A catchment pit for molten metal and cooling water. has a floor formed with a recess and upwardly open chambers in the pit for receiving the molten metal and supported on the floor. Portions of the side walls of the chambers adjacent respective floors of the chambers and these floors are made of refractory and water-permeable material. A drainage module extends in the pit down into the recess and has a refractory water-permeable side wall so that water in the chambers can pass down into the recess. Granular bulk material fills the pit around and under the chambers and drainage module. A drainage conduit extending down in the drainage module to an intake end in the recess below the chambers. A pump connected to the drainage conduit can thus evacuate water from the recess.

A catchment pit for molten metal and cooling water. has a floor formed with a recess and upwardly open chambers in the pit for receiving the molten metal and supported on the floor. Portions of the side walls of the chambers adjacent respective floors of the chambers and these floors are made of refractory and water-permeable material. A drainage module extends in the pit down into the recess and has a refractory water-permeable side wall so that water in the chambers can pass down into the recess. Granular bulk material fills the pit around and under the chambers and drainage module. A drainage conduit extending down in the drainage module to an intake end in the recess below the chambers. A pump connected to the drainage conduit can thus evacuate water from the recess.

Described is a device for recovering heat and fumes from slag resulting from the steel production cycle which allows the heat emitted by the slag during the cooling to be used without the need to collect the slag in tubs which must then be transported to the cooling surface and tipped in order to discharge the slag; at the same time, this device allows the fumes and consequently the heat and the pollutants which the slag emits during the tipping and the time on the cooling surface to be conveyed and treated.

An apparatus for direct reduction of iron ore in a solid state including a pre-heating furnace for pre-heating iron ore fragments and biomass in briquettes of these materials to a temperature in the range of 400-900 C.; and a reduction assembly for briquettes from the pre-heating furnace. The reduction assembly includes a reaction chamber, a source of electromagnetic energy in the form of microwave energy, a wave guide for transferring microwave energy to the chamber for heating and reducing iron ore in briquettes from the pre-heating furnace, with biomass acting as a reductant, a source of an inert gas, pipework for supplying the inert gas to the chamber to maintain the chamber under anoxic conditions, and an outlet for discharging an offgas and any retained particulates that are generated in the chamber.

An apparatus for direct reduction of iron ore in a solid state including a pre-heating furnace for pre-heating iron ore fragments and biomass in briquettes of these materials to a temperature in the range of 400-900 C.; and a reduction assembly for briquettes from the pre-heating furnace. The reduction assembly includes a reaction chamber, a source of electromagnetic energy in the form of microwave energy, a wave guide for transferring microwave energy to the chamber for heating and reducing iron ore in briquettes from the pre-heating furnace, with biomass acting as a reductant, a source of an inert gas, pipework for supplying the inert gas to the chamber to maintain the chamber under anoxic conditions, and an outlet for discharging an offgas and any retained particulates that are generated in the chamber.