Reduction of agglomerated iron ore

摘要

The invention provides an arrangement for the reduction of agglomerated iron ore to iron comprising the steps of charging the ore into a reaction vessel; subjecting the ore to a reduction reaction by means of a flow of hydrogen gas at a temperature in the range 500 DEG C to 600 DEG C; sintering the iron so reduced by means of a flow of hydrogen gas at a temperature in the range 750 DEG C to 850 DEG C; and discharging the sintered reduced iron from the reaction vessel. The sintered product may be cooled with hydrogen before discharge, and may also be passivated by passage of an inert gas containing less than 5% of oxygen.