Method for Producing Hydrogen and/or Other Gases from Steel Plant Wastes and Waste Heat

Abstract

A method for producing hydrogen and/or other gases from steel plant wastes and waste heat is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of providing molten waste from steel plant like molten slag in a reactor. The molten slag is contacted with water and/or steam in the presence of a reducing agent to form a stream of hydrogen and/or other gases. The hydrogen and/or other gases can then be extracted from the stream of gases from the reactor.

1 - 19 . (canceled) 
     
     
         20 . A method for producing hydrogen and/or other gases from steel plant wastes and waste heat, comprising the steps of:
 providing molten slag in a reactor;   contacting the molten slag with water and/or steam in the presence of a reducing agent to form a stream of hydrogen and/or other gases; and   extracting hydrogen and/or other gases from said stream.   
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the molten slag is waste from a steel plant. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the molten slag comprises blast furnace slag, desulphurization slag of steelmaking, converter slag of steelmaking, ferrochrome or ferromanganese slag in submerged arc furnace (SAP), or a mixture thereof. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein contacting the molten slag with water and/or steam comprises spraying water into the molten slag using a water line with a spray nozzle. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the temperature of the molten slag when contacted with water and/or steam is greater than 1250° C. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein contacting the molten slag with water and/or steam comprises injecting steam into the molten slag using a lance. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein contacting the molten slag with water and/or steam comprises injecting the reducing agent along with the water and/or steam into the molten slag. 
     
     
         27 . A method for production of a stream of hydrogen and/or carbon monoxide, comprising the steps of:
 providing molten slag in a reactor;   contacting the molten slag with water and/or steam in the presence of a carbonaceous material to form a stream of hydrogen and/or other gases; and   extracting the stream of hydrogen and/or other gases from the reactor.   
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the molten slag is waste from a steel plant. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the molten slag comprises blast furnace slag, desulphurization slag of steelmaking, converter slag of steelmaking, ferrochrome or ferromanganese slag in submerged arc furnace (SAF), or a mixture thereof. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein contacting the molten slag with water and/or steam comprises spraying water into the molten slag using a spray nozzle. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the temperature of the molten slag when contacted with water and/or steam is greater than 1250° C. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein contacting the molten slag with water and/or steam comprises injecting steam into the molten slag using a lance. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein contacting the molten slag with water and/or steam comprises injecting the carbonaceous material along with water and/or steam into the molten slag. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the carbonaceous material comprises coal coke, steel plant waste, municipal waste and coal mine waste. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the ratio of water to carbonaceous material is between 1:0.1 to 1:1. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein a flux is added to the molten slag and carbonaceous material for promoting the formation of hydrogen. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the volume ratio of hydrogen and carbon monoxide produced is from 1:0.2 to 1:1. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the gas stream extracted from the reactor comprises at least 10 volume percent of hydrogen. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the gas stream produced in the reactor comprises not greater than 15 volume percent carbon dioxide. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the gas stream comprises a ratio of hydrogen to carbon monoxide of about 1:1 to 8:1.