Process and apparatus for continuously reducing and melting metal oxides and/or pre-reduced metallic materials

Abstract

For continuously reducing and melting metal oxides and, respectively, metallic materials pre-reduced to a large extent, fuels are completely burned within a melting receptacle. The melting receptacle (8) is tightly passing at its upper side into at least one supply space (7) essentially extending in horizontal direction. The effluent gases of the complete combustion within the melting receptacle (8), are emerging via the supply space (7), coal dust being supplied via a coal dust nozzle (15) to the hot combustion gases immediately prior to entering the supply space (7). The hot combustion gases essentially consisting of CO.sub.2 and H.sub.2 O are at least partially converted to CO and H.sub.2 and cooled and are passed with a temperature exceeding 800.degree. C. within the supply space (7) in countercurrent to the charge material (10) to be supplied into the melting receptacle (8). While passing through the charge material (10), the combustion gases supplied with a temperature exceeding 800.degree. C. are transmitting their heat to the charge material, noting that when using a charge material of metal oxides an extensive pre-reduction can be effected within the supply space (7). While passing through the charge material, the hot combustion gases are cooled and the hot combustion gases are discharged with temperatures exceeding 100.degree. C., preferably with a temperature of approximately 150.degree. C., for avoiding condensation of water within the charge material.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.