| abstract |
A method for inhibiting carburization of metal-bearing material in the reduction zone of a vertical shaft, moving bed reactor for the direct gaseous reduction of iron ore to sponge iron. Carburization within the reduction zone is decreased by regulating the water vapor content of the reducing gas in any of various ways, e.g., by adding water vapor in the form of steam to the reducing gas either before it enters the reduction zone, while it is within the reduction zone, or after it leaves the reduction zone or by recirculating a portion of the effluent gas from the reactor and cooling the recirculated gas to a predetermined extent. |