METHOD FOR PRODUCING MOLTEN IRON FROM IRON OXIDE WITH COAL & OXYGEN

摘要

Production of molten iron (35) comprises chemically reducing particulate iron oxide with hot reducing gas containing carbon monoxide and hydrogen and discharging the product (18) into a sumerged combustion melter-gasifier chamber (30). Fossil fuel (coal) is injected into the melt together with oxygen to gasify the fuel, melt the iron and form hot gas in the chamber. The hot gases are removed, humidified by injection of water, and cleared to give a hot reducing gas which can be recycled to reduce further iron oxide. Molten iron is continuously recovered from the melter-gasifier. The method allows solid fuels to be used for the production of iron melts.