Patent ID: 7938882

Claim:
A method for the supply of a continuous stream of hot direct reduced iron from a direct reduction shaft furnace or direct reduced iron reheating furnace to a point outside of the direct reduction shaft furnace or direct reduced iron reheating furnace, the method comprising: depressurizing a hot direct reduced iron stream in an insulated duct; after the depressurizing step, splitting the depressurized hot direct reduced iron stream into at least two depressurized hot direct reduced iron streams; after the splitting step, providing a first depressurized hot direct reduced iron stream that is sent continuously to a hot briquetting plant by gravity in a first closed duct system; and after the splitting step, providing a second depressurized hot direct reduced iron stream that is sent continuously to an adjacent melting furnace one of: by gravity in a second closed duct system, and by a combination of gravity in the second closed duct system and a generally horizontal charge conveyor.