Effect of lump ore ratio on the metallurgical properties of blast furnace charge

We conducted a series of experimental studies on the metallurgical properties of N-lump and F-lump ores used in Baosteel’s blast furnace, including thermal cracking, low-temperature reduction pulverization, reducibility, and droplet properties.The results show that the thermal burst properties of N-lump ore are better than those of F-lump ore.The low-temperature reduction degradation index(RDI) pulverization of the charge is the best when the ratios of N-lump ore and F-lump ore account for 35% each.The reduction performance of the charge is improved when F-lump and N-lump ores are mixed with sinter.In the softening-melting performance experiment, when the proportion of N-lump ore is 40%,the characteristic area value(S) as the charge permeability index is the smallest.When F-lump ore is mixed with sinter, its droplet performance improves compared with that of single F-lump ore.The proportion of F-lump ore should not exceed 15%.

Effects of SiO_(2) on the preparation and metallurgical properties of acid oxidized pellets

The effects of SiO_(2) content on the preparation process and metallurgical properties of acid oxidized pellets, including compressive strength, reduction, and softening–melting behaviors, were systematically investigated.Mineralogical structures, elemental distribution, and pore size distribution were varied to analyze the mechanism of the effects.The results show that with an increase in SiO_(2) content from 3.51 wt%to 7.18 wt%, compressive strength decreases from 3150 N/pellet to 2100 N/pellet and reducibility decreases from 76.5% to 71.4%.The microstructure showed that pellets with high SiO_(2) content contained more magnetite in the mineralogical structures.Additionally, some liquid phases appeared, which hindered the continuous crystallization of hematite.Also, the softening–melting properties of the pellets clearly deteriorated as the SiO_(2) content increased.With increasing SiO_(2) content, the temperature range of the softening–melting zone decreased, and the maximum differential pressure and the comprehensive permeability index increased significantly.When acid oxidized pellets are used as the raw materials for blast furnace smelting, it should be combined with high basicity sinters to improve the softening–melting behaviors of the comprehensive charge.

Recent collaborative researches between Japanese universities and steel industry on the iron ore agglomeration process

The properties of iron ores used in ironmaking process have been drastically changed in the past couple of decades.Especially,the change has become significant in the last few years because of the considerable increase in the world steel production.The property change of the iron ore is mainly caused by the depletion of the hard and high-grade lump hematite ores.It has led to the increasing use of ores containing a larger amount of goethite/limonite,i.e.,hydro-oxides of iron.Typically,the proportion of pisolitic ores,which are course limonitic ores,has remarkably increased by several times in Japan.Further,large deposits of the fine goethite ores called Marra Mamba have been developed in Australia and exported to Asian countries.Such trends will be continued in future.Since the change of the ore properties affects not only to the productivity and yield of the sinter but also its metallurgical properties in the blast furnace,further improvement in the sintering technology/ process is required including the preliminary treatment process of raw materials.In order to make wide researches concerning the above issues,the research project 'New Sintering Process through Designing of Composite Granulation & Bed Structure' was formed in the ISIJ,which was the collaborative project between Japanese steel companies and several universities.The project was started in 2005 and carried on the wide range of studies for three and half years.Its main objects are the characterization of pisolitic/goethitic ores and the understanding the behavior during the iron ore sintering process.Further,considering the ore characteristics,some basic researches on the optimum designs of raw material blending,granulation,bed structure,and the metallurgical properties of the produced sinter were performed.The project have invented the technical principle of a new sintering process, namely MEBIOS（Mosaic EmBedding Iron Ore Sintering Process）,characterized by the composite granulation and bed-structure,aiming to cope with the drastic shift of the ore properties.Another big issue fallen on the steel industry is the global warming.CO,emission from steelmaking industry occupies about 15%of the total value of the artificial emissions in Japan and therefore its reduction is urgently required.In order examine the possibility to minimize or to reduce further the CO2 emission from the iron ore sintering process,the research project 'Technological Principle for Low-Carbon Sintering' has been formed since 2009 in the ISIJ.In this project,the analyses of the combustion rates of carbonaceous materials and heat transfer in the sintering bed are first examined by referring the previous studies.Further,experimental works will be conducted on the combustion/oxidation characteristics of biomass charcoal,some organic wastes,steel can scraps,mill scale and partially reduced iron ores as alternative agglomeration reagents of coke and anthracite coal.The effect of their use on the sintering process will be evaluated systematically.It is expected that the structural changes of the sintering bed is considerably different between carbonaceous materials,which disappear during combustion leaving a little amount of ash components and metallic iron bearing materials,which increase the mass and volume during its oxidation. Previous studies showed that the use of metallic iron bearing materials such as steel can scrap and mill scale led to significant decreases in the production rate.This project examines the characteristics of such changes of the sintering bed structure and mineral phases and main process parameters,which govern such phenomena.Further, it searches for a new process principle to overcome the demerits and realize the significant reduction of CO2 emissions from the iron ore sintering process.In the symposium,summary of activities and the major results and progresses of the above two research projects will be introduced.

Effects of iron compounds on pyrolysis behavior of coals and metallurgical properties of resultant cokes

The utilization of highly reactive and high-strength coke can enhance the efficiency of blast furnace by promoting indirect reduction of iron oxides.Iron compounds,as the main constituent in iron-bearing minerals,have aroused wide interest in preparation of highly reactive iron coke.However,the effects of iron compounds on pyrolysis behavior of coal and metallurgical properties of resultant cokes are still unclear.Thus,three iron compounds,i.e.,Fe_3O_4,Fe_2O_3 and FeC_2O_4·2H_2O,were adopted to investigate their effects on coal pyrolysis behavior and metallurgical properties of the resultant cokes.The results show that iron compounds have slight effects on the thermal behavior of coal blend originated from thermogravimetric and differential thermogravimetric curves.The apparent activation energy varies with different iron compounds ranging from 94.85 to 110.11 kJ/mol in the primary pyrolysis process,while lower apparent activation energy is required for the secondary pyrolysis process.Iron compounds have an adverse influence on the mechanical properties and carbon structure of cokes.Strong correlations exist among coke reactivity,coke strength after reaction,and the content of metallic iron in cokes or the values of crystallite stacking height,which reflect the dependency of thermal property on metallic iron content and carbon structure of cokes.