The reduction of iron oxides by volatiles in a rotary hearth furnace process: Part II. The reduction of iron oxide/carbon composites

The reduction of iron oxide/carbon composite pellets with hydrogen at 900 °C to 1000 °C was studied. Compared to hydrogen, the reduction by carbon was negligible at 900 °C and below. However, significant carbon oxidation of the iron oxide/graphite pellets by H₂O generated from the reduction of Fe₂O₃ by H₂ was observed. At higher temperatures, reduction by carbon complicates the overall reduction mechanism, with the iron oxide/graphite composite pellet found to be more reactive than the iron oxide/char composite pellet. From the scanning electron micrographs, partially reduced composite pellets showed a typical topochemical interface with an intermediate region between an oxygen-rich unreacted core and an iron-rich outer shell. To determine the possibility of reduction by volatiles, a layer of iron oxide powders was spread on top of a high volatile containing bituminous coal and heated inside a reactor using infra-red radiation. By separating the individual reactions involved for an iron oxide/coal mixture where a complex set of reactions occur simultaneously, it was possible to determine the sole effect of volatile reduction. It was found that the light reducing gases evolve initially and react with the iron oxide, with complex hydrocarbons evolving at the later stages. The volatiles caused about 20 to 50 pct reduction of the iron oxide.     

Reduction Behaviour of Iron Ore–Coal Composite Pellets in Rotary Hearth Furnace (RHF): Effect of Pellet Shape,Size, and Bed Packing Material

Reduction of iron ore–coal composite pellets in multi-layers at rotary hearth furnace (RHF) is limited by heat and mass transfer. Effect of various parameters like pellet shape, size, and bed packing material that are supposed to influence the heat and mass transfer in the pellet bed, have been investigated, on the reduction behaviour of iron ore–coal composite pellets at 1250 °C for 20 min in a laboratory scale RHF. Reduced pellets have been characterised through weight loss measurement, estimation of shrinkage, porosity, and qualitative, quantitative phase analysis by XRD. A significant difference in the degree of reduction is observed layer-wise in the pellet bed with the variation in pellet shape and size. Pellet bed without any packing material or packed with coal have demonstrated higher degrees of reduction compared to the pellet bed packed with graphite and sand.     

Experimental study of coal based direct reduction in iron ore/coal composite pellets in a one layer bed under nonisothermal,asymmetric heating

Abstract

The reduction of hematite iron ore fines by different carbonaceous materials in composite pellets in a one-layer bed under nonisothermal asymmetric heating from above is studied. Temperature measurements at various points in the bed show that there are large gradients both inside and outside the pellets, with the reduction fastest at the top where the temperature is highest. The relative difference between the degree of metallisation between the top and the bottom of the pellet can be even greater during the reduction. The pellets undergo nonuniform swelling/shrinking towards the end of the reduction, and their height is less than their width. Reoxidation can start at the top of the pellet while the bottom has not yet been fully reduced. Those with a higher initial volatile content but with the same amount of fixed carbon as other pellets, gave a significantly higher degree of reduction without the involvement of fixed carbon gasification reactions.     

台车连续炉直接还原法

开发了一种在台车连续炉中实现铁矿直接还原的方法。台车连续炉的炉膛是直条形,炉底由若干个台车组成。含碳球团料层铺在台车上,通过炉膛时进行还原焙烧。为了得到高金属化率,在料层表面覆盖薄焦炭层保护。此方法已经成功地用于唐钢石人沟铁矿。生产线所用的炉子长70 m,宽2 8 m。炉底由26 个台车组成。用这种方法生产的海绵铁产品成分如下:金属化率大于92%,全铁约90%,硫小于0 08%。一座炉子的产量为5 t/h,总煤耗低于700 kg/t。和转底炉比较,台车连续炉的优点是:结构简单,供热点少,台车维修方便,主要缺点是台车运转速度不能太快,焙烧时间较长。     

The reduction of iron oxides by volatiles in a rotary hearth furnace process: Part III. The simulation of volatile reduction in a multi-layer rotary hearth furnace process

For reduction of iron oxides by volatiles from coal, the major reductant was found to be H₂, and it can affect the overall reduction of iron oxides. In this study, the reduction by actual volatiles of composite pellets at 1000 °C was studied. The volatile reduction of the hand-packed Fe₂O₃/coal composite pellet as it is devolatilizing out of the pellet was found to be negligible. However, the reduction of iron oxide pellets at the top layer by volatiles from the bottom layers of a three-layer pellet geometry was observed to be about 15 pct. From the morphological observations of partially reduced pellets and the computed rates of bulk mass transfer, volatile reduction appears to be controlled by a mixed-controlled mechanism of bulk gas mass transfer and the limited-mixed control reduction kinetics. Using the reduction rate obtained from the single pellet experiments with pure hydrogen and extrapolating this rate to an H₂ partial pressure corresponding to the H₂ from the volatiles, an empirical relationship was obtained to approximately predict the amount of volatile reduction up to 20 pct.     

煤中氢对含碳球团还原的影响

针对含碳球团还原过程中的煤种选择问题,研究了烟煤和无烟煤挥发分中氢对含碳球团还原的作用以及温度、加热速度对氢还原过程的影响。结果表明,含碳球团中煤热解产生的氢对铁氧化物有还原作用。由于煤中挥发分的热解析出温度与氢还原铁氧化物的还原温度不一致,氢在还原初期迅速放出,导致氢的还原作用率低;提高温度和加热速度可提高煤中氢的还原作用率和挥发分的利用率。综合考虑,含碳球团实际生产选择煤种时,应选择反应性好的无烟煤。     

Application of artificial neural network model to predict reduction degradation index of iron oxide pellets

Abstract

The reduction degradation index (RDI) is an important metallurgical property of iron ore pellets used for the production of RDI from shaft furnace or for use in blast furnaces. In order to develop a control strategy, a neural network model has been developed to predict the RDI of pellets from 13 input variables, namely feedrate of green pellets, bed height, burn through temperature, firing temperature, specific corex gas consumption, bentonite, moisture and carbon content in green pellets and Al₂O₃, SiO₂, CaO, MgO and FeO in fired pellets. The RDI of pellets was more sensitive to variation in MgO, CaO, bentonite and green pellet carbon content. The predicted results were in good agreement with the actual data.     

Investigation of factors affecting pellet strength in straight grate induration machine

Abstract

During induration in a straight grate machine, the green pellets pass through four different thermal treatments, namely drying, preheating, heating and cooling. The pellet bed is fired with downdraught firing leading to thermal gradients through the bed. Corex sludge, which is used as fuel in the pellet mix, supplies the necessary energy for uniform heating of the pellet. The physicochemical conditions, e.g. the temperature and oxygen partial pressure mainly depend on the amount of fuel incorporated in the pellet mix. As a result the percentage and the distribution of various phases in the pellets vary, leading to deviation in quality. To study the distribution of phases and their impact on cold crushing strength at different carbon levels (1·20 and 1·35%), pellets from different layers of the induration bed in an industrial straight grate were characterised. It was observed that the strength of the pellets varied from 142 to 268 kg/pellet and 128 to 245 kg/pellet across bed, with carbon 1·20 and 1·35% respectively. It was found that middle layer pellets had higher strength compared to top and bottom layers. It was observed that amount of hematite, magnetite, porosity and the pore size plays a significant role on the pellet strength. Pellets with 1·20% carbon showed better physical and microstructural properties across the pellet bed compared to pellets with 1·35% carbon.     

利用神经网络模型预测球团矿的冷压强度(英文)

建立了一个神经网络模型来预测球团矿的冷压强度,该网络模型采用三层前向BP神经网络,网络结构为12-12-1,12个输入变量分别为给料率、料层高度、焙烧温度、干透点温度、COREX煤气单耗、膨润土的添加量、生球水分、生球碳含量以及成品球的FeO、MgO、Al2O3含量和碱度;隐层含有12个神经元;输出为成品球团冷压强度;神经元激活函数选择双曲正切函数;神经网络学习算法使用的是带惯量项的误差反向传播学习算法(BP学习算法)。选取353组数据来训练和测试神经网络,其中247组数据用于训练网络,其余数据用于测试网络。测试结果表明,该网络的预测结果与实际结果的误差在3%以内,同时通过敏感性分析得出以下结论:①膨润土添加量、生球碳含量以及成品球的FeO、MgO、Al2O3含量和碱度对球团矿的冷压强度有重要影响;②增加膨润土添加量、成品球碱度、MgO含量、焙烧温度、干透点温度、COREX煤气单耗有助于改善球团矿的冷压强度;③增加FeO含量、生球碳含量、Al2O3含量、料层高度、给料率将使球团矿的冷压强度迅速下降;④增加生球水分会降低冷压强度;⑤提高球团矿冷压强度的参数设置(膨润土的添加量:0.86%～0.92%;wFeO<0.5%;生球碳含量:1.00%～1.10%;MgO含量:0.39%～0.44%);⑥在0.3～0.7范围内增加碱度不能显著改善球团矿的冷压强度。     

白云鄂博铁球团矿异常还原膨胀的机理

通过对比白云鄂博铁矿、精矿及还原前后球团矿的显微结构,对白云鄂博球团矿异常还原膨胀的机理进行研究。研究结果表明,球团矿气孔中挥发分的爆发扩大了基体裂块间的孔隙,加快了还原气体的扩散,增加了反应面积,使还原速度加快,从而导致了球团矿恶性膨胀。白云鄂博球团矿的“挥发分膨胀理论”是一种全新的理论,对抑制白云鄂博球团矿的恶性膨胀具有重要指导意义。     

Smelting Reduction of Iron Ore‐Coal Composite Pellets

Smelting reduction of iron ore‐coal composite pellets has been carried out in an induction furnace. The pellets, tied with tungsten wire, were immersed into the liquid metal bath. The experiments were carried out in the temperature range of 1713 K to 1733 K. For 16‐18 mm diameter pellets, it was observed that (i) the time required for complete dissolution in liquid metal bath is 83‐90 seconds, (ii) the fraction of reduction for 40 seconds of immersion varied from 0.68‐0.87 for Jharia coal pellets and 0.73‐0.92 for Bhilai coal pellets, and (iii) the fraction of reduction increases with decreasing Fe/C ratio and increasing immersion period. X‐ray diffraction (XRD) of reduced pellets showed that the reduction occurred topochemically. Scanning electron microscopic (SEM) examination of partially reduced pellets evinced the structural changes in pellets. The present investigation aims to assess the effect of Fe/C ratio in pellet, volatile matter in coal, and time of pellet immersion into liquid metal bath on reduction of iron ore‐coal composite pellets.     

Pellets Prepared with Mechanically Activated Iron Ore

This work analyses pellets prepared with iron ore that has been mechanically activated by high energy ball milling. Pellet feed iron ore was submitted to high‐energy ball milling for 60 minutes, and the resulting material was analysed through measurements of particle size and specific surface area, as well as X‐ray diffraction. Pellets were prepared from this material. The pellets were heated at temperatures ranging from 1000 to 1250°C in a muffle furnace, and submitted to the maximum temperature during 10‐12 minutes. The samples were then tested regarding crushing strength, densification and porosity, and were examined in a scanning electronic microscope. The results were compared to those obtained with similar samples made from non‐milled pellet feed. It has been shown that through high‐energy ball milling of iron ore it is possible to achieve pellets presenting high densification and compressive strength at firing temperatures lower than the usual ones.     

含碳球团冷固结成形的正交回归试验研究

 通过正交试验研究了用铁矿石和煤粉制造冷固结含碳球团的影响因素。考察了粘结剂的加入量、水含量、压球机的压力、压球机进料速度、压球速度、烘干温度和烘干时间对球团抗压强度的影响。结果表明：粘结剂加入量、烘干时间与水含量对球团的抗压强度影响最大,并进一步通过回归试验获得了这3个影响因素与球团抗压强度之间的回归方程。经验证,方程在一定范围内与试验结果符合较好。试验过程中获得的铁矿石冷固结含碳球团的最大抗压强度为25167N。     

含碳球团低温熔分过程中硫的行为

 根据低配碳比含碳球团还原低温熔分制备粒铁的技术思想,对含碳球团还原熔分过程中硫的分配及硫的行为进行了试验研究。结果表明,影响产品铁粒中硫质量分数的主要因素为碳质垫料、球团原料中硫量以及熔分后铁粒在炉内的停留时间。为了降低铁粒中硫质量分数,应尽量限制煤粉、铁矿带入的硫量。要选择硫量较低的碳质垫料,尽量缩短熔分后铁粒在炉内停留时间。垫料中混和适量的固硫剂有利于降低铁粒中硫质量分数。球团中添加CaO未见有脱硫作用,铁粒中硫质量分数反而稍有增加。球团中配碳比的增加会导致含碳球团中煤粉带入的硫量的增加,因此配碳比的增加会稍微提高铁粒中硫质量分数。     

A simulation study of reduction kinetics for sponge iron production in a rotary hearth furnace

ABSTRACT

A mathematical model has been developed by coupling genetic algorithm (GA) with heat and material balance equations to estimate rate parameters and solid-phase evolution related to the reduction of iron ore-coal composite pellets in a multi-layer bed Rotary hearth Furnace (RHF). The present process involves treating iron ore-coal composite pellets in a crucible over the hearth in RHF. The various solid phases evolved at the end of the process are estimated experimentally, and are used in conjunction with the model to estimate rate parameters. The predicted apparent activation energy for the wustite reduction step is found to be lower than those of the reduction of higher oxides. The thermal efficiency is found to decrease significantly with an increase in the carbon content of the pellet. Thermal efficiency was also found to increase mildly up to three layers. Multilayer bed remains as a potential design parameter to increase thermal efficiency.     

Some Studies to Establish the Reaction Mechanism for the Reduction of Iron Ore‐Graphite Composite Pellets in a Packed Bed Reactor

In this article an attempt has been made to propose a reaction mechanism for the reduction of iron ore‐graphite composite pellets in a packed bed reactor through experiments and mathematical models developed by the authors previously, along with some new supportive experimental data. A tailor made thermo‐gravimetric setup with a provision of packed bed has been developed to carry out isothermal experiments at elevated temperature and in controlled atmosphere. A kinetic model that calculates the evolution of various phases of iron oxides and a thermal model that calculates the temperature at the surface and centre of the cylindrical packed bed have been used along with experimental data under different operating conditions to formulate the reaction mechanism. It is proposed that reduction of iron ore‐graphite composite pellets in packed bed is initially heat transfer controlled and become mass transfer controlled at the later stage of reduction. The role of heat and mass transfer has been ascertained by observing the effect of C/Fe₂O₃ molar ratios, size of pellets, and CO gas in reactive atmosphere on the extent of reduction and the predicted temperature gradient, carbon consumption rate within the packed bed during the course of reduction.     

煤粉燃料球团生产中链篦机结渣物成因分析

对以煤粉为燃料的链篦机-回转窑法铁矿球团生产中链篦机预热段生成的结渣物进行了XRD、显微结构及扫描电镜能谱分析,发现其矿相组成主要是铁氧化物以及少量含镁铝固溶体。为查明链篦机结渣物形成机理,开展了温度及煤灰残碳量对结渣物形成影响的模拟焙烧试验。结果表明,焙烧物的物相中有含残碳的煤灰,其物相组成、显微结构与实际结渣物组成物相类似,证实链篦机喷煤补热燃烧过程中煤灰中的残碳可使结渣混合物体系生成含亚铁相的硅铝酸盐类低熔点化合物,是导致链篦机结渣物形成的主要原因。     

添加熔剂对球团矿还原膨胀率的影响

在鞍钢现场的原料条件下,向铁精矿中添加含CaO、MgO等熔剂并研究其对原膨胀率的影响。结果表明:CaO恶化球团的还原膨胀性能,MgO能够很好地降低球团的膨胀率,并随着熔剂配比的增加而降低。当熔剂配比为1%时,镁石球团还原膨胀率指标最低,为11.83%,且比基准球团低1.2%;石灰石球团还原膨胀率指标最高,为14.93%且比基准球团高出1.93%。