Ironmaking With Gaseous Reduction
ID U-6961
Category Materials
Subcategory Metallurgy
Researchers
Brief Summary
Moving-bed reactor for continuous ironmaking with gaseous reduction of iron ore concentrate
Problem Statement
Blast furnace (BF) ironmaking involves three main steps: sintering/pelletization of iron ore, coke-making, and reduction in a shaft reactor. All the steps in BF technology are energy-intensive processes and also prone to produce hazardous emissions along with large quantities of CO2.
Technology Description
Researchers at The University of Utah have developed a process that uses iron ore concentrate directly without sintering or pelletization and reduce it with hydrogen in a moving bed reactor operating at reduced temperatures. The iron ore concentrate may simply be provided as a loose layer of unsintered particles, and will be fed into the reactor in either a moving grate configuration or loaded onto trays on a moving conveyor belt. This will eliminate the cost and emissions associated with agglomeration processes like sintering and pelletization. The main advantages are no direct CO2 emissions and lower operating temperatures, which decrease energy consumption.
Stage of Development
Proof of Concept
Benefit
- Uses iron ore concentrate without pellet sintering and induration step.
- Energy consumption is reduced by 30-50%.
- CO2 emissions are reduced by 60-95%.
- Process equipment is much simpler, reducing capital and operating costs.
IP
Publication Number: 2024 0026475 A1
Patent Title: HYDROGEN REDUCTION OF IRON ORE CONCENTRATE IN LOOSE LAYERS AND COMPACTS
Jurisdiction/Country: United States
Application Type: Non-Provisional
Contact Info
Dean Gallagher
(801) 585-0396
dean.gallagher@utah.edu
