摘要 |
<p>A method and apparatus is disclosed for achieving improved reduction efficiency in the reduction of particulate metal ores, e.g., iron ore, in a vertical shaft, moving bed reactor having a reduction zone in which a hot reducing gas is caused to flow through a portion of the ore bed to reduce the metal ore thereof to metal, e.g., sponge iron. The improved efficiency is achieved by using a splitflow of reducing gas to the reduction zone of the reactor. In one embodiment of the invention separate reducing gas streams are supplied to the top and bottom of the reduction zone and combined near the center of the reduction zone and removed from the reactor. In another embodiment of the invention reducing gas is fed to a point near the center of the reduction zone, caused to flow both upwardly and downwardly through the ore in the reduction zone and removed at points near the top and bottom of the reduction zone. By using the disclosed split-flow systems, the residence time of the metal-bearing material within the reactor can be reduced and the productivity of the reactor thereby increased.</p> |