APPARATUS FOR DIRECT REDUCTION OF METALS Russian patent published in 2008 - IPC C21B13/12 

FIELD: coke free metallurgy, namely production of continuously cast billet by direct reduction of metal from metal containing oxide raw material.

SUBSTANCE: reduction is performed by means of gaseous and dispersed reducing agents in plasma-chemical reactors in which main part of energy is introduced by means of arc discharge. Apparatus includes unit for supplying reducing gas and charge, electric ac furnace, unit for moving and changing working electrode and magnetic system. Electric arc furnace includes reactor with cooled walls, two different polarity electrodes mounted coaxially relative to vertical axis of reactor and unit for collecting ready product. In cavity of upper working electrode cooled tube joined with working electrode is mounted. Annular turnings are formed on outer surface of working electrode. Unit for collecting ready product is in the form of metallic cooled crystallizer. Charge and reducing gas are fed through cooled tube preventing penetration of charge onto working electrode and its rapid consumption. It is possible to use any gaseous reducing agent including natural gas at temperature lower than its pyrolysis temperature.

EFFECT: possibility for producing homogenous metal with small content of impurities.

4 cl, 2 dwg