Process for producing metallic titanium

#The present invention relates to a process for producing metallic titanium capable of achieving an efficient reaction particularly in the reduction step of reducing titanium tetrachloride with fused magnesium, in the Kroll process wherein metallic titanium is produced by chlorinating titanium ore to form titanium tetrachloride and reducing it.

#With regard to the reduction step of obtaining metallic titanium from titanium tetrachloride as an intermediate product among the steps for producing metallic titanium from titanium ore, so-called Kroll process is most commonly adopted industrially. The following will describe a process for reducing titanium in the Kroll process with reference to FIG. 22.

#After titanium ore has been chlorinated to be processed into titanium tetrachloride which is liquid at room temperature beforehand, through a liquid titanium tetrachloride supply pipe 8, titanium tetrachloride is dropped to a tightly closed reduction reaction vessel 1, i.e., onto a reaction bath liquid 2 containing fused magnesium as a main component at an average temperature of about 800° C. which is stored beforehand at the bottom of the reaction vessel 1. Then, highly pure metallic titanium is obtained by chemical change of magnesium into magnesium dichloride and of titanium tetrachloride into metallic titanium through chemical reaction in the reaction vessel.

#FIG. 1 is a conceptual illustration of a bath liquid flow field in the first invention.

#FIG. 2 is a conceptual illustration of a bath liquid temperature distribution in the first invention.

#FIG. 3 is a conceptual illustration of a bath liquid temperature distribution in the axial direction of the vessel in the first invention.

#The following are descriptions of reference numericals.

#1. Reaction vessel wall

#2. Reaction bath liquid