Vertical furnace operation method and reduced iron production method

Abstract

The invention relates to a method of operating a vertical furnace that can produce reduced iron using a vertical furnace without preheating the raw materials while reducing CO2 emissions. The method of operating a vertical furnace involves feeding the agglomerated ore into the furnace and introducing reducing gas, primarily hydrogen (H₂), into the furnace to reduce the iron oxides contained in the agglomerated ore to obtain reduced iron. This process involves heating the gas containing hydrogen (H₂O), raising the temperature to 800°C or higher by melting hydrogen (H₂) and oxygen (O₂), which are then introduced into the furnace from a position above the inlet of the reducing gas, along the vertical direction of the furnace.