Process and equipment for the production of direct reduced iron and/or pig iron from iron ores having a high-phosphorus content
AssigneeC.V.G. Ferrominera Orinoco C.A.
InventorHenry Rafael Bueno Colina
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A process and apparatus for refining iron from high-phosphorus content iron ores. The process involves mixing a high-phosphorus iron oxide ore and an alkaline solution of pH between about 12.5 and 13.5, screening the mixture by gravity to separate an alkaline-high-phosphorus solution from a low-phosphorus iron ore; and treating the low-phosphorus iron ore with lime and a natural gas.
Claims24
A process for refining iron from high-phosphorus content iron ores comprising the steps of:
- mixing a high-phosphorus iron oxide ore and an alkaline solution of pH between about 12.5 and 13.5, wherein a mixture of an alkaline-high-phosphorus solution and a low-phosphorus iron ore solid are obtained;
- screening the mixture by gravity to separate the alkaline-high-phosphorus solution from the low-phosphorus iron ore;
- diluting the alkaline-high-phosphorus solution to a pH of between about 11.5 and 12.5, wherein a high-phosphorus solid precipitates from a first diluted alkaline solution;
- and,
- treating the low-phosphorus iron ore with a natural gas.
The process for refining iron from high-phosphorus content iron ores of claim 15, wherein the treating step further comprises the step of passing the reduced iron ore through a magnetic field.
The process for refining iron from high-phosphorus content iron ores of claim 16, wherein the magnetic field is between about 100 and 200 gauss.
A process for refining iron from high-phosphorus content iron ores comprising the steps of:
- mixing a high-phosphorus iron oxide ore and an alkaline solution of pH between about 12.5 and 13.5, wherein a mixture of an alkaline-high-phosphorus solution and a low-phosphorus iron ore solid are obtained;
- screening the mixture by gravity to separate the alkaline-high-phosphorus solution from the low-phosphorus iron ore;
- diluting the alkaline-high-phosphorus solution to a pH of between about 11.5 and 12.5, wherein a high-phosphorus solid precipitates from a first diluted alkaline solution;
- adding a material selected from the group consisting of quicklime, hydrated lime, calcium carbonate and mixtures thereof to the low-phosphorus iron ore;
- feeding the limed low-phosphorus iron ore to a reduction reactor;
- and,
- contacting the limed low-phosphorus iron ore with a natural gas to produced a reduced iron ore.
An apparatus for refining iron from high-phosphorus content iron ores comprising:
- a rotary reactor for mixing a high-phosphorus iron ore and an alkaline solution of between about pH 12.5 and 13.5;
- a grid settler for gravity separation of low phosphorus iron ore solid and an alkaline-high-phosphorus solution;
- a diluting station, wherein water is added to the alkaline-high phosphorus solution to precipitate a high-phosphorus solid from a first diluted alkaline solution;
- a filter to separate the high-phosphorus solid from the first diluted alkaline solution;
- a screening station to wash the low-phosphorus iron ore solid with water, wherein a low-phosphorus iron ore solid is separated from a second diluted alkaline solution containing fine particles of low-phosphorus iron ore solid;
- a filter to separate the fine particles of low phosphorus iron ore solid from the second diluted alkaline solution;
- an evaporator for reducing the water content in the first and second diluted alkaline solutions to create an evaporated alkaline solution;
- a mixing station to concentrate the evaporated alkaline solution to a pH of between about 12.5 and 13;
- and,
- a recycle feed for recycling the alkaline solution of pH between about 12.5 and 13 to the rotary reactor.
The apparatus for refining iron from high-phosphorus content iron ores of claim 23, further comprising:
- a conveyor belt;
- a prereduction reactor comprising a drying station,
- a heating station and a natural gas feeder, wherein the conveyor belt feeds the low-phosphorus iron ore to the prereduction reactor,
- a reduction reactor comprising a natural gas feeder and a heater;
- and,
- a magnetic field, wherein the magnetic field is about 100 to 200 gauss.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.