Method for the production of reaction gases

Abstract

A method for the production of reaction gases consisting essentially of carbon monoxide and hydrogen in which reactants including a carbonaceous source, slag formers and an oxygen-containing gas are directed in the form of jets through nozzles under the surface of a molten metal bath in a reactor to produce said reaction gases. These reaction gases are then passed to a metallurgical reduction reactor wherein exhaust gases are produced containing carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, water vapor and hydrogen. In accordance with the present invention, at least a portion of the exhaust gases from the metallurgical reduction reactor are recycled into heat exchange relationship with nozzles in the reactor to cool the same. The invention also contemplates recycling additional portions of the exhaust gases to combine them with the oxygen-containing gas entering the reactor, and to serve as a suspending medium for the carbonaceous source or the slag formers.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.