METHOD FOR REFORMING REDUCING GAS IN A FLUIDIZED BED PROCESS FOR REDUCTION OF ORE

摘要

A method for reforming reducing gas in a fluidized bed process for reduction of ore in a series of ore reducing reactors, including the steps of: passing ore through a plurality of reducing reactors (10, 12) including a final reactor (10) and at least one upstream reactor (12); flowing a reducing gas through the final reactor (10) so as to reduce ore in the final reactor (10) whereby a flow of partially spent reducing gas including methane and metallized iron dust exits the final reactor (10); mixing an oxygen source with the partially spent reducing gas so as to combust a portion of the methane with the oxygen source in the presence of the metallized iron dust and provide a reformed reducing gas; and flowing the reformed reducing gas to the upstream reactor (12).