A direct reduction facility for reduction of a metal oxide material

Abstract

The present invention concerns a metal material production configuration (1) and a method of direct reduction of a metal oxide material (5) holding a first thermal energy into a direct reduced metal material (16) by means of a metal material production configuration (1).The method comprises charging the metal oxide material (5), holding the first thermal energy, into a direct reduction facility (7); introducing a hydrogen, holding a second thermal energy, into the direct reduction facility (7).The invention involves reducing the metal oxide material (5) by using the first thermal energy of the metal oxide material (5) to heat or further heat the introduced hydrogen containing reducing agent (8) toward a required reaction temperature for providing a chemical reaction. A high-temperature exit gas (12) is removed from the direct reduction facility and fed to a high-temperature electrolysis unit (21) configured to produce the hydrogen.

1 - 18 . (canceled) 
     
     
         19 . A method of direct reduction of a metal oxide material comprising iron ore oxide material holding a first thermal energy into a direct reduced metal material by a metal material production configuration, the method comprising:
 providing the metal oxide material comprising iron ore oxide material, holding the first thermal energy, by a metal oxide material provider unit;   charging the metal oxide material comprising iron ore oxide material, holding the first thermal energy, into a direct reduction facility;   introducing a hydrogen containing reducing agent, holding a second thermal energy, into the direct reduction facility;   reducing the metal oxide material comprising iron ore oxide material by using the first thermal energy of the metal oxide material comprising iron ore oxide material to heat or further heat the introduced hydrogen containing reducing agent toward a required reaction temperature for providing a chemical reaction between the hydrogen containing reducing agent and the metal oxide material comprising iron ore oxide material;   removing a high-temperature exit gas from the direct reduction facility;   feeding a high-temperature water steam of the high-temperature exit gas to a high-temperature electrolysis unit configured to produce a hydrogen; and   introducing the hydrogen into the direct reduction facility.   
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 19 , wherein the method further comprises:
 pre-heating the hydrogen and/or the hydrogen containing reducing agent to be introduced into the direct reduction facility for reaching the required reaction temperature.   
     
     
         21 . The method according to  claim 19 , wherein the method further comprises:
 forming the hydrogen containing reducing agent, to be introduced into the direct reduction facility, by adding the hydrogen to a primary reducing agent.   
     
     
         22 . The method according to  claim 19 , wherein the method further comprises:
 removing the high-temperature water steam contained in the high-temperature exit gas, which high-temperature water steam is generated by the chemical reaction between the metal oxide material and the hydrogen containing reducing agent.   
     
     
         23 . The method according to  claim 19 , wherein the method further comprises:
 adjusting the second thermal energy of the hydrogen containing reducing agent to be introduced into the direct reduction facility for reaching the required reaction temperature.   
     
     
         24 . The method according to  claim 19 , wherein the method further comprises:
 feeding the high-temperature exit gas to the high-temperature electrolysis unit via a filter device configured for removing impurities from the high-temperature water steam.   
     
     
         25 . The method according to  claim 19 , wherein the method further comprises a step of:
 recovering a third thermal energy from the high-temperature water steam by a heat exchange device.   
     
     
         26 . The method according to  claim 19 , wherein the method further comprises a step of:
 operating the high-temperature electrolysis unit by an electrical energy produced by a re-generative energy source; and   producing the hydrogen by the high-temperature electrolysis unit making use of the high-temperature water steam.   
     
     
         27 . A metal material production configuration adapted for direct reduction of a metal oxide material comprising iron ore oxide material holding a first thermal energy into a reduced metal material, the metal material production configuration comprising:
 a high-temperature electrolysis unit configured to produce a hydrogen;   a metal oxide material provider unit configured to provide the metal oxide material comprising iron ore oxide material holding the first thermal energy;   a direct reduction facility comprising:
 a metal oxide material charging inlet device; 
 a reducing agent inlet device configured to introduce a hydrogen containing reducing agent holding a second thermal energy; and 
 a control circuitry configured to control the direct reduction of the metal oxide material comprising iron ore oxide material; 
   
       wherein:
 the metal material production configuration is adapted to reduce the metal oxide material comprising iron ore oxide material by using the first thermal energy of the metal oxide material comprising iron ore oxide material to heat or further heat the introduced hydrogen containing reducing agent toward a required reaction temperature for providing a chemical reaction between the hydrogen containing reducing agent and the metal oxide material comprising iron ore oxide material; 
 the direct reduction facility comprises a gas outlet device configured for removing a high-temperature exit gas from the direct reduction facility; 
 the metal material production configuration comprises:
 a first fluid line arrangement configured for fluid communication and adapted to feed a high-temperature water steam of the high-temperature exit gas to the high-temperature electrolysis unit; 
 a second fluid line arrangement configured for fluid communication and adapted to feed the hydrogen from the high-temperature electrolysis unit to the direct reduction facility. 
 
 
     
     
         28 . The metal material production configuration according to  claim 27 , wherein the metal material production configuration comprises a reducing agent supply configured to add the hydrogen to a primary reducing agent for providing the hydrogen containing reducing agent. 
     
     
         29 . The metal material production configuration according to  claim 27 , wherein the reducing agent supply is coupled to the direct reduction facility via a third fluid line arrangement configured for fluid communication and adapted to feed the hydrogen containing reducing agent to the direct reduction facility from the reducing agent supply. 
     
     
         30 . The metal material production configuration according to  claim 27 , wherein a heat exchange device is configured to recover a third thermal energy from the high-temperature water steam, which heat exchange device is coupled to the direct reduction facility via a fourth fluid line arrangement adapted for feeding the hydrogen pre-heated by the heat exchange device. 
     
     
         31 . The metal material production configuration according to  claim 27 , wherein the control circuitry is electrically coupled to a reducing agent pre-heating device for adjusting the second thermal energy of the hydrogen containing reducing agent to be introduced into the direct reduction facility for reaching the required reaction temperature. 
     
     
         32 . The metal material production configuration according to  claim 30 , wherein the control circuitry is electrically coupled to the heat exchange device of the first fluid line arrangement, which heat exchange device is configured to transfer heat energy from the high-temperature water steam to the hydrogen produced by the high-temperature electrolysis unit. 
     
     
         33 . A data program comprising a program code readable on a computer of the control circuitry, which data program is programmed for causing the metal material production configuration according to  claim 27  to execute the method steps of:
 providing the metal oxide material comprising iron ore oxide material, holding the first thermal energy, by the metal oxide material provider unit; 
 charging the metal oxide material comprising iron ore oxide material, holding the first thermal energy, into a direct reduction facility; 
 introducing a hydrogen containing reducing agent, holding a second thermal energy, into the direct reduction facility; wherein 
 reducing the metal oxide material comprising iron ore oxide material by using the first thermal energy of the metal oxide material to heat or further heat the introduced hydrogen containing reducing agent toward a required reaction temperature for providing a chemical reaction between the hydrogen containing reducing agent and the metal oxide material comprising iron ore oxide material; 
 removing a high-temperature exit gas from the direct reduction facility; 
 feeding a high-temperature water steam to of the high-temperature exit gas a high-temperature electrolysis unit configured to produce a hydrogen; and 
 introducing the hydrogen into the direct reduction facility. 
 
     
     
         34 . The data program according to  claim 33 , wherein the data program further is programmed for causing the metal material production configuration to execute the method steps of  claim 20 . 
     
     
         35 . A data medium, configured for storing the data program according to  claim 33 , wherein the data medium comprises the program code being readable on the computer for performing the method according to  claim 19 . 
     
     
         36 . A direct reduction facility comprising a metal oxide material charging inlet device, a reducing agent inlet device configured to introduce a hydrogen containing reducing agent holding a second thermal energy; wherein the direct reduction facility comprises the metal material production configuration according to  claim 27 .