US 2026/0055477 A1 · A DIRECT REDUCTION FACILITY AND A METHOD OF DIRECT REDUCTION OF METAL OXIDE

Abstract

The present invention relates to a metal material production configuration (1) and to a method of direct reduction of a metal oxide material (5) holding a first thermal energy into a reduced metal material (16). The method comprises the steps of charging the metal oxide material (5) holding the first thermal energy into a direct reduction facility (7) via a metal oxide material charging inlet device (A), introducing a pre-heated hydrogen containing reducing agent (H), holding a second thermal energy, into the direct reduction facility (7) via a reducing agent inlet device (B). The metal oxide material (5) id direct reduced by using the first thermal energy of the metal oxide material (5) to heat or further heat the introduced pre-heated hydrogen containing reducing agent (H) for providing a chemical reaction between the introduced pre-heated hydrogen containing reducing agent (H) and the metal oxide material (5); exposing the reduced metal material to a required heat treatment temperature for providing heat treatment of the reduced metal material to obtain a densified reduced metal material; and upholding the required heat treatment temperature by the introduction of the pre-heated hydrogen containing reducing agent (H) by means of a heat treatment providing device (17).

Claims20

Dependent claims

A method of direct reduction of a metal oxide material holding a first thermal energy into a reduced metal material by a metal material production configuration, wherein the metal oxide material, holding the first thermal energy, is provided by a metal oxide material provider unit, the method comprising steps of:

charging the metal oxide material holding the first thermal energy into a direct reduction facility via a metal oxide material charging inlet device;
introducing a pre-heated hydrogen containing reducing agent, holding a second thermal energy, into the direct reduction facility via a reducing agent inlet device;
reducing the metal oxide material by using the first thermal energy of the metal oxide material to heat or further heat the introduced pre-heated hydrogen containing reducing agent for providing a chemical reaction between the introduced pre-heated hydrogen containing reducing agent and the metal oxide material;
exposing the reduced metal material to a required heat treatment temperature for providing heat treatment of the reduced metal material to obtain a densified reduced metal material;
upholding the required heat treatment temperature by introduction of the pre-heated hydrogen containing reducing agent by a heat treatment providing device;
and
discharging the reduced metal material that has been subjected to heat treatment.

4 more elements

A metal material production configuration adapted for direct reduction of a metal oxide material holding a first thermal energy into a reduced metal material, the metal material production configuration comprising:

a metal oxide material provider unit configured to provide the metal oxide material holding the first thermal energy;
a direct reduction facility comprising:
a metal oxide material charging inlet device;
a reducing agent inlet device configured to introduce a hydrogen containing reducing agent holding a second thermal energy,
wherein the metal material production configuration comprises:
a direct reduction zone of the direct reduction facility configured to reduce the metal oxide material by using the first thermal energy of the metal oxide material to heat or further heat the introduced hydrogen containing reducing agent for providing a chemical reaction between the introduced hydrogen containing reducing agent and the metal oxide material;
a heat treatment zone of the direct reduction facility configured for heat treatment of the reduced metal material by exposing the reduced metal material to a required heat treatment temperature for providing heat treatment of the reduced metal material to obtain a densified reduced metal material;
a heat treatment providing device configured for upholding the required heat treatment temperature by introduction of a pre-heated hydrogen containing reducing agent;
and
a metal material discharge device configured to discharge the reduced metal material that has been subjected to heat treatment.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

A direct reduction facility and a method of direct reduction of metal oxide

Life of this patent

A direct reduction facility and a method of direct reduction of metal oxide

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20