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:
Mar. 13, 2001
Filed:
Oct. 08, 1999
Gilbert Y. Whitten, Jr., Mooresville, NC (US);
James M. McClelland, Jr., Cornelius, NC (US);
Gary E. Metius, Charlotte, NC (US);
Midrex International B.V. Rotterdam Zurich Branch, Zurich, CH;
Abstract
A method and apparatus for discharging cold product or a combination of cold and hot products from a continuous supply of hot direct reduced iron (“DRI”) comprising a product cooler connected to a shaft furnace, with downward movement of the hot DRI and upward concurrent flow of cooling gas through the product cooler. The method and apparatus provides for diverting of hot DRI from an upper portion of the cooler for gravitational transfer to an adjacent storage unit located at a lower elevation than the furnace. The product cooler is situated at a lower height in relation to the furnace, for gravity transfer of a continuous supply of hot DRI through an entry point into the cooler. Cooler provides for cooling gas injection into the lower portion of the cooler, with gas flow upward and counter-current to the hot DRI that descends through the cooler. Recovered cooling gas is scrubbed, cooled, and recycled back for injection into the bottom portion of the cooler. The cooled DRI is removed from the bottom portion of the cooler thereby establishing a gravitational movement of DRI through the cooler. Simultaneous to cooling of the DRI material, separate transfer portions of hot DRI material can be diverted at the top of the cooler with gravitational transfer to one or more adjacent storage units for processing.