Method for manufacturing reduced iron agglomerates and apparatus there for

A method for manufacturing reduced iron agglomerates, the method comprising the steps of:

• supplying iron oxide agglomerates including carbonaceous material on a moving hearth in a reduction furnace;
• heating the iron oxide agglomerates to yield the reduced iron agglomerates and hearth fragments which are occasionally seized during operations on the moving hearth while the moving hearth moves in the reduction furnace;
• discharging the reduced iron agglomerates from the reduction furnace;
• and
• removing the seized hearth fragments from the moving hearth during the operation of the reduction furnace, wherein
• at least a portion of the seized hearth fragments are in the form of rolls;
• and
• the seized hearth fragments in the form of rolls are removed from the moving hearth in front of the discharge location for the reduced iron agglomerates.

An apparatus for manufacturing reduced iron agglomerates, the apparatus comprising:

• a reduction furnace provided with a moving hearth;
• supplying means for supplying iron oxide agglomerates including carbonaceous material on the moving hearth;
• heating means for heating iron oxide agglomerates to yield the reduced iron agglomerates and seized hearth fragments on the moving hearth while the moving hearth moves in the reduction furnace;
• discharging means for discharging the reduced iron agglomerates from the reduction furnace;
• and
• removing means for removing the seized hearth fragments from the reduction furnace during the operation of the reduction furnace, wherein
• the removing means comprises recovering means for recovering the reduced iron agglomerates and the seized hearth fragments after the reduced iron agglomerates and the seized hearth fragments are removed from the reduction furnace;
• and
• the recovering means comprises a sieve.

An apparatus, for manufacturing reduced iron agglomerates by a process comprising the steps of supplying iron oxide agglomerates including carbonaceous material on a moving hearth, heating the iron oxide agglomerates to yield the reduced iron agglomerates and seized hearth fragments on the moving hearth while the moving hearth moves in the reduction furnace, discharging the reduced iron agglomerates from the reduction furnace, and recovering the reduced iron agglomerates, the apparatus comprising

• removing means for continuously removing the seized hearth fragments from the reduction furnace during the operation of the reduction furnace, wherein
• the removing means is disposed in proximity to any one of a discharge location and a recovery location for the reduced iron agglomerates from the reduction furnace;
• the removing means comprises recovering means for recovering the reduced iron agglomerates and the seized hearth fragments after the reduced iron agglomerates and the seized hearth fragments are removed from the reduction furnace;
• and
• the recovering means comprises a sieve.

A method for manufacturing reduced iron agglomerates by a process comprising the steps of

• supplying iron oxide agglomerates including carbonaceous material on a moving hearth,
• heating the iron oxide agglomerates to yield the reduced iron agglomerates and hearth fragments which are occasionally seized during operations on the moving hearth while the moving hearth moves in the reduction furnace,
• discharging the reduced iron agglomerates from the reduction furnace, and
• recovering the reduced iron agglomerates, wherein
• the seized hearth fragments are separated from the moving hearth and continuously removed in proximity to any one of a discharge location and a recovery location for the reduced iron agglomerates during the operation of the reduction furnace.

An apparatus for manufacturing reduced iron agglomerates, the apparatus comprising

• a reduction furnace including a moving hearth on which the reduced iron agglomerates and seized hearth fragments are formed;
• a discharging screw that discharges the reduced iron agglomerates and the seized hearth fragments from the reduction furnace;
• and
• a sieve positioned to receive the reduced iron agglomerates and the seized hearth fragments discharged by the discharging screw, wherein
• the sieve separates the reduced iron agglomerates from at least a portion of the seized hearth fragments.