A method for producing iron containing products includes: operating a blast furnace plant to produce liquid pig iron from blast furnace charge material, whereby metallurgical gas having blast furnace top gas is generated; operating a direct reduction plant to produce direct reduced iron products from iron ore loaded into the top of a direct reduction furnace, a stream of reducing gas being introduced into the direct reduction furnace, the direct reduction plant including a reformer or heater device from which the stream of reducing gas is discharged, whereby top gas is generated by the direct reduction furnace; where a first stream of direct reduction plant top gas is treated in an enriching stage configured for enriching in reducing species, and forwarded to the blast furnace plant to be used therein as reducing gas; and where a first stream of the metallurgical gas (B3/B6) is forwarded to the reformer or heater device of the direct reduction plant to be used therein as fuel gas. Also disclosed is a corresponding metallurgical plant.

Systems and methods are provided for capturing CO.sub.2 from a combustion source using molten carbonate fuel cells (MCFCs). At least a portion of the anode exhaust can be recycled for use as a fuel for the combustion source. Optionally, a second portion of the anode exhaust can be recycled for use as part of an anode input stream. This can allow for a reduction in the amount of fuel cell area required for separating CO.sub.2 from the combustion source exhaust and/or modifications in how the fuel cells can be operated.

A process for the manufacturing of hot briquetted iron (HBI) from direct reduced iron (DRI) wherein iron ore is direct reduced in a reactor by a reducing gas consisting of natural gas and/or hydrogen and/or carbon monoxide under elevated temperatures and discharging the direct reduced iron to at least one briquetting device where briquettes are pressed from the direct reduced iron characterized in that the direct reduced iron after leaving the reactor and before briquetting is heated to a target briquetting temperature.

A method is disclosed for generating slag having desired characteristics.

A molten pig iron manufacturing method using a fixed-type DC electric furnace, wherein an auxiliary raw material is supplied to the fixed-type DC electric furnace and molten pig iron having a C concentration of 2 to 4 mass % at a temperature of 1400 C. to 1550 C. is tapped from a tap hole in a state in which a solid iron source is present in the furnace inner peripheral wall space and in a state in which the solid iron source is not present in the upper electrode facing space.

In various aspects, systems and methods are provided for operating a molten carbonate fuel cell assembly at increased power density. This can be accomplished in part by performing an effective amount of an endothermic reaction within the fuel cell stack in an integrated manner. This can allow for increased power density while still maintaining a desired temperature differential within the fuel cell assembly.

For a method for granulating molten material, in particular slags, in which the molten material is introduced into a granulating chamber in which water is held as a cooling liquid, wherein the molten material is preferably quenched and granulated with evaporation of the water, an acid is added to the water.

In various aspects, systems and methods are provided for operating a molten carbonate fuel cell assembly at increased power density. This can be accomplished in part by performing an effective amount of an endothermic reaction within the fuel cell stack in an integrated manner. This can allow for increased power density while still maintaining a desired temperature differential within the fuel cell assembly.

In various aspects, systems and methods are provided for integration of molten carbonate fuel cells with a Fischer-Tropsch synthesis process. The molten carbonate fuel cells can be integrated with a Fischer-Tropsch synthesis process in various manners, including providing synthesis gas for use in producing hydrocarbonaceous carbons. Additionally, integration of molten carbonate fuel cells with a Fischer-Tropsch synthesis process can facilitate further processing of vent streams or secondary product streams generated during the synthesis process.

In various aspects, systems and methods are provided for operating molten carbonate fuel cells with processes for iron and/or steel production. The systems and methods can provide process improvements such as increased efficiency, reduction of carbon emissions per ton of product produced, or simplified capture of the carbon emissions as an integrated part of the system. The number of separate processes and the complexity of the overall production system can be reduced while providing flexibility in fuel feed stock and the various chemical, heat, and electrical outputs needed to power the processes.