Importance

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Abstract

Disclosed are a method and apparatus for manufacturing sponge iron by the continuous reduction of iron oxides in a shaft utilizing recirculation gases. Reaction gas is removed from the shaft furnace, substantially cleaned of all CO.sub.2 and H.sub.2 O, and then divided into at least two flow portions one of which is passed to a gas generator comprising a gas generating shaft substantially filled with a solid reducing agent and a plasma burner arranged in the lower portion of said shaft. An oxidant is injected into the hot gas from the plasma burner so as to form a gas mixture comprised primarily of CO and H.sub.2, which gas mixture is then mixed with the other flow portion of the cleaned reaction gas in such proportion that the temperature of the resulting reduction gas is suitable for the reduction of iron oxides in the shaft furnace.

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First Claim