The apparatus „vertical reduction furnace“ is an electrical heated, static reduction apparatus and is used in terms of performing reducibility testing of lumpy iron oxide containing feedstock and to determine the characteristics of different coke types. The aggregate is basically consisting of an electrical heated, vertical oven with 3 separate heating zones and an inner reduction retort. The diameter of the reduction tube is defined with 75, 78 respectively 125 mm for the reduction under load testing procedure. Thus, it is possible to perform different testing procedures according to the international standard, e.g. ISO 11258, ISO 7215, ISO 4696 or ISO 7992, but also other test procedures with temperature profiles and gas compositions fulfil the operating range are possible.

Additionally this apparatus allows performing fluidized bed reduction tests, using another reactor with a diameter of 68 mm which is also equipped with an internal cyclone and a dust-filter unit.

Principles of the vertical reduction furnace:

• the usable sample mass depends on the type of test an varies between 400 g for the 68 mm fluidized bed reactor, 500 g for the 75 mm retort and 2000 g for the 125 mm retort
• the temperature can be controlled up to 1100°C, also temperature profiles are possible