Arrangement and process for charging iron ore to, and/or discharging sponge iron from, a direct reduction shaft
The present disclosure relates to an arrangement and process for charging iron ore (207) to a direct reduction shaft (211), as well as an arrangement and process for discharging sponge iron (208) from a direct reduction shaft.The processes each comprise steps of evacuating gas from a vessel by application of vacuum followed by refilling the vessel with a seal gas (223), wherein the seal gas is a non-oxidant gas. Moreover, the disclosure relates to a system for the production of sponge iron comprising such an arrangement for charging iron ore and/or discharging sponge iron.Furthermore, the disclosure relates to a process for direct reduction of iron ore, wherein the process comprises introducing a seal gas consisting essentially of a gas selected from hydrogen, biogas, bio-syngas, carbon dioxide, and combinations thereof to a direct reduction shaft in conjunction with charging iron ore and/or in discharging sponge iron.