Year: 1887

page_text: I JACQUES BELOU of Paris France rue de la Chausseé d'Antin, civil engineer do
hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:
My invention relates to certain improvements in the treatment of ores which
consist chiefly in substituting in the treatment of ores in general and more especially
of Pyritous auriferous and argentiferous ores for the reducing action of carbon and of
the oxygen of the air on the metals contained in the ores, that of pure hydrogen or
carbonated hydrogen acting upon the ores free from any oxyding cause which might
be detrimental or prevent the beneficial effect of the treatment, and by employing in
certain cases pure hydrogen or carbonated hydrogen as agents for the reduction and
heating of the ores in order to obtain both their reduction and their fusion in the same
apparatus.
The form or arrangement of the apparatuses in which the process is to be carried
out may vary according to the nature of the ores and according as it may be desired
either to limit the process to their reduction merely, or to effect in the same apparatus,
both the reduction and the fusion of the ore.
A
In the first case, the ore is put into cylinders or retorts arranged horizontally or
vertically in a suitable heating furnace. Currents of pure or carbonated hydrogen
run through it, and such currents combining with the metalloids of the ore, effects its
reduction and makes it fit to undergo the process of amalgamation or fusion.
similar result would be obtained by letting the ore finely pulverized fall into a very
high retort in which the ore in the retort would be reduced during such fall through
the hydrogen contained in the said retort which might even be provided with obstacles
so as to retard and increase the duration of such fall.
In the second case viz.: that of reduction and fusion of ore at one and the same
time so as to obtain by a single operation the metal of the ore in a melted state, it
will be preferable to use a sort of blast furnace working continuously in which the ore
is heated directly by the combustion of a part of the pure hydrogen, or of the
carbonated hydrogen introduced through the ore, whilst the part of the hydrogen
which is not consumed effects the reduction.

page_text: .
This blast furnace is constructed of masonry in the usual way, and surrounded by a
perfectly air-tight metallic jacket forming part of itself. It is provided with a
mechanical feeder fitted with valves or slides in such manner as to intercept all
communication between the interior of the furnace and the outside air.
The ore is heated from below by means of blast pipes by which hydrogen and the
required volume of air for burning the part of this gas which is to be burned, is
introduced. The part of the hydrogen which is to effect the reduction may be
introduced separately above the level of the blast pipes. These latter are provided
with regulating taps and made proof against oxydation by air or flame by means of a
coat of borate of lime or of sulphate of lead applied to their surface.
The ore previously mixed with a suitable flux is fed from above by a hopper
provided with valves; the slag and metals resulting from the fusion are drawn off at
the bottom of the furnace. The apparatus is worked and the process carried out as
with ordinary blast furnaces.
The gases arising from the reduction of the ore are received in a condensing chamber
connected with the upper part of the furnace, and in which they may be converted
into useful products if required, and from which they may in any case be conducted,
either outside, or into any suitable furnace, there to be burnt and utilized as
heat producers.
By proceeding as above it is possible to extract from all ores of whatever nature or
composition, the entire quantity of metals contained in them. In treating iron ore,
pure iron may be obtained directly if required; or otherwise steel, cast iron properly
speaking, at any
desired degree of carburation, by introducing into the blast furnace
at the same time as the hydrogen, the quantity of carbon corresponding to the product
to be obtained. Finally, in the treatment of auriferous and argentiferous ores a
beneficial result, far superior to that obtained by the ordinary processes will be
obtained and more especially in the treatment of simple or arsenical pyrites, or certain
residues which have already been treated over again in order to exhaust them.
The accompanying drawing represents several arrangements of blast furnaces which
may be adopted in the treatment of the various ores, but it to be understood that such
arrangements are mere indications as to details of practice, because the invention
chiefly consists in the use and application of pure hydrogen gas, or of carbonated
hydrogen as agents in the reduction of ores, with the option of employing hydrogen as
an agent in heating and also in reducing and fusing ores at one and the same time;
such processes to be carried out in closed air-tight vessels, the whole without limitation
as to any changes of form or detail which may later on be deemed proper or desirable
in the arrangement or construction of the apparatuses.
Figs. 1 and 2 represent an arrangement of retorts placed side by side in a furnace
in sufficient number to contain the ore to be reduced; A A are such retorts;
B B agitators intended to throw the ore up and down so as to obtain the maximum of
points of contact between it and the reducing gas contained in the retorts;
CC feeding hoppers for introducing ore into the retorts; D inlet tube for bringing
the reducing gas to the retorts; E outlet tube carrying away the gases produced by
the reaction of the hydrogen upon the ore; F F furnace for heating the retorts in
which if required there may be placed a circulating tubular apparatus which would
heat the reducing gas before its introduction into the retorts; G receiver for the
metals melted during the process.
These retorts, instead of being fixed, may be made to rotate upon their axes in
which case they would be provided in their interior with projecting arms for stirring
up the ore.
Fig. 3 shows a vertical arrangement of one or more retorts located in a blast
furnace to be heated by means of any suitable combustible. The ore is fed from
above and as the operation proceeds, is withdrawn from below into an air-tight
recipient; A is the heating furnace; B the retort or retorts containing the ore;
C the hopper or hoppers for feeding the ore; D receiver into which the metals which
might melt during the process, run; E recipient for the ores reduced; F inlet for
pure hydrogen or carbonated hydrogen which is to effect the reduction of the ore;

page_text: G outlet for sulphuretted or arsenicated as also for any volatile matters arising from
the reaction; H condensing chamber for the products of the reaction; I branch pipe
provided with a shut off contrivance conducting the reduced ore into the recipient E.
Fig. 4 shows the arrangement of a very high retort located in a blast furnace and
in which the ore falls in a pulverized state and is reduced in the course of its descent
through the atmosphere of hydrogen contained in the retort. The other part of
this figure being similar to those shown in the previous figure are not otherwise
referred to.
i
Figs. 5 and 6 show an arrangement of a blast furnace in continuous work, in
which heating, reduction and fusion of ore are all effected at the same time by
means of the combustion of a part of the hydrogen introduced into the ore whilst the
reduction of the ore is effected by the part of the hydrogen which is not burnt;
A A main body of the furnace surrounded by a perfectly air-tight metallic jacket
forming part of itself; B inner chamber of the furnace containing the ore;
CC brickwork built in the usual way; D mechanical hopper for feeding the ore;
E pipe connecting the upper part of the furnace with a condensing chamber
F chamber for condensing the gases leaving the furnace and in which they may be
converted into useful products; G chimney for the escape of uncondensed or
uncondensable gases, and to which a fan may be adapted when required to improve
the draught of the furnace; H opening for taking out the slag and metals resulting
from the fusion of the ore; M blast pipes forming blow pipes and intended also to
introduce into the furnace the hydrogen to effect the heating, reduction and fusion of
the ore,
and also, at the same time, the quantity of air or of pure oxygen necessary to
burn the part of hydrogen which is to effect the heating. These pipes are provided
with taps or other equivalent fittings for regulating the respective quantities of the
agents introduced; J tap for introducing pure hydrogen or carbonated hydrogen ;
K tap for admitting the air or oxygen necessary for the partial combustion of the
hydrogen introduced; L L pipe for distributing the hydrogen which is brought from
a gasometer or any direct source of production; M M pipe for introducing air or
pure oxygen, provided with a regulating tap.
The blast furnace arrangement just referred to, see figs. 5 and 6 whilst it enables
both the reduction and fusion of ore to be effected at the same time may also be used
in cases when reduction only is required. In the latter case the ore should be heated
directly by the combustion of a part of the hydrogen introduced by the blast pipes,
and the ore should be taken from the apparatus in an unmelted state by means of an
arrangement similar to the one shown in fig. 3 or in some other equivalent manner.
Having now, particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that I do not claim any
of the above described apparatuses, it being obvious that similar results by any
equivalent means may be attained, but what I claim is
The new or improved process of treating ores in general and pyritous, auriferous,
and argentiferous ores in particular, by reducing the metals contained in such ores by
means of pure hydrogen or carbonated hydrogen free from any oxydizing cause, and
by using said hydrogens as agents for the reduction and heating of the ores in order to
obtain at the same time their reduction and fusion in the same apparatus.
Dated this Twants fourth day of Mar 1907