Importance

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Abstract

Finely powdered oxidde ore is introduced (at 17) in a reactor (11), possibly together with slag-formers, and treated in three zones in the reactor. The material is preheated and possibly melted in an upper, oxidizing zone by the combustion of carbon monoxide and hydrogen gas from the middle zone below with a gas containing oxygen. In a middle zone consisting of a slag bath, the preheated and possibly melted oxide material at least partially reduced by the simultaneous injection of carbonaceous material and/or material containing hydrocarbon (15, 16) and thermal energy supplied primarily by means of gas heated in a plasma generator (14). Finally, the material is caused to sink into a lower zone at the bottom of the reactor, from where it is tapped intermittently, together with the slag, through a tapping aperture (19).

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First Claim