Reduction kiln
AssigneeFfe Mineras USA Inc.
InventorRonald K. Riddle
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Disclosed is a process for reducing metallic oxide or sulfide materials in a rotary kiln and a rotary kiln for reducing such materials. The materials are heated in a reducing atmosphere as they travel along the axial length of the rotary kiln. The materials are discharged from the kiln at a discharge point in the kiln away from its lower material outlet end, wherein the temperature within the kiln at said discharge point is greater than the temperature at the lower material outlet end.
Claims18
A process for reducing metallic oxide or sulfide materials in a rotary kiln comprising a cylindrical shell having a material inlet end and a material outlet end, said process comprising
- a) inserting the materials into the inlet end of a kiln and moving such materials from the inlet end through the kiln toward the outlet end;
- b) heating the materials in a reducing atmosphere as they travel through the kiln at a temperature sufficient to reduce at least some of the materials to free metal product;
- and
- c) discharging materials from the kiln through an opening in the kiln shell at a first discharge point in the kiln axially removed from the material outlet end, wherein the temperature within the kiln at said discharge point is greater than the temperature at the outlet end.
A rotary kiln for reducing metallic oxide or sulfide materials, said kiln comprising
- (a) a cylindrical shell having a material inlet end through which the materials are inserted into the kiln and a material outlet end through which materials can exit the kiln;
- (b) means to move the materials from the material inlet end in the direction of the material outlet end;
- (c) means to heat the materials in a reducing atmosphere as the materials travel through the kiln at a temperature sufficient to reduce some of the materials to free metal product;
- (d) means to discharge materials from the kiln through its shell at a first discharge point that is axially removed from the material outlet end.
A rotary kiln for heat treating material, said kiln comprising
- (a) a cylindrical shell having a material inlet end through which the materials are inserted into the kiln and a material outlet end through which materials can exit the kiln;
- (b) means to move the materials from the material inlet end in the direction of the material outlet end;
- (c) means to heat the materials as they travel through the kiln;
- (d) means to discharge materials from the kiln through its shell at a first discharge point that is axially removed from the material outlet end.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.