Generation of reducing gas

Claim 1

A METHOD FOR THE PRODUCTION OF REDUCING GAS SUITED FOR THE DIRECT REDUCTION OF SOLID METAL OXIDES AND SULFIDES WHICH COMPRISES SUBJECTING A HEAVY HYDROCARBON LIQUID TO PARTIAL OXIDATION WITH AIR UNDER SYNTHESIS GAS GENERATION CINDITIONS AT A TEMPERATURE IN THE RANGE OF 1800 TO 2400*F. EFFECTING PRODUCTION OF A CRUDE REDUCING GAS COMPRISING CARBON MONOXIDE AND HYDROGEN AND CONTAINING METHANE AND FREE CARBON; SUBSTANTIALLY COMPLETELY REMOVING CARBON AND WATER OF REACTION FROM SAID CRUDE REDUCING GAS TO PRODUCE AN INTERMEDIATE GAS COMPRISING CARBON MONOXIDE AND HYDROGEN SUBSTANTIALLY FREE FROM CARBON AND WATER AND CONTAINING METHANE; HEATING SAID INTERMEDIATE GAS TO AN ELEVATED TEMPERATURE OF AT LEAST 500*F.; SEPARATELY HEATING AIR TO AN ELEVATED TEMPERATURE OF AT LEAST 1000*F.; COMBINING SAID PREHEATED AIR AND INTERMEDIATE GAS STREAMS AND SUBJECTING THE RESULTIN MIXTURE TO A NON-CATALYTIC PARTIAL OXIDATION REACTION UNDER SUBSTANTIALLY ADIABATIC REACTION CONDITIONS WITH RELATIVE PROPORTIONS OF AIR AND GAS SUCH THAT AN AUTOGENOUS TEMPERATURE IN THE RANGE OF 1800 TO 2400*F. IS MAINTAINED PRODUCING HOT REDUCING GAS; AND DISCHARGING HOT REDUCING GAS FROM SAID REACTION ZONE AT SAID REACTION TEMPERATURE TO AN ORE REDUCTION ZONE.

Claim 2

A METHOD FOR THE PRODUCTION OF REDUCING GAS SUITED FOR THE DIRECT REDUCTION OF SOLID METAL OXIDES AND SULFIDES WHICH COMPRISES SUBJECTING A HEAVY HYDROCARBON LIQUID TO PARTIAL OXIDATION WITH AIR UNDER SYNTHESIS GAS GENERATION CINDITIONS AT A TEMPERATURE IN THE RANGE OF 1800 TO 2400*F. EFFECTING PRODUCTION OF A CRUDE REDUCING GAS COMPRISING CARBON MONOXIDE AND HYDROGEN AND CONTAINING METHANE AND FREE CARBON; SUBSTANTIALLY COMPLETELY REMOVING CARBON AND WATER OF REACTION FROM SAID CRUDE REDUCING GAS TO PRODUCE AN INTERMEDIATE GAS COMPRISING CARBON MONOXIDE AND HYDROGEN SUBSTANTIALLY FREE FROM CARBON AND WATER AND CONTAINING METHANE; HEATING SAID INTERMEDIATE GAS TO AN ELEVATED TEMPERATURE OF AT LEAST 500*F.; SEPARATELY HEATING AIR TO AN ELEVATED TEMPERATURE OF AT LEAST 1000*F.; COMBINING SAID PREHEATED AIR AND INTERMEDIATE GAS STREAMS AND SUBJECTING THE RESULTIN MIXTURE TO A NON-CATALYTIC PARTIAL OXIDATION REACTION UNDER SUBSTANTIALLY ADIABATIC REACTION CONDITIONS WITH RELATIVE PROPORTIONS OF AIR AND GAS SUCH THAT AN AUTOGENOUS TEMPERATURE IN THE RANGE OF 1800 TO 2400*F. IS MAINTAINED PRODUCING HOT REDUCING GAS; AND DISCHARGING HOT REDUCING GAS FROM SAID REACTION ZONE AT SAID REACTION TEMPERATURE TO AN ORE REDUCTION ZONE.