Hylsa, S.a.

Alberto Bustani-Adem

Enrique R Martinez-Vera

The present invention relates to a process for the production of metallic iron through direct reduction of iron ores and particularly to an optimized process which permits operation at higher reducing temperatures with minimized problems of sinterization and agglomeration of iron ore particles. It is also an object of the present invention to provide a process wherein the required size of the reducing gas generating unit is reduced. Both objects are preferably achieved by means of injecting only natural gas, or a similar methane-containing gas into the cooling loop of the direct reduction process and venting a portion of the cooling gas from the cooling zone to the reducing zone (preferably, on the order of 1% to 2% of the methane content of the cooling gas in relation to the volume flow of the reducing gas).

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Monterrey, Mexico

Alberto Bustani-Adem