Reducing iron oxides in rotary hearth furnace

Abstract

A process for at least partially reducing iron oxides comprises forming a bed of reactants on a hearth of a rotary hearth furnace, the reactants comprising (a) mixture of iron ore fines and particulate carbonaceous material and/or (b) micro-agglomerates of iron ore fines and particulate carbonaceous material. The mixture and/or the micro-agglomerates are heated in the rotary hearth furnace to at least reduce the iron oxides. The "micro-agglomerates" are agglomerates that are less than 1400 microns (and preferably more than 500 microns) in diameter. The at least partially reduced product is preferably used in the production of metallic iron. An apparatus for at least partially reducing iron oxides is also claimed. The process permits operation of the rotary hearth furnace without requiring pelletisation of iron oxides fines and coal.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.