Continuous pig iron making by microwave heating with 12.5 kW at 2.45 GHz.

A continuous process of pig iron making using microwave of 2.45 GHz was constructed in a microwave furnace with maximum power of 12.5 kW. Pig iron was produced from the mixed powder of magnetite ore and carbon such as coal, coke and graphite. Molten pig iron initially poured from reaction chamber after about 40 min when temperature attained over 1200 degrees C. After temperature attained at 1400 degrees C, 50 or 200 g of mixed powder was added several times in regular interval and pig iron continuously dropped out from reaction chamber. When mixed powder was supplied, temperature in reaction chamber decreased by about 200 degrees C and recovered during 5 min. Finally, the recovery time of temperature lengthened. In order to make the scale-up of the microwave furnace for iron making, it has been discussed how to improve energy efficiency and to make a preferable construction.