# US 10,370,732 B2 · Methods for mitigating the buildup of direct reduced iron clusters on the walls of a direct reduction furnace

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- Number: US 10,370,732 B2
- Document ID: US10370732B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/485,574
- Filed: 2017-04-12
- Published: 2017-10-12
- Granted: 2019-08-06
- Earliest claimed: 2016-04-12
- Assignees: Midrex Technologies, Inc.
- Applicants: Brian Voelker
- Inventors: Brian Voelker
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10370732B2

## CPC

- C21B 13/008: {Use of special additives or fluxing agents}
- C21B 13/004: {in a continuous way by reduction from ores}
- C21B 13/02: in shaft furnaces
- Y02P 10/134: by avoiding CO2, e.g. using hydrogen
- C21B: MANUFACTURE OF IRON OR STEEL (preliminary treatment of ferrous ores or scrap C22B1/00)
- Y02P: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PRODUCTION OR PROCESSING OF GOODS

## Abstract

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.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method for mitigating the buildup of direct reduced iron (DRI) clusters on the walls of a direct reduction (DR) furnace, comprising:
injecting one or more of lime, dolomite, and another anti-sticking agent into a charge disposed within a reduction zone of the DR furnace, wherein the one or more of lime, dolomite, and another anti-sticking agent is injected into the charge by one or more of:
(1) injecting the one or more of lime, dolomite, and another anti-sticking agent into the bustle of the DR furnace separate from the bustle gas stream;
(2) injecting the one or more of lime, dolomite, and another anti-sticking agent into the bustle gas stream through a pipe disposed in a center portion of 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 a reducing gas stream.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the another anti-sticking agent comprises one or more of bauxite, serpentine, bentonite, and portland cement.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more of lime, dolomite, and another anti-sticking agent comprise one of a powder and a slurry.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The method of claim 3, wherein the one of a powder and a slurry is disposed in a carrier.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more of lime, dolomite, and another anti-sticking agent coats the charge disposed within a reduction zone of the DR furnace.