Iron Ore Pellet Dustiness Part II: Effects of Firing Route and Abrasion Resistance on Fines and Dust Generation

Iron ore pellets abrade during their production and handling, which lowers product quality and leads to dustiness issues. Pellets were collected from a variety of plants (operating either Straight-Grate (SG) or Grate-Kiln (GK) furnaces) to understand whether furnace type affects fines and dust formation. Results showed that pellets fired in SG furnaces were less abrasion-resistant (3.5 × lower) than pellets fired in GK furnaces. Concurrently, laboratory pellets were prepared using various ores, binders, and firing temperatures. These were tested to understand the relationship between abrasion index and dustiness. AI was observed to range from 1 to 14%. Dustiness, determined via AI and size distributions of abrasion progeny, ranged from 0.2 to 1.6%. For AI greater than 5%, AI can be used to indicate potentially high levels of dust. For AI less than 5%, there was a poor correlation between AI and dustiness. This was explained by the observation that as AI decreased, the abrasion product fineness increased. The results from parts I and II of this investigation suggest that material loss and levels of pellet dustiness may be significantly affected by pellet quality up to a certain point. Poorly fired pellets will be dusty during handling and transportation, while well-fired pellets will generate less – but finer – material as their quality improves. This could lead to little observed changes in dust generation over a wide range of pellet quality. Dust generation at each site would then depend on the quantity of material produced and their extent of handling.     

A New On-Line Method for Predicting Iron Ore Pellet Quality

The Abrasion Index (AI) describes fines generation from iron ore pellets, and is one of the most common indicators of pellet quality. In a typical pellet plant, dust is generated during the process and then captured. Can the dust be measured and used to predict AI? In this paper, the feasibility of using airborne dust measurements as an indicator of AI is investigated through laboratory tests and using data from a pellet plant. Bentonite clay, polyacrylamide and pregelled cornstarch contents, and induration temperature were adjusted to control the abrasion resistance of laboratory iron ore pellets. AI were observed to range from approximately 1% to 12%. Size distributions of the abrasion progeny were measured and used to estimate quantities of PM₁₀ (particulate matter with aerodynamic diameter less than 10 µm) produced during abrasion. A very good correlation between AI and PM₁₀ (R² = 0.90) was observed using the laboratory pellets. Similarly, a correlation was observed between AI and PM measured in the screening chimney at a straight-grate pelletization plant in Brazil, with an R² value of 0.65. Thus, the laboratory and industry data suggest that measuring dust generation from fired pellets may be an effective on-line measurement of pellet quality. The data also showed that particulate emissions from pelletization plants may be directly affected by AI.     

Compressive Strength of Fired Pellets Using Organic Binder: Response Surface Approach for Analyzing the Performance

In the present investigation, boric acid was used in the ball formation of iron ore fines to improve the compressive strength (CS) of fired pellet. Boric acid was used in combination with carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) and saw dust and the pellets were fired at different firing temperatures from 1000 to 1300 °C. Box–Behnken statistical design was followed for analyzing the CS at different levels of boric acid, CMC and firing temperature. Results were discussed using 2D surface plots. Response function predictions determined by the regression analysis showed coefficient of correlation (R²) for CS as 0.96. Highest CS of 450 kg/pellet was obtained with addition of 1% boric acid, 0.1% CMC and a temperature of 1300 °C within the range of parameters under investigation.     

A Comparison of Pellet Quality from Straight-grate and Grate-kiln Furnaces

Both straight-grate and grate-kiln furnaces have been accepted in the iron ore industry. Both are considered to be roughly equal when comparing overall costs and expenses versus the final product production rate. However, the product quality of these two systems is not equal. This is shown by critically examining the dust generation of pellets from several facilities. The dustiness of pellets is associated with overall pellet strength, and is an important quality measure of fired pellets on its own. A clear distinction between the dustiness of grate-kiln and straight-grate fired pellets is established. We conclude that grate-kiln-cooler systems provide superior pellet quality, but at the cost of some pellet production rate.     

CHARACTERIZATION OF PROPERTIES AND REDUCTION BEHAVIOR OF IRON ORES FOR APPLICATION IN SPONGE IRONMAKING

Studies on the chemical and physical properties, and the reduction behavior (in coal) of hematite iron ores procured from 10 different mines of Orissa, were undertaken to provide information for the iron and steel industries (sponge iron plants in particular). The majority of the iron ores were found to have high iron and low alumina and silica contents. All these iron ores were free from the deleterious elements (S, P, As, Pb, alkalies, etc.). The results indicated lower values of shatter and abrasion indices, and higher values of tumbler index in all the iron ore lumps except Serazuddin (previous) and Khanda Bandha OMC Ltd. For all the fired iron ore pellets, the degree of reduction in coal was more intense in the first 30 min, after which it became small. Slow heating led to higher degree of reduction in fired pellets than rapid heating. All the iron ores exhibited more than a 90% reduction in their fired pellets in 2-h time interval at a temperature of 900°C. Iron ore lumps showed a lower degree of reduction than the corresponding fired pellets.     

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.     

Effect of the firing temperature and the added MgO on the reduction swelling index of the pellet with low SiO2 content

The use of pellet with low SiO₂ content in blast furnace (BF) will reduce the slag amount as well as fuel rate and increase the productivity. In this paper, the effect of the firing temperature and the added MgO on the reduction swelling index (RSI) and the compressive strength of the reduced pellet with low SiO₂ content was investigated, and the microstructure of the fired and reduced pellets was analysed by means of the electron microscopy. It was found that the decrease of SiO₂ content will raise the RSI and reduce the compressive strength of reduced pellet. When the SiO₂ content of pellet is 4.8%, the RSI is 16.5% and compressive strength of reduced pellet is 423 N/P. When the SiO₂ content is 2.8 and 1.8% fired at 1280°C, the RSI of the reduced pellet will increase to 34.5 and 55.8% and the compressive strength is reduced to less than 200 and 80 N/P. However, if some MgO was added, the RSI and the compressive strength of the reduced pellet could be improved significantly. When pellet’s MgO content was over 1.7% and SiO₂ content was 2.8% or MgO content was 2.5% and SiO₂ content was 1.8% fired at 1280°C, the RSI of the two pellets could drop to less than 20% and the compressive strength could increase to more than 300 N/P. Then, the technical index of pellet will meet the requirement of the charging in large BF. The added MgO pellet with low SiO₂ content have been used in 5500?m³ BF in Shougang Jingtang Corporation and delivered sustainable improvement of cost reduction.     

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.     

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.     

w(MgO)对熔剂性球团矿冶金性能的影响

 为了研究添加高镁粉时w(MgO)对熔剂性球团矿冶金性能的影响。考察了w(MgO)为1.6%～2.4%时,其对球团矿抗压强度、RI(还原性指数)、RDI(低温还原粉化指数)和RSI(还原膨胀指数)的影响。采用光学显微镜和X射线衍射仪对球团矿微观结构和矿物组成进行了分析。结果表明,随着MgO质量分数的增加,抗压强度呈先升高后降低的趋势,w(MgO)为2.0%时,抗压强度最大,为3 533 N;随着w(MgO)由1.6%增加到2.4%,球团矿RI、RDI和RSI得到改善;w(MgO)为1.8%～2.0%时,球团矿微观形貌和矿物组成较好,赤铁矿成片结晶,球团矿强度良好。在用高镁粉和研山精粉造球时,w(MgO)控制为1.8%～2.0%,以期得到较低的还原膨胀指数和较好的冶金性能。     

Utilization of High Sulfur Raw Materials in Iron Ore Pellets

Pyrite cinder and high sulfur magnetite were used as raw materials to produce iron ore pellets. Good qualities of green balls and fired pellets were obtained from the feed comprising 50% pyrite cinder and 50% high sulfur magnetite concentrate at a small scale. Small-scale tests were proven by pilot-scale tests. The high grade fired pellets, assaying 63.22% Fe, were analyzed, and the compressive strength of fired pellets was over 2500 N/pellet. The fired pellets possessed excellent metallurgical performances, such as reducibility index higher than 67%, reduction swelling index lower than 15% and low temperature reduction degradation index (+ 3.15 mm) higher than 1%, which can be used as the burden for blast furnace.     

Reduction and Swelling of Fired Hematite Iron Ore Pellets by Non-coking Coal Fines for Application in Sponge Ironmaking

In the present investigation, the reduction and swelling behaviors (in low grade coal) of fired iron ore pellets, prepared by blending hematite iron ore fines of ?100, ?18 + 25, and ?10 + 16 mesh sizes in different proportions, have been studied in the temperature range of 850–1000°C with an objective to promote massive utilization of fines in sponge ironmaking. An increase in temperature up to the range studied (850–1000°C) substantially enhanced the reduction rate and the rate was found to be highest in the first 15–30 min at all these temperatures. All the fired pellets, made by mixing iron ore particles of ± 100 mesh size, have shown approximately the same reduction rates and slightly higher swelling indices than those made from fines of ?100 mesh size only. In all the fired pellets reduced at temperatures of 850°C and 900°C, the results indicated an increase in the extent of swelling with reduction time. Reduction of fired pellets at temperatures of 950°C and 1000°C exhibited shrinkage in their reduced products, and the extent of this shrinkage increased with increase in exposure time.     

Reduction Behaviour of Olivine Iron Ore Pellets in the Experimental Blast Furnace

An experimental study was conducted to determine the reduction behaviour of olivine iron ore pellets and associated reduction mechanisms in the experimental blast furnace (EBF) located at Luleå. Two sets of EBF samples, namely slowly annealed excavated samples and rapidly quenched probe samples of olivine bearing iron ore pellets were examined in detail. Pellet samples were analysed using SEM, XRD and SIROQUANT analysis to quantitatively determine iron ore phase transformations during descent in the EBF. In the tested EBF campaign, up to 75% of reduction occurred at less than 1100°C, i.e. before the pellet reached the cohesive zone while rest of 25% reduction was completed when pellets reached a temperature of 1300°C and hence within the cohesive zone. The reduction degree of pellets was found to have a linear correlation with distance from the stock line of the EBF. This study showed that the presence of olivine did not have a significant effect on reduction degree for temperatures less than 1100°C in the upper zone of the EBF. However, olivine increased the reduction rate in the final stage of reduction for temperatures in excess of 1100°C in the cohesive zone, which was attributed to the formation of an increased amount of molten FeO containing slag within the pellet. This study is expected to make important contributions towards further improvements in the pellet design as well as the optimization of blast furnace operation and efficiency.     

Studies on the Reduction–Swelling Behaviors of Hematite Iron Ore Pellets with Noncoking Coal

Studies on the reduction and swelling behaviors of fired pellets, made by mixing hematite iron ore fines of ?100, ?18 + 25, and ?10 + 16 mesh sizes in different proportions, were carried out with low-grade coal in the temperature range of 850–1000°C with an aim to promote the massive utilization of fines in ironmaking. The rate of reduction in all the fired iron ore pellets increased markedly with an increase in temperature up to 1000°C and it was more intense in the first 15-min soak time. Relatively higher reduction rates and swellings/shrinkage were observed in the pellets made by the addition of larger size (+100 mesh) particles in the matrix of ?100 mesh size fines. In general, highest swelling was observed in the fired pellets at a reduction temperature of 850°C, followed by a decrease at 900°C. At both these temperatures, the percentage of swelling increased with reduction time up to the range studied (120 min). The fired pellets reduced at temperatures of 950°C and 1000°C, showed shrinkage, and the extent of this shrinkage increased with increase in exposure time at 950°C. The percentage swelling/shrinkage in the fired pellets was found to be related to their crushing strengths and porosities.     

STUDIES ON THE REDUCTION KINETICS OF HEMATITE IRON ORE PELLETS WITH NONCOKING COALS FOR SPONGE IRON PLANTS

In the present investigation, fired pellets were made by mixing hematite iron ore fines of ?100, ?16 + 18, and ?8 + 10 mesh size in different ratios and studies on their reduction kinetics in Lakhanpur, Orient OC-2 and Belpahar coals were carried out at temperatures ranging from 850°C to 1000°C with a view toward promoting the massive utilization of fines in ironmaking. The rate of reduction in all the fired iron ore pellets increased markedly with an increase in temperature up to 1000°C, and it was more intense in the first 30 min. The values of activation energy, calculated from integral and differential approaches, for the reduction of fired pellets (prepared from iron ore fines of ?100 mesh size) in coals were found to be in the range 131–148 and 130–181 kJ mol^?1 (for α = 0.2 to 0.8), indicating the process is controlled by a carbon gasification reaction. The addition of selected larger size particles in the matrix of ?100 mesh size fines up to the extent studied decreased the activation energy and slightly increased the reduction rates of resultant fired pellets. In comparison to coal, the reduction of fired pellets in char was characterized by significantly lower reduction rates and higher activation energy.     

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.     

The Effect of Calcined Colemanite Addition on the Mechanical Strength of Magnetite Pellets Produced with Organic Binders

Iron ore pellets must have sufficient mechanical strengths against degradation in all stages of pellet production. Low strength is also a problem for product pellets since they abrade during transportation to the reduction furnaces. The use of a binder is necessary to provide sufficient strength to the pellets and for better operation and handling of pellets. Bentonite is the standard binder in the industry; however, it is considered an impurity due to its acid oxide contents. Organic binders have been tested for many years as alternative binder to bentonite. They have been found to give sufficient wet pellet properties. However, they failed to provide sufficient strength to the preheated and fired pellets due to lack of slag bonding. It has been assumed that one possible effective method to improve the preheated and fired pellet strengths is addition of a slag-bonding constituent. In this study, calcined colemanite was added to the pellet feed to overcome the lower strength problem encountered with organic binder use. The strength of pellets produced with organic binders and calcined colemanite alone and in combination was comparatively studied against the strength of pellets made with standard bentonite binder in magnetite concentrate pelletizing. The results showed that addition of calcined colemanite into the pellet mixture improved the preheated and fired pellet strengths of pellets produced with organic binders.     

改善鞍钢球团矿冶金性能的研究

对带式机酸性球团矿添加含MgO添加剂的造球、焙烧和冶金性能研究表明,在带式机目前焙烧工艺制度条件下,MgO／SiO2比值在0．45～0．6时,球团矿抗压强度高于2500N／个,还原膨胀率大幅度降低;随着MgO／SiO2比值的升高,低温还原粉化率RDI＋3.15、RDI＋6.3提高;900℃还原度提高。当MgO／SiO2比值为0．45时,球团矿的综合冶金性能较好。     

Effects of Binder on the Properties of Iron Ore-Coal Composite Pellets

Large amounts of fines and superfines are generated in Indian iron ore and coal mines due to mechanized mining and mineral dressing operations. Utilization of these fines for extracting metal is of vital concern for resource utilization and pollution control. For agglomeration of these fines, a suitable binder is required. Iron ore-coal composite pellets were prepared by cold bonding. Various binders such as lime, Ca(OH)₂, slaked lime, dextrose, molasses, and sodium polyacrylate (SPA), alone or in combination, were employed for making composite briquettes. The slaked lime–dextrose combination produced the highest strength among the various binders employed for producing composite briquettes and was therefore selected for producing composite pellets for the smelting reduction. In cold bonding, the composite pellets attain the requisite properties due to physico-chemical changes of the binder in ambient conditions. It was possible to obtain a dry strength of more than 300 N per pellet in some cases and more than 200 N per pellet in many trials. Drop strength and shatter index values of composite pellets were also measured. In the present paper an attempt has been made to evaluate the mechanical properties of cold-bonded composite pellets so as to throw some light on the capacity of these pellets to withstand stresses during handling and transportation.     

Influence of raw material particle size on quality of pellets

Abstract

Pellet plant (4·2 MPta capacity) of JSW Steel Ltd imports iron ore fines from different mines to produce pellets for its Corex and Blast Furnace plants. The pelletisation process involves drying the ore fines to reduce the moisture content to less than 1%, grinding in open circuit ball mills to get required fineness. To produce good quality of pellets certain additives are important and limestone is employed for modifying the pellet basicity. Iron ore fines of ?10 mm size and limestone are ground together in a ball mill to get sufficient fineness for the balling process. However, as limestone is harder than iron ore fines the + 100 mesh size limestone particles is higher than required and not all the limestone is fully consumed in the reaction for melt formation. Microstructural studies were conducted under a Leica DMRX polarized microscope at different level fineness (?325# ? 56, 58 and 60%) to investigate its effect on the pellet quality. The cold crushing strength of the pellet improved from 203 to 220 kg p^?1 with increase in fineness. With increase in percentage of ?325# particle size in the ground product RDI of the pellet decreased from 13·8 to 11·9% with increased melt formation from 5 to 9%. With increase in fineness ?325# from 56 to 60% the 150 to 500 μm size pores decreased from 51·8 to 13·6%.