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:
Feb. 03, 2004
Filed:
Mar. 19, 2003
Glenn E. Hoffman, Lancaster, SC (US);
Ronald D. Gray, Bethel Park, PA (US);
Midrex International B.V. Rotterdam, Zurich Branch, Zurich, CH;
Abstract
The invention is a method and apparatus for producing beneficiated titanium oxides using a modified rotary hearth furnace, that is a finisher-hearth-melter (FHM) furnace. In the method the refractory surface of the hearth is coated with carbonaceous hearth conditioners and refractory compounds, where onto said hearth is charged with pre-reduced agglomerates. The pre-reduced agglomerates is leveled, then heated until molten, and then reacted with the carbon and reducing gas burner gases until any residual iron oxide is converted to iron having a low sulfur content. Fluid slag and molted iron forms melted agglomerates. The fluid slag is rich in titanium. The melted agglomerates are cooled, and then the melted agglomerates and the hearth conditioners, including the refractory compounds, are discharged onto a screen, which separate the melted agglomerates from the hearth conditioner. The hearth conditioner is recycled, and the melted agglomerates are prepared for sale or for additional treatment in a final melter, where the final melter is preferably an electric furnace. Exhaust gases from the FHM furnace are recovered for calcining coal into fuel gases and coke.