SMELTING APPARATUS AND METHOD OF USING THE SAME

1 . A smelting apparatus for smelting metallic ore, the smelting apparatus comprising a furnace having a continuous curved wall and end walls defining a longitudinal volume having a longitudinal axis in a horizontal direction, the continuous curved wall having a lowermost area, wherein the longitudinal volume is divided in at least three longitudinal layers comprising a top layer within which gasified fuel is combusted for creating a hot gas composition at a temperature sufficient to release, from the metallic ore, at least molten metal and slag, a lowermost layer at the lowermost area for holding molten metal, and a mid layer above the lowermost layer in which the slag accumulates.

2 . The smelting apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the continuous curved wall forms a cylinder.

3 . The smelting apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the continuous curved wall forms an edgeless curve.

4 . The smelting apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a raw material inlet within the continuous curved wall in fluid communication with the top layer for supplying the metallic ore to the furnace.

5 . The smelting apparatus of claim 4 , further comprising a combustion air inlet within the continuous curved wall in fluid communication with the top layer for providing air for inducing combustion in the furnace.

6 . The smelting apparatus of claim 5 , further comprising a molten metal outlet in the lowermost area of the continuous curved wall in fluid communication with the lowermost layer for allowing molten metal to exit the furnace continuously and selectively.

7 . The smelting apparatus of claim 6 , wherein byproduct gases are released from the metallic ore and hot gas composition, and further wherein the continuous curved wall comprises an uppermost area which comprises a byproduct hot gas outlet fluidly connected to the furnace providing an exit from the furnace for the byproduct gases.

8 . The smelting apparatus of claim 7 , further comprising a fuel inlet within the continuous curved wall in fluid communication with the top layer for supplying a fuel to the furnace and a hot gas inlet within the continuous curved wall in fluid communication with the top layer for supplying a hot gas to the furnace for gasifying the fuel and thereby producing the gasified fuel.

9 . The smelting apparatus of claim 7 , further comprising a hot gas generator for providing gasified fuel and a gasified fuel inlet within the continuous curved wall in fluid communication with the top layer for supplying gasified fuel to the furnace.

10 . The smelting apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the furnace comprises an interior surface, the interior surface being lined with a refractory material.

11 . The smelting apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a cooling system operatively connected to the furnace for cooling an exterior surface of the furnace.

12 . A method for smelting a metallic ore comprising:

within a furnace having a continuous curved wall and end walls defining a longitudinal volume having a longitudinal axis in a horizontal direction, combusting a gasified fuel for creating a hot gas composition at a temperature to release, from the metallic ore a molten metal.

13 . The method of claim 12 , further comprising charging a raw material to the furnace prior oxidizing the gasified fuel.

14 . The method of claim 13 , further comprising:

supplying a fuel to the furnace; and

supplying a hot gas to the furnace for gasifying the fuel prior combusting the gasified fuel.

15 . The method of claim 13 , further comprising supplying gasified fuel to the furnace.

16 . The method of claim 12 , further comprising cooling an exterior surface of the furnace.