Title: Furnace and method for reducing metal oxides to molten metal

• Summary
• Claims
• Description
• View all

Abstract: To reduce metal oxides to molten metal, an electrically non-conductive, annular hearth is used, the hearth being radially corrugated to form radial ridges and valleys. A circumferentially continuous coke bed forming a closed electric circuit, is formed on this bed and heated to incandescence by electric current passed through the bed in its circumferential direction, the current being either induced or applied directly. The oxides in particulated form are fed to this bed for reduction to molten metal, the metal collecting in the valleys of the hearth and thereby being prevented from forming a circumferentially continuous melt of higher electrical conductivity than the coke. Particulated coke and oxides can be fed continuously to the bed, the molten metal being then continuously tapped from the valleys of the hearth to thereby prevent the formation of a circumferentially continuous melt.


Do you think this is a good invention? Vote now: