A DIRECT REDUCTION PROCESS

摘要

A direct reduction process for a solid metalliferous material having a particle size distribution that at least in part comprises micron sized particles, comprises supplying the metalliferous material, a solid carbonaceous material, an oxygen-­containing gas, and a fluidizing gas into a fluidized bed in a vessel and maintain­ing the fluidized bed in the vessel, at least partially reducing metalliferous mate­rial in the vessel, and discharging a product stream that comprises the at least partially reduced metalliferous material from the vessel. The process is characterized by: (a) establishing and maintaining a carbon-rich zone within the fluidized bed; (b) passing metalliferous material, including metallised material (which term includes partially metallised material), through the carbon-rich zone; and (c) injecting the oxygen-containing gas into the carbon-rich zone and oxidizing metallised material, solid carbonaceous material and other oxidisable solids and gases and causing controlled agglomeration of particles.