Patent ID: 7914765

Claim:
A method for continuous hydrogen production at a controlled rate comprising the steps of: a) oxidizing molten iron by injecting steam at a controlled rate into the molten iron in a first reaction zone to produce a hydrogen containing gas stream and molten iron oxide in the first reaction zone, wherein said molten iron oxide forms a portion of a molten ferrous slag, and collecting and storing said hydrogen containing off gas stream; b) circulating the molten ferrous slag containing the molten iron oxide to at least a second reaction zone and reducing said molten iron oxide by injecting a carbonaceous material into said at least a second reaction zone to form a carbon monoxide containing gas stream and carbon saturated molten iron in said at least a second reaction zone; c) processing the carbon saturated molten iron to circulate molten iron into the first reaction zone having a reduced carbon content relative to the carbon saturated molten iron in the second reaction zone; and d) repeating steps a) to c) to give continuous hydrogen production at a selected hydrogen production rate.