1. Metallurgical operation

Let's start by recalling (figure 1 ) the detailed diagram of this process and, more specifically, of the COREX plant in Pretoria. We can see that this is an ironmaking process, similar to the blast furnace, but divided into two units described below.

• A shaft reactor for reducing iron ore with gas from the second unit. The use of a shaft furnace requires calibrated ore, i.e. :

  • natural iron ore graded between approximately 10 and 30 mm (lumps);

  • or sinter or pellets.

  It should be noted that neither coal nor coke is used here, and that this vessel is therefore very similar to that found in direct reduction processes such as MIDREX...