RESERVOIR FOR DIRECT MELTING AND METHOD OF DIRECT MELTING Russian patent published in 2004 - IPC

FIELD: metallurgy of iron; production of metal from metal- containing raw materials in direct melting. SUBSTANCE: proposed reservoir has hearth made from refractory material and provided with base, side walls engageable with molten metal and side walls passing upward from side walls of hearth which are engageable with layer of slag and gas-filled space. Side walls have water-cooled panels with layer of slag on them. Reservoir is also provided with one or several tubes or tuyeres passing downward to reservoir for delivery of oxygen-containing gas above layer of metal and many tubes or tuyeres supplying at least part of metal-containing starting material and carbon-containing material with carrier gas to molten bath. Proposed method includes control of introduction of solid materials and/or oxygen-containing gas and/or control of rate of flow of water through water-cooled panels, thus decreasing losses of heat to 150 kW/sq m of their area liable to action of internal space of reservoir. EFFECT: enhanced efficiency; reduced losses of heat. 23 cl, 3 dwg, 1 tbl