Process for recovery of iron/steel from mill scales and fines

Abstract

A process for recovering iron/steel from scrap mill scales and fines is disclosed. A process in accordance with embodiments of the present invention comprises mixing mill scales and fines with coke or other carbon containing fines and sealing the mixture in a container. The container is charged into a cupola or blast furnace, where the components react to form molten iron/steel. The recovery process in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention is performed integral to cupola or blast furnace operations and the recovered metal is collected at the base of the furnace as molten iron/steel.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application is a continuation-in-part of PCT International Application No. PCT / US13 / 31189, titled “Process for Recovery of Iron / Steel from Mill Scales and Fines,” filed on Mar. 14, 2013, which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61 / 620,498 filed on Apr. 5, 2012, each of which is incorporated herein, in its entirety, by this reference.TECHNICAL FIELD[0002]The present invention relates to a process for the recovery of iron / steel from scrap mill scales and fines, and more particularly to the refining and cooling of molten steel with mill scale particles recovered from downstream operations of a steel manufacturing process.BACKGROUND ART[0003]Steel is produced by refining hot metal from a blast furnace. After molten steel has been refined, it is solidified and then subjected to successive rolling operations during which the steel may be successively heated and cooled. During the successive heating and cooling of stee...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0007]The present invention relates to a process for enhancing the efficiency of iron / steel reclamation from mill scales and DRI fines. It is an object of the present invention to recover base metal iron / steel from mill scale platelets and DRI fines. In one embodiment, the process uses byproducts of iron and steel melting operations, such as coke and fines, to effect iron / steel recovery. The recovery process in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention is performed integral to cupola or blast furnace operations, and the recovered metal is collected at the base of the furnace as molten iron / steel. A process in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention improves energy utilization of recovery operations by taking advantage of the inherent solubility of carbon in iron and other associated metallurgical interactions. A process in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention generates additional heat energy when coke constituents in a feed mixture ignite and burn using oxygen released from the iron / steel mill scale components. A process in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention also improves molten base metal output from earlier melting of mill scale constituents at the upper levels of a blast furnace.

Problems solved by technology

Numerous processes have been developed to treat and recycle mill scales but have met with varying success and are often costly.

These processes are very expensive, inefficient, and require relatively clean mill scale.

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