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:
Apr. 09, 2002
Filed:
Sep. 24, 1999
Neeraj Saxena, Murray Hill, NJ (US);
Rajesh Maruti Wajge, Chatham, NJ (US);
Kenneth W. Grieshaber, Bethlehem, PA (US);
The BOC Group, Inc., New Providence, NJ (US);
Abstract
An improved rotary hearth furnace having a cylindrical enclosure containing a radially moving belt for transporting pellets containing metal oxide and carbon is disclosed. One or more oxy-fuel burners preferably having a flat flame shape are positioned so as to provide a mixture of fuel and oxidant to the pellets countercurrent to the direction of the pellets. The oxy-fuel burners are operated so as to provide a pre-determined quantity of oxygen in addition to that necessary for combustion so that the additional oxygen oxidizes the carbon monoxide and hydrogen present in the hot combustion gases. Oxygen injectors may also be used to introduce additional oxygen into the furnace. The additional oxygen is strategically injected into the furnace based on thermodynamic modeling of the furnace so that a substantial majority of the fuel is introduced in a reducing zone so that the reducing zone has a fuel-rich atmosphere while the oxidant is primarily introduced in the heating zone so that the heating zone has a fuel-lean atmosphere.