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.

A continuous process provides direct reduction of iron ore in a solid state. Briquettes of iron ore fragments and biomass are transported through a preheating chamber and preheated to a temperature of at least 400° C. The preheated briquettes are transported through a heating/reduction chamber that has an anoxic environment, and iron ore and biomass in the briquettes are exposed to electromagnetic energy in the form of microwave energy under anoxic conditions. Microwave energy generates heat within iron ore, and biomass acts as a reductant and reduces iron ore in a solid state, as the briquettes move through the heating/reduction chamber.

A process for direct reduction of iron ore in a solid state includes exposing briquettes of iron ore fragments and biomass to electromagnetic energy under anoxic conditions and generating heat within iron ore in the briquettes. The iron ore is reduced in a solid state within the briquettes, and the biomass provides a source of reductant.

A process for direct reduction of iron ore in a solid state includes exposing briquettes of iron ore fragments and biomass to electromagnetic energy under anoxic conditions and generating heat within iron ore in the briquettes. The iron ore is reduced in a solid state within the briquettes, and the biomass provides a source of reductant.

A process for direct reduction of iron ore in a solid state includes exposing briquettes of iron ore fragments and biomass to electromagnetic energy under anoxic conditions and generating heat within iron ore in the briquettes. The iron ore is reduced in a solid state within the briquettes, and the biomass provides a source of reductant.

The present invention concerns a method for manufacturing a part consisting at least partially of a metal alloy. The method includes a metallurgical manufacturing step a1) consisting of manufacturing the body of the part. The method subsequently includes a reinforcing step a2) consisting of forming a local reinforcement directly on the body, in an area of the part that is under stress. The invention also concerns a method for optimising a part.

A process for direct reduction of iron ore in a solid state is disclosed. The process operates under anoxic conditions with biomass as a reductant and with electromagnetic energy as a source of heat.

A process for manufacturing reduced iron agglomerates which comprises introducing starting agglomerates that comprise both an iron oxide-containing material and a carbonaceous reducing agent onto the hearth of a moving-bed heating furnace, and heating the agglomerates to reduce the iron oxide contained in the agglomerates, wherein the iron oxide-containing material contained in the starting agglomerates has a mean particle diameter of 4 to 23 m and contains at least 18% of particles having diameters of 10 m or less. By the use of such starting agglomerates, the process attains: an improvement in the yield of reduced iron agglomerates having large particle diameters; a reduction in the manufacturing time, said reduction leading to an enhancement in the productivity; and a remarkable reduction in the content of impurities such as sulfur in the reduced-iron agglomerates.

A process for manufacturing reduced iron agglomerates which comprises introducing starting agglomerates that comprise both an iron oxide-containing material and a carbonaceous reducing agent onto the hearth of a moving-bed heating furnace, and heating the agglomerates to reduce the iron oxide contained in the agglomerates, wherein the iron oxide-containing material contained in the starting agglomerates has a mean particle diameter of 4 to 23 m and contains at least 18% of particles having diameters of 10 m or less. By the use of such starting agglomerates, the process attains: an improvement in the yield of reduced iron agglomerates having large particle diameters; a reduction in the manufacturing time, said reduction leading to an enhancement in the productivity; and a remarkable reduction in the content of impurities such as sulfur in the reduced-iron agglomerates.

A method for manufacturing reduced iron using the same, and more particularly, to a burning apparatus heating a coal briquette to manufacture reduced iron, which includes a first burning furnace heating the coal briquette while moving the truck accommodating the coal briquette along a linear movement path; a second burning furnace connected to the other side of the first burning furnace, and heating the coal briquette while moving the coal briquette discharged from the truck along an annular path; and a cooling device connected to the second burning furnace, and cooling the reduced iron while moving reduced iron reduced in the second burning furnace along an annular path. The burning apparatus circulates exhaust gases generated in the burning furnace and cooling device to control a temperature and an oxygen concentration and thus improves a metallization rate of the reduced iron.