Patent Number: 062140868
Section: claims

1. Apparatus for the simultaneous discharge of particulate hot direct reduced iron (DRI) and particulate cold DRI from a continuous supply of hot DRI, comprising: a furnace discharge section for receiving and discharging hot DRI, a first discharge conduit and a second discharge conduit connected to said discharge section;  a particle cooler, said first discharge conduit communicating with said particle cooler;  a vessel for receiving hot particulates, said second discharge conduit communicating with said vessel.  providing a continuous supply of hot DRI;  gravitationally conveying a first portion of said hot DRI hermetically through a first seal leg to a hot DRI receiving vessel;  gravitationally conveying a second portion of said hot DRI hermetically to a hot DRI cooling vessel and forming cooled DRI product;  discharging said cooled DRI product; and  discharging said hot DRI from said vessel for transport, briquetting, or melting. 2. Apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a plurality of burden feeders within said furnace discharge section for conveying DRI material through said discharge section to said discharge conduits. 3. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said first discharge conduit is a dynamic seal leg. 4. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the vessel for receiving hot particulates is a surge vessel which communicates with the hot discharge conduit through a vertical feed means. 5. Apparatus according to claim 4 wherein the feed means is a feed screw. 6. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the second discharge conduit is a dynamic seal leg. 7. Apparatus according to claim 6 further comprising means for degassing and depressurizing hot DRI in said second conduit. 8. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said particle cooler is provided with a discharge control mechanism. 9. Apparatus according to claim 8 wherein said discharge control mechanism is a vibratory feeder. 10. A method for the simultaneous discharge of hot direct reduced iron (DRI) material and cold DRI material from a continuous supply of hot DRI, comprising: