Production of Iron

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2019241990-A1
Application number	US-201716343833-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Oct 24, 2017
Priority date	Oct 24, 2016
Publication date	Aug 8, 2019
Grant date	—

Abstract

A process for direct reduction of iron ore in a solid state is disclosed. The process operates under anoxic conditions with biomass as a reductant and with electromagnetic energy as a source of heat.

First claim

1 . A continuous process for direct reduction of iron ore in a solid state includes transporting iron ore and biomass through a preheating chamber and preheating iron ore and biomass as iron ore and biomass move through the chamber; transporting preheated iron ore and biomass through a heating/reduction chamber that has an anoxic environment and exposing iron ore and biomass to electromagnetic energy with iron ore and biomass in contact under anoxic conditions and electromagnetic energy generating heat within iron ore, and biomass acting as a reductant and reducing iron ore in a solid state, as iron ore and biomass move through the chamber.

2 . The process defined in claim 1 includes electromagnetic energy generating heat within the biomass.

3 . The process defined in claim 1 includes controlling process operating conditions so that iron ore is heated to a temperature in a range at which there is metallisation of iron ore.

4 . The process defined in claim 3 includes, in the case of hematite, controlling process operating conditions so that iron ore is heated to a temperature in a range of 800-950° C. for metallisation of the hematite.

5 . The process defined in claim 3 includes controlling process operating conditions so that iron ore is reduced to a required degree of metallisation and forms a solid state metallic iron product.

6 . The process defined in claim 1 includes preheating iron ore and biomass to a temperature in a range of 400-900° C.

7 . The process defined in claim 1 wherein iron ore and biomass are in the form of a blend of iron ore fragments and biomass.

8 . The process defined in claim 1 wherein iron ore and biomass are in the form of briquettes of iron ore fragments and biomass.

9 . (canceled)

10 . The process defined in claim 8 wherein the briquettes have a major dimension of 1-10 cm, typically 2-10 cm, and more typically 2-6 cm.

11 . (canceled)

12 . The process defined in claim 1 wherein the electromagnetic energy is in the microwave energy band of the electromagnetic energy spectrum.

13 - 14 . (canceled)

15 . A process for direct reduction of iron ore in a solid state includes exposing briquettes of iron ore fragments and biomass to electromagnetic energy under anoxic conditions and generating heat within iron ore in the briquettes, with iron ore being reduced in a solid state within the briquettes, and with biomass providing a source of reductant.

16 . The process defined in claim 15 includes electromagnetic energy generating heat within the biomass.

17 . The process defined in claim 15 includes controlling process operating conditions so that iron ore is heated to a temperature in a range at which there is metallisation of iron ore.

18 . The process defined in claim 17 includes, in the case of hematite, controlling process operating conditions so that iron ore is heated to a temperature in a range of 800-950° C. for metallisation of the hematite.

19 - 21 . (canceled)

22 . The process defined in claim 15 includes operating as a continuous process that includes transporting iron ore and biomass through a preheating chamber and preheating iron ore and biomass as iron ore and biomass move through the preheating chamber; transporting preheated iron ore and biomass through a heating/reduction chamber that has an anoxic environment and exposing iron ore and biomass to electromagnetic energy as iron ore and biomass move through the chamber.

23 - 24 . (canceled)

25 . The process defined in claim 15 wherein the briquettes have a major dimension of 1-10 cm, typically 2-10 cm, and more typically 2-6 cm.

26 . (canceled)

27 . The process defined in claim 15 wherein the electromagnetic energy is in the microwave energy band of the electromagnetic energy spectrum.

28 - 29 . (canceled)

30 . An apparatus for direct reduction of iron ore includes an exposure chamber for exposing iron ore and biomass to electromagnetic energy under anoxic conditions and heating and reducing iron ore in a solid state.

31 . The apparatus defined in claim 30 wherein the iron ore and biomass are in the form of briquettes, pellets, or other suitable product shapes that comprise a blend of the iron ore and biomass.

32 - 33 . (canceled)

34 . The apparatus defined in claim 30 includes a reduction assembly that includes a reaction chamber in which the iron ore fines are heated and reduced, a source of electromagnetic energy in the form of microwave energy, a wave guide for transferring microwave energy to the chamber, a source of an inert gas, such as nitrogen, pipework for supplying the inert gas to the chamber to maintain the chamber under anoxic conditions during the treatment of the iron ore fines and biomass in the chamber, and an outlet for discharging an offgas and any retained particulates that are generated during the treatment in the chamber.

Assignees

• Tech Resources Pty Ltd

Inventors

• Buckley Michael

Classifications

• C21B15/00

  Other processes for the manufacture of iron from iron compounds (by electrolysis C25C1/06) · CPC title

• C22B5/10 Primary

  by solid carbonaceous reducing agents · CPC title

• C21B13/0066

  Preliminary conditioning of the solid carbonaceous reductant · CPC title

• C22B5/00

  General methods of reducing to metals · CPC title

• F27D19/00

  Arrangements of controlling devices · CPC title