Direct reduction steelmaking process

摘要

Molten steel is continually and directly made within the bath of a metallurgical furnace by the rapid reduction of iron compounds through their reaction with carbonaceous fines continually injected below the molten metal surface. Heat for the process in one instance is supplied mainly by electric arc. The iron compounds may preferably also be injected. Flux materials are also continually fed to the surface, and molten steel and slag are continually tapped from the bath. In order to augment the economics of the process, the carrier gas for injection may be a reducing gas, such as steam-reformed natural gas, and the furnace off-gas may be used to preheat and partially reduce the feed compounds.