The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Oct. 20, 1987
Filed:
Nov. 06, 1986
Noel A Warner, Rednal, GB;
University of Birmingham, Birmingham, GB;
Abstract
Smelting reduction of metallic oxide material, e.g. pelletized iron oxide ore or iron oxide ore fines is effected by contacting such material with a circulating molten carrier material, e.g. molten iron in the case of iron oxide smelting, in a furnace, and by introducing a carbonaceous reductant e.g. coal into the carrier material. The reductant converts the metal oxide to metal in a smelting reduction zone. Carbon monoxide thereby produced is combusted in a heating zone through which the carrier material passes to effect heat recovery. Slag is removed from the carrier material surface before entering the heating zone. A protective layer of molten material, e.g. lead, which is substantially stationary is maintained below the circulating carrier material to inhibit erosion of the furnace hearth. In other processes, deepsea manganese nodules are conjointly smelted with chalcopyrite in a circulating molten Cu-Ni-Co matte carrier while maintaining a protective layer of Cu-Ni-Co alloy below the matte; and high silica nickel laterite and limonitic ores are conjointly metallized and sulphided while being supported by a circulating molten nickel matte carrier, with controlled addition of carbon to cause a protective layer of ferronickel alloy containing carbon to be maintained below the matte carrier.