Method of, and arrangement for, producing molten pig iron or steel pre-material

In a method of producing molten pig iron or steel pre-material from iron-oxide-containing raw-material particles, comprising the steps of forming a fluidized bed of carbon particles and an oxygen-containing carrier gas, top-charging said iron-oxide-containing raw-material particles into said fluidized bed, heating reducing and smelting said iron-oxide-containing raw-material particles when passing through said fluidized bed, the improvement wherein at least one of carbon carriers, oxygen and oxygen-containing gases are bottom blown into said fluidized bed from beneath a layer of metal melt formed beneath said fluidized bed, and wherein additional energy is provided to said fluidized bed by plasma heating, and wherein said fluidized bed has an upper region and a central region following thereupon, said plasma heating being effected in said upper region of said fluidized bed so as to generate and maintain there a zone of maximum temperature.

In a plant to be used for producing molten pig iron or steel pre-material from iron-oxide-containing raw-material particles, and of the type including a melting vessel provided with a refractory lining and having a vessel wall, first openings for supplying carbon-containing and iron-oxide-containing raw-material particles, second openings for tapping slag and melt, and third openings for introducing an oxygen-containing carrier gas, and containing, in operation, a fluidized bed, the improvement wherein at least one of carbon carriers, oxygen and oxygen-containing gases are bottom-blown into said fluidized bed from beneath a layer of metal melt formed beneath said fluidized bed and wherein said fluidized bed occupies a certain space having an upper height region and a central height region, and herein plasma burners are installed in said vessel wall within at least one of said upper height region and said central height region.

In a plant to be used for producing molten pig iron or steel pre-material from iron-oxide-containing raw material particles, and of the type including a melting vessel provided with a refractory lining and having a vessel wall, first openings for supplying carbon-containing and iron-oxide containing raw-material particles, second openings for tapping slag and melt, and third openings for introducing an oxygen-containing carrier gas, and containing, in operation, a fluidized bed, the improvement wherein plasma burners are installed in said vessel wall within the height of said fluidized bed and wherein said vessel has a bottom which further comprises bottom nozzles comprising fourth openings for supplying at least one of a carbon carrier, oxygen, an oxygen-containing gas and an inert gas from beneath a layer of metal melt formed beneath said fluidized bed.