| 摘要 |
<p><PICT:0936704/III/1> Oxidic ore is reduced by passing a hydrocarbon fuel and steam over the ore to produce a reducing atmosphere by hydrolysis without combustion. Fig. 1 shows an apparatus for carrying out this process and consisting of an inner shell 13 fixed within an outer shell 12 rotatably mounted on rollers 61. Pelleted oxidic ore is fed, via a dryer 86 and shoot 89, to the end 16a of the inner tube which is preheated to 1400 DEG F. Hydrocarbon fuel (e.g. methane, butane, ethane, butylene, ethylene acetylene, diesel fuel, kerosene &c.) and steam are fed in through pipes 31, 34 respectively to form the reducing atmosphere within the tube 16 with the hot oxidic ore acting as catalyst. The fuel-steam mixture preferably contains 1-6 molar equivalents of steam. The product metal is removed by a conveyer 55 via a cooler 54, and reducing gases pass back into the space 15 between the inner and outer tubes where they are burnt with air admitted through adjustable manifolds 71 to heat the inner tube. Hot combustion products pass out at 95 and are used to preheat the fuel, steam and ore pellets. The process is particularly suitable for Fe, W, Ni, Zn and certain Cu ores. Specification 933,120 is referred to.</p> |
