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US 7,691,178 B2Granted
Production of iron
AssigneeTechnological Resources Pty. Limited
InventorPhilip James Ions
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A process for producing desulphurised iron in a solid form. The process includes (a) direct smelting an iron-containing metalliferous feed material and producing molten iron; (b) desulphurising molten iron produced in the direct smelting (a); and (c) casting desulphurised molten iron from the desulphurisation (b) into a solid form, such as pigs.
Claims20
A process for producing iron in a solid form that comprises:
- (a) direct smelting an iron-containing metalliferous feed material in a direct smelting vessel and producing a continuous stream of molten iron;
- (b) filling ladles with molten iron from the continuous stream at first and second docking areas of a ladle filling station adjacent to the direct smelting vessel and desulphurizing the molten iron produced in the direct smelting vessel on a batch basis in a ladle at a first desulphurization station adjacent to the direct smelting vessel and located at the first and second docking areas of the ladle filling station, transferring the ladle containing desulphurized molten iron to first or second docking areas of a second desulphurisation station spaced away from the first desulphurisation station and adjacent to a casting apparatus, and de-slagging desulphurized molten iron at the second desulphurisation station;
- (c) casting desulphurized molten iron into a solid form in the casting apparatus by discharging de-slagged and desulphurized molten iron from the ladle at the second desulphurisation station and forming a continuous stream of molten iron into the casting apparatus;
- and
- (d) controlling the process so that there is always at least one ladle at the second desulphurisation station discharging de-slagged and desulphurised molten iron into the casting apparatus to ensure a continuous stream of molten iron in the casting apparatus and so there is always at least one ladle at the ladle filling station receiving molten iron from the continuous stream of molten iron.
2 more elements
A plant for producing iron in solid form that comprises:
- (a) a direct smelting apparatus that includes a direct smelting vessel for direct smelting an iron-containing metalliferous feed material and producing a continuous stream of molten iron and includes a ladle filling station at which, in use, molten iron can be supplied into ladles at the station;
- (b) a desulphurisation apparatus adapted to desulphurise on a batch basis molten iron produced in the direct smelting apparatus;
- and
- (c) a casting apparatus adapted to receive a continuous stream of molten iron for casting desulphurised molten iron into a solid form;
- and wherein the desulphurisation apparatus includes a first desulphurisation station adjacent to the direct smelting apparatus for desulphurising molten iron in the ladles at the ladle filling station and a second desulphurisation station adjacent to the casting apparatus and located away from the ladle filling station for de-slagging desulphurised molten iron and thereafter for discharging desulphurised and de-slagged molten iron into the casting apparatus.
2 more elements
A process for producing iron in solid form that includes producing molten iron in a direct smelting vessel and supplying the molten iron to ladles at a ladle filling station and thereby producing ladles of molten iron and discharging molten iron from the ladles into a casting apparatus located remotely from said ladle filling station;
- the process comprising:
- (a) locating a first ladle at a first docking area of the ladle filling station and providing a supply of molten iron from the direct smelting vessel to the first ladle and producing a ladle of molten iron, desulphurising molten iron in the first ladle at the ladle filling station, and de-slagging the desulphurised molten iron at the casting apparatus, and discharging the desulphurised molten iron from the first ladle into the casting apparatus;
- (b) locating a second ladle at a second docking area of the ladle filling station and switching the supply of molten iron from the first ladle to the second ladle upon completing supply of molten iron to the first ladle and producing a ladle of molten iron, desulphurising the molten iron in the second ladle at the ladle filling station, de-slagging the desulphurised molten iron at the casting apparatus, and discharging the desulphurised molten iron in the second ladle into the casting apparatus upon completion of discharging molten iron from the first ladle into the casting apparatus;
- and
- (c) continuing to locate ladles at the docking areas of the ladle filling station and repeating the steps of supplying molten iron to the ladles, desulphurising the molten iron, and discharging the desulphurised molten iron into the casting apparatus so as to continuously supply molten iron to the ladle filling station and to continuously discharge molten iron into the casting apparatus.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.