Method and device for preparing a reducing agent for use in a metal making process, metal making process and metal making apparatus using said device

摘要

The invention relates to a method of preparing a reducing agent having an elevated temperature for use in an metal making process, comprising a) a pyrolysing step of heating a carbonaceous starting material using a heat source wherein the starting material is pyrolysed to a degree of pyrolysis of at most 80% into a partially charred carbonaceous product having an elevated temperature and producing a pyrolysis off-gas comprising volatile substances from the carbonaceous starting material, b) a combustion step of combusting the pyrolysis off-gas, thereby producing a combusted off-gas, wherein the thermal energy of the combusted off-gas is used as the heat source in step a) by bringing the combusted off-gas into direct contact with the carbonaceous starting material and/or wherein the thermal energy of the combusted off-gas is used as the heat source in step a) by heating the carbonaceous starting material without directly contacting the carbonaceous starting material. The invention also relates to a preferred device for performing the method according to the invention, a metal making process, such as an iron making process, making use of the reducing agent preparation process and apparatus for carrying out this process.