Iron ore reduction process

Claim 1

IN AN IROM ORE REDUCTION PROCESS WHEREIN A CO-RICH REDUCING GAS IS PRODUCED BY MEANS INCLUDING THE COMBUSTION OF A PULVERIZED SOLID CARBONACEOUS FUEL WITH AN OXYGEN-RICH GAS CONTAINING AT LEAST ABOUT 85% OXYGEN, WHEREBY THE RESULTANT REDUCING GAS CONTAINS ENTRAINED ASH PARTICLES, AND WHEREIN SAID REDUCING GAS IS CONTACTED WITH SUBDIVIDED IRON OXIDE ORE AT A TEMPERATURE OF FROM ABOUT 900* F. TO ABOUT 1800* F., THE METHOD OF PREPARING THE REDUCING GAS FOR USE IN THE REDUCTION STEP WHICH COMPRISES PASSING THE ASH-CONTAINING REDUCING GAS AT AN ELEVATED TEMPERATURE THROUGH A HEAT EXCHANGE ZONE AND THEREIN COOLING THE REDUCING GAS, REMOVING ENTRAINED ASH FROM THE COOLED REDUCING GAS, AND PASSING THE ASH-FREE COOLED REDUCING GAS THROUGH SAID HEAT EXCHANGE ZONE IN INDIRECT HEAT EXCHANGE RELATION WITH THE ELEVATED TEMPERATURE ASHCONTINING GAS AND THEREBY REHEATING THE ASH-FREE REDUCING GAS TO A TEMPERATURE OF FROM ABOUT 900* F. TO ABOUT 1800* F.