Systems and methods for harvesting energy from direct iron-making off gases
OwnerReginald Wintrellinventor
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Abstract
The present invention provides devices and methods for increasing the efficiency and economy of direct iron making processes. In one aspect, the energy contained in off gases produced during a direct iron making process may be utilized in a variety of ways to generate electricity. In another aspect, the off gases may be used to control the pressure in the reaction vessel and increase reaction rates and productivity. In yet another aspect, the sulfur content of the off gases is lowered which reduces the amount of scrubbing required before emission into the atmosphere.
Claims21
A method of harvesting all energy sources contained in off gases resulting from a direct iron making process, comprising the steps of:
- a) transferring heat energy from the off gases of the direct iron making process to water to create steam and turn a steam turbine coupled to a power generator that produces electricity;
- b) transferring pressure energy from the off gases of the direct iron making process to a power recovery expander coupled to a power generator that produces electricity;
- and
- c) transferring chemical energy from the off gases of the direct iron making process to water by combusting the off gases to create steam and turn a steam turbine coupled to a power generator that produces electricity.
A system for harvesting energy from off gases produced by a direct iron making smelter comprising:
- a) a steam hood, configured to be operatively coupled to the smelter and configured to transfer heat energy from the off gases of the direct iron making smelter into water and create steam;
- b) a steam turbine and power generator, operatively coupled to the steam hood, configured to receive steam from the steam hood, and generate electricity;
- c) a power recovery expander and power generator, operatively coupled to the steam hood, configured to receive the off gases from the steam hood, and generate electricity;
- d) a boiler unit, operatively coupled to the power recovery expander, configured to receive the off gases from the power recovery expander, and to create steam by combusting the off gases in the boiler unit;
- and
- e) a steam turbine and power generator, coupled to the boiler unit, configured to receive steam from the boiler unit and generate electricity.
A system for harvesting energy from off gases produced by a direct iron making process, the system comprising:
- a) a direct iron smelter which produces off gases;
- b) a steam hood, operatively coupled to the smelter, configured to transfer heat energy from the off gases into water and create steam;
- c) a steam turbine, operatively coupled to the steam hood, configured to receive the steam from the steam hood;
- d) a power generator, coupled to the steam turbine, configured to generate electricity;
- e) a power recovery expander, operatively coupled to the steam hood, configured to receive the off gases from the steam hood;
- f) a power generator, coupled to the power recovery expander, configured to generate electricity;
- g) a boiler unit, operatively coupled to the power recovery expander, configured to receive the off gases from the power recovery expander, and to transfer chemical energy from the off gases to water in the boiler unit in the form of heat, by combusting the off gases;
- and
- h) a steam turbine and power generator, coupled to the boiler unit, configured to receive steam from the boiler unit and generate electricity with the power generator.
A method of regulating pressure within a smelter during a direct iron making process comprising the steps of:
- a) operatively coupling a pressure recovery expander to the smelter;
- and
- b) regulating flow of off gases generated by the direct iron making process though the pressure recovery expander.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.