall fuel consumption is lower, since the chemical reaction of reduction takes place at relatively lower temperatures and results in carbon-rich iron of reduced melting temperature. Although the reaction and melting take place in separate zones they can be regarded as part of the same furnace and a single heat source can be used, such as a plasma arc or the combustion of powdered coal. The required reaction time is, as described above, dependent upon the temperature of the reaction and the rate at which heat can be supplied to the charge. Assuming that the furnace is operated at a temperature high enough to supply heat at a sufficient rate, then the residence time for the charge within the reaction vessel will be adjusted to the- minimum required for adequate metallisation, so as to obtain maximum output from apparatus of given size. The conveyor screw 14 requires to be somewhat smaller in external diameter than the internal diameter of the reaction vessel interior to provide an adequate passageway for the evolving gases which must escape from the vessel without the generation of unsafe pressures. It is also preferred for the longitudinal axis of the conveyor screw to be displaced vertically downwards from the corresponding axis 12 of the tubular vessel, so that the screw is resting on the bottom of the vessel inner wall. The difference in size is not critical and the screw diameter should be in the range 93-97% of the vessel interior diameter. The continuous operation of the screw 14 ensures that any accretions are broken away before they can grow to a size that will cause it to stall. The operation of the apparatus therefor differs fundamentally from that of a kiln or rotary hearth in which there is no positive mechanical means moving the charge through the reaction zone. The chemical reaction is also accompanied by shrinkage of the charge, which occurs progressively along the reaction vessel from the inlet to the outlet, and thus provides additional space for the evolving gases. The conveyor screw must extend at least to the cooler part of the reaction vessel interior beyond the zone at which the temperature is sufficient for an accretion to adhere to the vessel wall; in practice this means that it should extend close to the outlet 18, and not beyond. The linear velocity of the movement of material through the reaction zone, and the residence time of the material in the reaction zone is determined by the speed of rotation of the conveyor screw 14, which in this embodiment could be varied between 0.66 and 3 r.p.m. The hot zone had a length of 10cm and these speeds therefore corresponded respectively to residence times of from about 3 minutes down to 40 seconds. The results shown in Tables 1, 2 and 3 were obtained for a vessel of 4.0 cm interior diameter. Longer residence times of 5 to 11.5 minutes were obtained with a larger vessel of 8.75 cm interior diameter, where rotation speeds were varied between 0.33 and 0.75 r.p.m. and where the hot zone had a length of 35 cm. Table 3 below shows the results of a series of experiments J through N with increasing furnace temperature and also with increasing conveyor speeds to give shorter reaction times. The rate with postscript H is for the horizontal conveyor 14, while that with the postscript V is for the feeder conveyor 26. As described above, variations in the speed of the vertical conveyor 26 will result in variations of the bulk density of the charge. TABLE 3 Exp. Furnace Coal Feeding Reaction Product, % wt t Temp. C Ore Rate rpm Fet Fem FeO C S J 1170 21 0.66H 80.00 80.00 -- 4.81 0.32 0.66V 80.50 80.50 -- 4.86 0.31 K 1170 21 0.66H 75.29 75.0 0.37 6.17 0.32 79 2.5 V 75.39 75.10 0.37 5.80 0.31 L 1200 18 1.0E 88.0 87.50 0.64 0.82 0.29 82 1,OV 88.4 88.00 0.51 0.92 0.29 N 1200 18 l.5H 80.0 80.0 -- 4.05 0.29 82 1.5V 80.0 79.8 0.26 4.11 0.29 N 1240 18* 2.0H 69.50 44.10 32.70 6.28 0.30 82 1.5V 69.92 45.55 31.30 6.17 0.30 Comparison of the experiments J and K shows that the increased bulk density caused by increasing the rate of the feed conveyor 26 results in lower metallisation. The highest metallisation is shown by experiment L with temperature 12000C and medium conveyor speeds. The substantial drop with experiment N is explained only partly by the reduced reaction time, since a coarser grind of coal was used. A sketch of the physical form taken by the reduced material from experiment L is shown in Fig. 5 in which it is seen that the sponge is helical. All of the experiments were accompanied by relatively smooth operation of the conveyor. It will also be noted that the nature of the processes of the invention permit effective control of the carbon content of the resultant metal over a wide range, which is important in commercial practice. It is also possible to control effectively the nature of the output gases; thus, it is desired to extract the maximum heat content from the reducing material, but this will result in greater production of carbon dioxide; on the other hand, it is desired to maintain a reducing atmosphere which requires the presence of carbon monoxide; the processes of the invention permit the necessary balance to the obtained. Thus, Fig. 6 shows the effect of varying conveyor speeds on the chemical composition of the output gases. It will be seen that the lower speeds favour the production of carbon monoxide and hydrogen, while the higher speeds favour the production of carbon dioxide and hydrocarbons, accompanied by a temperature reduction, the choice being therefore also dependent upon the intended end-use of these gases. Various modifications may be made to the apparatus hereinbefore described without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, the tube need not be cut away as shown in Fig. 1; however the preferred arrangement increases heat transfer and can increase speed of operation. Also the apparatus illustrated in Fig. 1 is exemplary and in an alternative structure multiple screw feeders are provided to a single chamber which can be heated by burning coal or other heating medium.

Claims: CLAThS:- 1. A process for the direct smelting reduction of a metal from an oxide ore thereof by the use of heat and solid reducing material, the process including the steps of: a) mixing finely divided ore to be reduced and finely divided solid reducing material in the proportions required for a charge thereof. b) moving the charge of mixed finely divided material through a tubular reactor vessel (10); c) heating the charge within the reactor vessel (10) for a time and temperature below and sufficiently close to the melting temperature such as to effect direct reduction of ore to metal; and d) melting the charge produced in the reaction vessel (10) and completing the reduction reaction in a pool of liquid metal (46) and slag (48); ; characterised in that the charge is moved through the reactor vessel (10) by means of a screw-type conveyor (14) which is at least partly buried in the charge during the residence of the charge in the reactor vessel (10), so that the charge is both agitated and moved by the conveyor (14), and so that the conveyor (14) is protected against the effect of elevated temperature applied to the charge by the cooling effects of the endothermic reduction reaction of the charge and of the gases evolved during the reaction. 2. A process as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the ore to be reduced is an iron ore and the solid reducing material is a coal. 3. A process as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the ore is an iron ore of average particle size with at least 95% less than 600 micrometers. 4. A process as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the reducing material is a coal of average particle size with 80% less than 600 micrometers. 5. A process as claimed in claims 3 and 4, characterised in that tie charge of ore and reducing material is heated to a temperature in the range about 11000C to about 13000C for a period of time from 40 seconds to 11.5 minutes. 6. A process as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5, characterised in that the finely divided ore consists of from about 70% to about 82% by weight of the mixture of ore and reducing material. 7. A process as claimed in claim 6, characterised in that the proportion of finely divided ore in the mixture is from about 70% to 82% by weight and the proportion of reducing material is respectiyely from about 30% to 18% by weight. 8. A process as claimed in claim 6, characterised in that the mixture includes a predetermined amount of finely divided flux-forming material to result in a fluid slag with adequate desulfurization power. 9. A process as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the ore to be reduced is a nickel ore and the solid reducing material is a coal. 10. A process as claimed in claim 1 or 9, characterised in that the ore is a nickel ore of average particle size in the range from about 75 micrometers to about 1400 micrometers. 11. A process as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 10, characterised in that the reduced material from the reactor vessel (10) is fed directly to a melting furnace (34) in which the metal and resulting slag are melted for the separation thereof. 12. A process as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 11, characterised in that a plurality of reactor vessels (10) are provided feeding to a single pool of liquid metal and slag. 13. Process for the production of metallurgical coke or char the process including the steps of: a) mixing finely divided coals and/or petroleum cokes to be carbonized in the proportions required for a charge thereof; b) moving the charge of mixed finely divided material through a tubular reactor vessel (10); and c) heating the charge within the reactor vessel (10) for a time and temperature such as to effect the required reduction thereof; characterised in that the charge is moved through the reactor vessel (10) by means of a screw-type conveyor (14) which is at least partly buried in the charge during the residence of the charge in the reactor vessel (leo), so that the charge is both agitated and moved by the conveyor (14), and so that the conveyor (14), is protected against the effect of elevated temperature applied to the charge by the cooling effects of the endothermic reduction reaction of the charge and of the gases evolved during the reaction. 14. A process as claimed in claim 13, characterised in that the charge includes coke fines. 15. Apparatus for the direct smelting reduction of metal from ore thereof by use of heat and reducing material or for the production of metallurgical coke or char, the apparatus comprising: a) a tubular reactor vessel (10) having an inlet (16) to its interior and an outlet (18) therefrom; b) means (2E 8) for delivering a charge to be respectively reduced or carbonized to the said inlet (16) for conveyance through the reactor vessel (10) interior to the outlet (18); c) means (34) for receiving a reduced or carbonized charge from the said outlet (18); d) a mechanical member (14) movable within the vessel interior to mechanically engage the charge therein during its residence in the vessel (10) and move it from the inlet (16) to the outlet (18), and means (20) for so moving the mechanical member within the interior; and e) heating means (36) for heating the charge within the reactor vessel interior to the temperature adequate for the reduction or carbonization respectively of the charge; characterised in thatthe reactor vessel (10) is an elongated tubular container and the mechanical member is a screw conveyor (14) which is at least partly embedded in the charge with its longitudinal axis parallel to that of the reactor vessel (10), the screw conveyor (14) being rotated about its longitudinal axis to both agitatthe charge and move it longitudinally in the reactor vessel (10), the conveyor (14) being protected against the effect of elevated temperature applied to the charge by the cooling effects of the endothermic reduction reaction of the charge and of the gases 'evolved during the reaction. 16. Apparatus as claimed in claim 15, characterised in that the external diameter of the screw conveyor (14) is between 93 and 97% of the internal diameter of the tubular reaction vessel (10). 17. Apparatus as claimed in claim 15 or 16, characterised in that the heating means (36) heat the charge in the reactor vessel interior to a temperature in the range about 11000C to about 13000C. 18. Apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 15 to 17, characterised in that the screw conveyor (14) moves the charge through the reactor vessel interior at a speed to give a residence time at the reducing temperature of from about 40 seconds to about 11.5 minutes. 19. Apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 15 to 18, characterised by a melting furnace (34) at the outlet of the reactor vessel (10) to receive reduced material therefrom and operating at a temperature to melt the reduced metal and the resulting slag of the charge. 20. Apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 15 to 19, characterised in that an upper portion 14a of the tubular reactor vessel (10) is removed at its outlet to improve direct heat transfer from the heating means (36) to the charge at the outlet (18). 21. Apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 15 to 20, characterised in that a plurality of said charge delivering means (26,28) are provided to deliver a plurality of charges to said heating means (36). 22. A process for the smelting reduction of a metal from dn ore thereof by the use of heat and solid reducing material, the process including the steps of: a) mixing finely divided ore to be reduced and finely divided solid reducing material in the proportions required for a charge thereof; b) moving the charge of mixed finely divided material through a reactor vessel by means of a mechanical moving member which mechanically engages the charge during mitts residence in the vessel; c) heating the charge within the reactor vessel for a time and temperature such as to effect partial or full reduction of ore to metal, and d) melting the charge produced in the reactor vessel and completing reaction in a pool of liquid metal and slag. 23. Apparatus for the smelting reduction of metal from ore thereof by use of heat and reducing material, the apparatus comprising: a) a reactor vessel having an inlet to its interior and an outlet therefrom; b) means for delivering a charge to be reduced to the said inlet for conveyance through the interior to the outlet; c) means for receiving a reduced charge from the said outlet; d) a mechanical member movable within the vessel interior to mechanically engage the charge therein during its residence in the vessel and move it from the inlet to the outlet and means for moving the mechanical member within the interior; and e) heating means for heating the charge within the reactor vessel interior to the temperature adequate for the reduction of the charge.

Inventors: BRYK, CZESLAW, LU, WEI-KAO
Applicants: CANADIAN PATENTS & DEVELOPMENT LTD.
Application year: 1985
Main classification: C21B13
IPC codes: C21B11, C22B5, C21B13, C10B7