Midrex Technologies, Inc.

Midrex International, B.v., Rotterdam, Zurich Branch

Kobe Steel, Ltd.

Midrex International B.v. Rotterdam

Metaltek International, Inc.

Midrex Techonologies, Inc.

Brian William Voelker

Stephen Craig Montague

James M McClelland, Jr

Shoichi Kikuchi

Gary Edward Metius

Osamu Tsuge

Haruyasu Michishita

Russell Kakaley

Travis Wright

James Lloyd Lewis, Jr

Gilbert Yould Whitten

Gilbert Y Whitten

Robert Smickley

Russell Eugene Bailey

Gerald Gapinski

Gilbert V Whitten

Lemuel Orleans

Philip Crouch

Gary E Metius

Russell Bailey

James M Mcclelland

A briquette cooling conveyor system includes an apron pan conveyor. The apron pan conveyor includes: an apron pan with openings adapted to drain water from the apron pan conveyor, an apron pan upper, carry strand, and an apron pan lower, return strand. The briquette cooling conveyor system further includes a carriage side flushing hopper positioned between the apron pan upper, carry strand and the apron pan lower, return strand, and the carriage side flushing hopper is configured to capture fines and water from the system.

HBI slow cooling system and method

A shaft furnace for producing metallic direct reduced iron (DRI) from iron-containing pellets or lumps and reducing gas disposed therein, including: a circumferential outer wall defining a top interior reducing zone, a middle interior transition zone, and a bottom interior cooling zone, wherein the iron-containing pellets or lumps travel downwards through the top interior reducing zone, the middle interior transition zone, and the bottom interior cooling zone as the iron-containing pellets or lumps encounter the upward-flowing reducing gas and one or more other gases; and a flow diverter disposed along a centerline of the circumferential outer wall including a convex-upwards upper tapering section disposed in the middle transition zone defined by the circumferential outer wall coupled to a convex-downwards lower tapering section disposed in the bottom cooling zone defined by the circumferential outer wall.

Direct reduction process and shaft furnace utilizing an extended flow diverter cone

A method for mitigating the buildup of direct reduced iron (DRI) clusters on the walls of a direct reduction (DR) furnace, including: injecting one or more of lime, dolomite, and another anti-sticking agent into a charge disposed within a reduction zone of the DR furnace by: (1) injecting the one or more of lime, dolomite, and another anti-sticking agent into a bustle gas stream upstream of or in a bustle of the DR furnace; (2) injecting the one or more of lime, dolomite, and another anti-sticking agent into the bustle gas stream through a pipe collocated with a bustle gas port through which the bustle gas stream is introduced into the DR furnace; and (3) injecting the one or more of lime, dolomite, and another anti-sticking agent directly into the reduction zone of the DR furnace separate from the bustle gas stream.

Methods for mitigating the buildup of direct reduced iron clusters on the walls of a direct reduction furnace

The present invention provides a reformer tube apparatus, including: an axially aligned tubular structure including a flange section, a top section, a middle section, and a bottom section; wherein the top section of the axially aligned tubular structure includes a first portion having a first wall thickness; wherein the top section of the axially aligned tubular structure includes a second portion having a second wall thickness; and wherein the top section of the axially aligned tubular structure includes a third portion having a transitioning wall thickness that joins the first portion to the second portion. The flange section includes a concentric flange disposed about a top portion thereof. The bottom section of the tubular structure includes a plurality of concentric wedge structures disposed about the interior thereof. The bottom section of the tubular structure also includes a recess disposed about the exterior thereof. The axially aligned tubular structure further includes a secondary flange section coupled to the flange section, wherein the secondary flange section includes a concentric flange disposed about a top portion thereof. Optionally, the reformer tube apparatus is disposed within a reformer used in a direct reduction process.

Reformer tube apparatus having variable wall thickness and associated method of manufacture

A method for producing metallic iron in which a mixture including a carbonaceous reducing agent and iron oxide is fed onto a hearth of a moving hearth reducing-melting furnace and is then heated so that the iron oxide is reduced and melted. Metallic iron to be obtained is cooled and is then discharged outside the furnace for recovery. Prior to the feed of raw agglomerates, a granular hearth material is bedded on the moving hearth for forming a layered renewable hearth which can be renewed. Part or the entirety of the renewable hearth which was degraded during operation is renewed, and the hearth material for forming a new renewable hearth is fed. The surface of the newly formed hearth is then leveled and mixture is subsequently fed.

Method for producing metallic iron

The present invention provides a method and apparatus for charging hot direct reduced iron (HDRI) from hot transport vessels (HTVs) into a melter or finisher. In general, the apparatus includes a charging stand including a plurality of bays for receiving and supporting a plurality of HTVs. Each HTV includes at least an outlet port. This outlet port is configured to engage an inlet port of one of the plurality of bays of the charging stand via a telescoping seal that provides a substantially air-tight seal. A feed device is provided that moves the HDRI disposed within the HTVs from the outlet port/inlet port interface to a melter or finisher, such as an electric arc furnace (EAF) or the like. The charging stand also includes one or more load cells operable for weighing the HTVs and the HDRI disposed therein, such that a computer or other logic may be used to control the feed rate of the HDRI charged into the melter or finisher.

Method and apparatus for charging hot direct reduced iron from hot transport vessels into a melter or finisher

A method and apparatus for increasing hydrocarbons to a direct reduction shaft furnace while controlling the temperature uniformity of the center portion of the iron burden wherein the hydrocarbon gases used in direct reduction may be preheated, which increases the temperature of the hydrocarbon gases, and therefore increases the resultant temperature of the upflowing gases as it rises from the lower section of the furnace into the center of the burden. Alternatively, a portion of the upflowing gas may be removed before it enters the reduction zone of the furnace. The removed upflowing gas, known as hot bleed gas, may be ducted to the top gas scrubber of the furnace or may be mixed with the main reducing gas stream of the furnace for reintroduction to the furnace. Alternatively, hot reducing gas may be directly injected into the center portion of the burden, offsetting the cooling effect of the upflowing gas. The center injected hot reducing gas may be split off from the main reducing gas stream or may be generated by a partial oxidation reactor.

Method and apparatus for controlling temperature uniformity of the burden in a direct reduction shaft furnace

A method of separating and recycling shards and fines that occur in a briquetting operation using an non-reactive carrier gas to separate and entrain the hot shards and fines, and conduct them to a material inlet of the briquetting machine, while separating and recycling the carrier gas. Apparatus for carrying out the method is also disclosed.

Method for the separation and recycling of hot fines in hot briquetting of reduced iron

A method and apparatus for simultaneously supplying varying proportions of hot and cold direct reduced iron(DRI) material from a source of hot DRI for melting, storage, briquetting, or transport. The system uses gravity to transport hot DRI material from a reduction furnace to a furnace discharge section, which transports desired amounts to a cooling receptacle and to a hot DRI vessel. The cooling section of the apparatus is connected to the furnace discharge section through a dynamic seal leg. The hot section is also connected to the furnace discharge section through separate a dynamic sealing leg and can feed a surge vessel, a briquetter, a storage vessel or a melting furnace. The method of operation is also disclosed.

Direct reduced iron discharge system and method

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Concord, NC, United States of America

Brian William Voelker