Peripheral Charging of Sponge Iron (Patent No: 824081)

Inventor: Battle, Thomas

Location: Sherwood Park

Comments: N/A

Description: The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. A method of melting a mixed charge of scrap material and discrete iron-bearing material within an electric-arc furnace comprising the steps of initially peripherally charging said discrete material to form a bed on the hearth of the furnace sloping upwardly outwardly in proximity to the furnace walls, at a height essentially lower than the ultimate level of the molten slag surface, loading scrap material centrally onto said bed to substantially maintain said upwardly sloping bed surface, and initially melting said scrap material to gravitate downwardly over the bed away from the walls of the furnace forming a central bath of molten iron whereby effective control of the disposition of the molten iron within the furnace is obtained obviating the formation of wall accretions and clusters.

2. In a method as claimed in claim 1, substantially completely melting said scrap material and, in subsequent charges, initially charging scrap material to said furnace onto said central bath of molten iron and infiltrating said scrap material with a descrete iron-bearing material.

3. In a method as claimed in claim 1 or 2, said discrete material being present in amount up to about 90 percent of the total charge weight.

4. In a method as claimed in claims 1 or 2, said descrete material being sponge iron present in amount up to about 90 percent of the total charge weight.