Abstract Apparatus for the direct reduction of iron oxides in compact form by preheating iron oxide compacts and enveloping them in hot inert particulate solids at the top of a columnar reactor then passing the mixture downwardly through the reactor countercurrent to an upward flow of natural gas that is introduced into the reactor bottom. Contact of the natural gas and the compacts with the hot solids results in reformation of the natural gas by reaction with carbon dioxide and the production of hydrogen and carbon monoxide, which hydrogen and carbon monoxide reduce the iron oxide of the compacts. Hot gases from the reactor are passed upwardly through a preheater for incoming iron oxide pellets and are then cooled, cleaned, and a portion returned to the bottom of the reactor. The reduced heated compacts are separated from the inert solids at the bottom of the reactor and are passed countercurrent to the natural gas that is being conducted to the reactor to heat it prior to introduction of the gas into the reactor bottom.
An apparatus for the continuous reduction of iron oxide compacts as defined in claim 1 wherein means is provided for separating a portion of the reactor gases after their withdrawal from the compact receiving means and before natural gas is mixed with the reactor gases.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
35 words
An apparatus for the continuous reduction of iron oxide compacts as defined in claim 2 including means for utilizing reactor gases so separated as fuel in said means for additionally heating the hot inert material.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
165 words
In an apparatus for reducing iron oxide compacts having a columnar reactor and means for chaRging compacts and hot inert solids into the top portion of the reactor and removing reduced compacts and inert solids from the bottom, the improvement comprising: a. a compact preheater positioned above the columnar reactor including means at its top portion for charging compacts to the preheater and means for exhausting gases from the preheater, b. means interconnecting the preheater and the reactor for distributing compacts from the preheater randomly within inert solids charged to the reactor, c. said means for charging hot inert solids to the reactor comprising a duct terminating at said distribution means, d. means for preventing escape of gases from the distributing means into said duct while permitting free upward flow of gases from the reactor to the preheater, and e. means at the lower region of the reactor for introducing reducing gases into the reactor for upward flow through the reactor, distributing means and preheater.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
50 words
In an apparatus as defined in claim 4 the additional improvement comprising a cooling vessel adjacent the lower region of the reactor, arranged to receive reduced compacts from the bottom of the reactor, through which said reducing gas is conducted prior to introduction into the lower region of the reactor.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
36 words
In an apparatus as defined in claim 5, the additional improvement comprising means for conducting at least a portion of the off gases exhausted from said preheater to said cooling vessel for return to said reactor.