Method and apparatus for carrying out a metallurgical process

Abstract

A metallurgical process involves providing an ingredient enclosure and placing a plurality of granules of a first material in the ingredient enclosure. The first material contains a first ingredient in a metallurgical process. A metallurgical process furnace having a chamber in which ingredients for the metallurgical process are added is provided and the ingredient enclosure and the first material are added to the chamber. The chamber is heated after the addition of the ingredient enclosure and the first material to the chamber, although it may also be heated prior to such addition. In one form, the granules comprise mill scale and the metallurgical process furnace is a blast furnace.

1 - 27 . (canceled) 
     
     
         28 . A metallurgical process comprising:
 providing an ingredient enclosure;   placing a plurality of particles of a first material in the ingredient enclosure, wherein the first material contains a first ingredient in a metallurgical process;   enclosing the plurality of granules of the first material in the ingredient enclosure;   providing a metallurgical process chamber in which ingredients for the metallurgical process are added;   adding the ingredient enclosure and the first material to the chamber;   heating the chamber after the ingredient enclosure and the first material have been added to the chamber;   opening the enclosure by the application of heat for a period of time; and   exposing the first material to the chamber.   
     
     
         29 . (canceled) 
     
     
         30 . The process of  claim 28  wherein the first material includes a metallic component. 
     
     
         31 - 32 . (canceled) 
     
     
         33 . The process of  claim 30  wherein the metallic component includes contaminated metallic particles. 
     
     
         34 . The process of  claim 33  wherein the contaminated metallic particles are generally surrounded by relatively uncontaminated metallic particles. 
     
     
         35 . The process of  claim 34  wherein the metallurgical process chamber comprises a portion of the interior of a blast furnace, the process further comprising:
 adding a first iron source to the chamber; 
 adding a first carbon source to the chamber; 
 adding a flux to the chamber; and 
 wherein the enclosure comprises a second ingredient in a metallurgical process. 
 
     
     
         36 . (canceled) 
     
     
         37 . The process of  claim 36 , wherein the second iron source comprises mill scale, the first carbon source provides a net increase in energy to the furnace as the carbon source is consumed by the furnace. 
     
     
         38 . The process of  claim 36 , wherein the second carbon source is selected from the group consisting of coke fines, charcoal fines, coal fines, elastomers, and polymers. 
     
     
         39 - 55 . (canceled) 
     
     
         56 . A raw material ingredient used in a metallurgical process; the raw material ingredient comprising an enclosure and a plurality of particles of material in the enclosure, wherein the particles comprise a first ingredient in a metallurgical process. 
     
     
         57 . The raw material ingredient of  claim 56  wherein the first enclosure comprises a second ingredient in the metallurgical process. 
     
     
         58 . The raw material ingredient of  claim 57  wherein the second ingredient comprises a metal. 
     
     
         59 . The raw material ingredient of  claim 58  wherein the second ingredient comprises iron. 
     
     
         60 . The raw material ingredient of  claim 57  wherein the second ingredient comprises a fuel. 
     
     
         61 . The raw material ingredient of  claim 60  wherein the fuel is a fabric. 
     
     
         62 . The raw material ingredient of  claim 61  wherein the fuel is a polymer. 
     
     
         63 . The raw material ingredient of  claim 56  wherein the enclosure includes a vent. 
     
     
         64 . The raw material ingredient of  claim 63  wherein the enclosure further comprises a filter barrier adapted to prevent the particulate matter from readily escaping through the vent. 
     
     
         65 . The raw material ingredient of  claim 56  further comprising providing a first portion of the enclosure adapted to fail after exposure to an elevated temperature before the failure of a second portion of the enclosure. 
     
     
         66 - 85 . (canceled) 
     
     
         86 . An apparatus for filling a container with an iron source, the apparatus comprising:
 a filling reservoir adapted to contain an iron source;   a gravity fed loading chute located below the top of the reservoir the loading chute adapted to fit within an opening in the container;   a gating system that uses at least one magnet capable of producing a magnetic field in a region proximate to the filling reservoir or the loading chute, wherein the magnetic field is strong enough to attract at least a portion of the iron source so as to stop the gravity feed; and   a control mechanism for controlling the production of the magnetic field.   
     
     
         87 . The apparatus of  claim 86  wherein the control mechanism comprises a movable magnet that can be moved toward and away from the filling reservoir of the loading chute. 
     
     
         88 . The apparatus of  claim 86  wherein the control mechanism comprises an electric circuit for an electromagnet.