Fluidized iron ore reduction process and apparatus

Claim 1

A PROCESS FOR THE FLUIDIZED-SOLIDS REDUCTION OF FINELY DIVIDED IRON ORES, THE SAID PROCESS COMPRISING THE FOLLOWING STEPS: (A) PREHEATING FINELY DIVIDED IRON ORE IN A PRREHEATING ZONE THROUGH THE BURNING OF A FUEL WITH AIR TO FORM PRODUCTS OF COMBUSTION SUBSTANTIALY DEVOID OF REDUCING VALUES, (B) TRANSFERRING THE PREHEATED FINELY DIVIDED IRON ORE TO A REDUCING ZONE AND FLLUIDIZING IT IN A REDUCING ATMOSPHERE WHILE PREVENTING THE COMMINGLING OF SAID PRODUCTS OF COMBUSTION AND SAID REDUCING ATMOSPHERE, (C) TRANSFERRING THE SAID REDUCING ATMOSPHERE AFTER USE IN THE SAID REDUCING ZONE TO A COOLING ZONE, AND THERE COOLING AND REMOVING MOSITURE FROM IT, (D) TRANSFERRING THE REDUCED ORE PRODUCT OF STEP (B) TO A COOLING ZONE AND THERE TREATING IT WITH THE COOLED REDUCING ATMOSPHERE FROM STEP (C) SO AS TO COOL IT TO A TEMPERATURE BELOW THE AIR OXIDATION TEMPERATURE, WHILE PREVENTING THE COMMINGLING OF THE ATMOSPHERES IN STEPS (B), (C) AND (D), AND (E) TRANSFERRING AT LEAST A PORTION OF THE ATMOSPHERE FROM STEP (D) TO THE SAID PREHEATING ZONE AND BURNING IT AS THE FUEL IN STEP (A), WHEREBY TO AVOID THE REPEATED PASSAGE OF GASES THROUGH THE SAID PROCESS.