Gasification process and plant for direct reduction reactors

摘要

The present invention is an integrated process and apparatus for supplying at least a portion of the reducing gas feedstock to a reduction reactor, such as a reactor for the direct reduction of iron, wherein the reducing gas contacts a feed material at a mean operating gas pressure and effects reduction of the feed material to provide a reduced product. The integrated process includes gasifying a hydrocarbonaceous feedstock in a partial oxidation reaction to produce a synthesis gas which comprises hydrogen, and carbon monoxide at a pressure substantially greater than the mean operating gas pressure in the reduction reactor. The synthesis gas is expanded to lower its pressure to substantially the mean operating gas pressure in the DRI reduction reactor to thereby form the reducing gas feedstock at the pressure conditions used for the DRI reaction. The lower pressure reducing gas mixture generated by the expansion is introduced into the DRI reactor as part or all of the reducing gas requirement for the direct reduction of iron.