DIRECT REDUCTION PROCESS UTILIZING HYDROGEN

• Main Authors: HUGHES, Gregory, Darel, CINTRON, Enrique, Jose, ASTORIA, Todd, Michael, BARSTOW-COX, Keith, Marshall
• Format: Patent
• Language: English; French; German
• Published: 17.05.2023
• Subjects: APPARATUS THEREFOR; BLASTING; CHEMISTRY; ELECTROLYTIC OR ELECTROPHORETIC PROCESSES; ELECTROLYTIC OR ELECTROPHORETIC PROCESSES FOR THE PRODUCTIONOF COMPOUNDS OR NON-METALS; FURNACES; FURNACES, KILNS, OVENS, OR RETORTS IN GENERAL; HEATING; KILNS; LIGHTING; MANUFACTURE OF IRON OR STEEL; MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; METALLURGY; METALLURGY OF IRON; OPEN SINTERING OR LIKE APPARATUS; OVENS; PROCESSES FOR THE ELECTROLYTIC PRODUCTION, RECOVERY ORREFINING OF METALS; RETORTS; WEAPONS

A process for the production of direct reduced iron (DRI), with or without carbon, using hydrogen, where the hydrogen is produced utilizing water generated internally from the process. The process is characterized by containing either one or two gas loops, one for affecting the reduction of the oxide and another for affecting the carburization of the DRI. The primary loop responsible for reduction recirculates used gas from the shaft furnace in a loop including a dry dedusting step, an oxygen removal step to generate the hydrogen, and a connection to the shaft furnace for reduction. In the absence of a second loop, this loop, in conjunction with natural gas addition, can be used to deposit carbon. A secondary carburizing loop installed downstream of the shaft furnace can more finely control carbon addition. This loop includes a reactor vessel, a dedusting step, and a gas separation unit.