A study on plasticity and compression strength in wet iron ore green pellets related to real process variations in raw material fineness

The main binding force in wet iron ore green pellets has been found to be the cohesive force of the viscous binder. The wet compression strength (wet-CS) in green pellets is, however, also influenced by the green pellet plasticity. A certain degree of plasticity is needed to sustain the green pellet growth rate. Too much plasticity results in decreased bed permeability and production problems. As the plasticity increases, wet-CS decreases. The amount of moisture needed to create a given degree of plasticity depends on particle properties and on the particle size distribution. Therefore, it was of interest to study how wet-CS would be influenced by variations in raw material fineness, if the green pellet plasticity was kept constant, i.e. the green pellet properties would be compared under relevant industrial balling conditions. For this purpose, magnetite concentrates of different particle size distributions were balled in a laboratory drum and the moisture content for constant plasticity was determined for each of the materials.No difference in green pellet wet-CS as a function of the raw material fineness was found when the bentonite binder was used and the plasticity was adjusted to a constant level. Green pellets prepared of raw materials with narrow size distributions were just as strong as those with broader ones. This is because the main binding force is the cohesive force of the viscous binder. In green pellets balled without the bentonite binder, wet-CS increased with increasing specific surface area in the raw material, in a similar manner as has been shown in earlier agglomeration literature. In this case, the capillary forces prevail. Comparison of wet-CS at constant moisture, instead of constant plasticity, would lead to erroneous conclusions. Fineness, or rather the slope of the particle size distribution curve, had a major impact on the moisture content needed for constant plasticity. If the slope increases, more water is needed to keep the plasticity on a constant level. Implications of these results in control of industrial iron ore balling circuits are discussed.     

Studies on the influence of a flotation collector reagent on iron ore green pellet properties

The properties of iron ore green pellets with varying additions of a surface-active flotation collector reagent (Atrac) were studied by small-scale balling. The compression strength and plasticity were measured with a semi-automatic measuring device and the pressure curves were saved and subjected to further mathematical treatment. The green pellet breakage was also filmed with a high-speed camera. Adding Atrac to the pellet feed seriously damaged the quality of green pellets, even in small dosages. This is because an increasing amount of air bubbles became so strongly attached on the particle surfaces that they could not be removed during compaction by balling. The adsorption of air in green pellets was seen as an increase in porosity and a decrease in the filling degree (proportion of pores filled with water). Both the wet and dry compression strength decreased. The air bubbles behaved in wet green pellets like large, plastic particles and the plasticity increased beyond an acceptable level. Breakage started inside the green pellets, along the air bubbles, and generated multi-breakage patterns in wet as well as dry green pellets. Green pellet breakage to crumbs instead of a few distinct segments, promotes the generation of dust and fines and leads to lower bed permeability in the pelletizing machine.The results show that the decrease in iron ore green pellet wet strength in the presence of surface-active agents is not fully described by the so called Rumpf equation, where surface tension and contact angle are used as variables to describe the capillary forces. The green pellet breakage in the presence of air bubbles took place by crack propagation along pore structures rather than through the loss of the capillary forces.     

The role of normal and activated bentonite on the pelletization of barite iron ore concentrate and the quality of pellets

The essential parameters affecting the pelletization process of high barite iron ore concentrate were studied using the Egyptian normal and activated bentonite as binder materials. The metallurgical properties of green, dried and fired pellets were studied using chemical and X-ray analyses. The average strength of fired pellets 1.5% normal bentonite and fired 1300 °C for 25 min exceeded 200 kg/pellet. Using activated bentonite produced a lower kg/pellet value. Meanwhile, the productivity of green pellets decreased when the last binder was used.     

Mechanisms in oxidation and sintering of magnetite iron ore green pellets

Thermal volume changes and oxidation mechanisms in magnetite iron ore green pellets balled with 0.5% bentonite binder, as a function of raw material fineness and pellet porosity, are shown. When a pellet starts to oxidize, a shell of hematite is formed around the pellet while the core still is magnetite. Dilatation curves were measured under non-oxidizing and oxidizing atmospheres to separately describe thermal volume changes in these two phases. Dilatation measurements showed contraction during oxidation between 330 and 900 °C by 0.5%. The extent of contraction was not influenced by the raw material fineness or the original porosity in pellets. Sintering started earlier in the magnetite phase (950 °C) compared to the hematite phase (1100 °C). The sintering rate increased with increasing fineness in the magnetite concentrate. A finer grind in the raw material would, therefore, promote the formation of duplex structures with a more heavily sintered core pulling away from the less sintered outer shell.At constant porosity in green pellets, the oxidation time became longer as the magnetite concentrate became finer, because of the enhanced sintering. In practical balling, however, the increase in fineness would necessitate the use of more water in balling, which results in an increase in green pellet porosity. These two opposite effects levelled out and the oxidation time became constant when green pellets were balled at constant plasticity. Combining the results from the oxidation and dilatation studies revealed new information on the rate limiting factors in oxidation of iron ore pellets. At 1100 °C, the diffusion rate of oxygen was limited by sintering in the magnetite core, taking place before oxidation rather than by the diffusion rate of oxygen through the oxidized hematite shell, as has been claimed in earlier literature. The oxidation rate was at maximum at around 1100 °C. At 1200 °C, the rate of oxidation substantially decreased because both the hematite shell and the magnetite core show heavy sintering at this temperature.Dilatometer measurements showed large thermal volume changes in the presence of olivine, at temperatures above 1200 °C. This is explained by the dissociation of hematite back to magnetite. Dissociation leads to an increase in the volume of the oxidized shell, while sintering of the magnetite core is further enhanced by the olivine additive.     

Pelletization kinetics of an earthy iron ore and the physical properties of the pellets produced

The iron ore sample used in this investigation was brought from the El-Gedida iron ore deposit, Baharia Oasis, Egypt. This ore is porous, earthy, hard, and has a relatively high specific surface area.The batch balling kinetics of this ore show that the ball growth rate increased by increasing the moisture content. The water content required for pelletizing this ore ranged between 16 and 19% of the dry weight of the charge. As expected, increase in bentonite content retarded the ball growth. Finer feed produced by more dry grinding increased the ball growth rate.The average drop number of pellets was improved by increasing the moisture content to a certain limit, after which the quality of the pellets decreased. The drop number also went up as the amount of bentonite was increased. Increasing the degree of fineness of ore improved the level of drop number.The crushing strength of dried pellets improved with increasing water content to a certain limit, then the trend reversed. Bentonite addition slightly improved the crushing strength of pellets. Increasing the degree of fineness of the ore decreased the crushing strength of dry pellets.The bulk density of pellets increased with higher moisture content to a certain limit and then the trend reversed. Small amounts of bentonite addition decreased the bulk density, but when bentonite exceeded 0.5% the bulk density slightly increased with increasing amount of bentonite. Denser pellets were produced when finer feed was used.     

Pelletization of magnetite ore with colemanite added organic binders

A new generation binder consisting of an organic binder and a borate salt was tested as an alternative to bentonite in magnetite ore pelletization. Carboxyl methyl cellulose (CMC), Ciba DPEP06-0007 and corn starch, and calcined colemanite were used as organic binders and the borate salt, respectively. They were added to the pellet feed separately and in different combinations at several addition levels. It was found that the use of organic binders is sufficient in terms of wet pellet quality; however, they fail to render the required compressive strength to pre-heated and fired pellets. Therefore, organic binders and calcined colemanite were used together so that wet pellets, pre-heated and fired pellets would be of the required quality. The results showed that the use of an organic binder together with calcined colemanite indeed yielded pellets with equal or better wet and indurated pellet qualities compared to the pellets produced with bentonite binder alone.     

磷矿-碳复合球团冷固结成型试验研究

为了促进磷矿-碳复合球团在黄磷生产中的应用,进行了磷矿粉-碳质还原剂冷压造球试验研究,考查了黏结剂种类及配比、原料粒度、配碳量等因素对生球性能的影响以及生球烘干过程的脱水行为和强度变化.试验结果表明:随着腐植酸钠配比从0.5％增至2.0％,落下强度和抗压强度均先升高后降低;随着膨润土配比从0.5％增至2.0％,抗压强度...     

Quantitative image analysis of bubble cavities in iron ore green pellets

Scanning electron microscopy and image analysis was used for quantitative analysis of bubble cavities in iron ore green pellets. Two types of pellets prepared with and without addition of flotation reagent prior to balling were studied. The bubble cavity porosity amounted to 2.8% in the pellets prepared without addition of flotation reagent prior to balling. When flotation reagent was added prior to balling, the bubble cavity porosity increased by a factor of 2.4 and the median bubble diameter was decreased slightly. It was also shown that mercury intrusion porosimetry is not suitable for determination of the distribution of bubble cavities. Finally, our data suggested that the difference in total porosity determined by mercury intrusion porosimetry and pycnometry between the two types of pellets was due to the bubble cavities.     

钙基膨润土提纯制备球团黏结剂试验

以朝阳钙基膨润土为原料,采用擦洗-分散-分选的流程对其进行提纯,并对提纯膨润土进行挤压钠化改型试验.试验结果表明,当选用朝阳钠化提纯膨润土做球团黏结剂,粘结剂添加量为1.1％时,生球的落下强度为4.0次,爆裂温度为525℃,干球抗压强度为306 N/个,可以满足冶金球团性能需要.采用钠化提纯膨润土制备球团黏结剂可以有效降低球团中黏结剂的添加量.     

Controlled relative humidity storage for high toughness and strength of binderless green pellets

An equation was developed to predict fracture toughness of green powder compacts. The model combines crack tip toughness predicted by Kendall's model with crack tip shielding due to bridging of moisture meniscuses across the crack. The model predicts that crack tip shielding due to moisture should be dominant. Fracture tests on ceria green pellets verified that storing pellets at a high relative humidity (98% RH) for an extended period of time led to fracture strength more than double those stored at lower RH. However, at lower RH there is no significant increase in fracture strength with increased RH as predicted by the model. The lower strength at low RH is due to insufficient capillary and surface forces but may also be related to the lack of sufficient adsorbed moisture to form bridging meniscuses. The high green strengths achieved by storing pellets at a high RH suggest a method of strengthening green parts without adding binder.     

Effects of raw material moisture content,densification pressure and temperature on some properties of Norway spruce pellets

In order to study the pelletising process, Norway spruce sawdust pellets were produced under strictly controlled conditions on a laboratory scale. The aim of the work was to investigate how the moisture content of raw material and the densification parameters, pressure and temperature, affect compression strength, dry density and moisture uptake of the formed pellets. In the experiments performed, temperature (26–144 °C), moisture content (6.3–14.7 wt.% of d.b.) and pressure (46–114 MPa) were the factors which varied according to a prescribed central composite design. The relationships between the factor settings and the responses (dry density, moisture uptake and compression strength) were evaluated by multiple linear regressions.In the present study, it was found that high compression strength was strongly correlated with the density of the pellets. High temperature (at least up to 144 °C) and low moisture content at the start of compression (down to 6.3 wt.% of d.b.) increased the dry density of the pellets. Remarkably, compression force had very little effect in the tested range of 46–114 MPa, indicating that pressure in the die does not need to be higher than 50 MPa.Similarly, compression force had very little effect on moisture uptake in the pellets. The least moisture uptake occurred when the pellets were produced at 90 °C.     

Effects of raw material moisture content,densification pressure and temperature on some properties of Norway spruce pellets

In order to study the pelletising process, Norway spruce sawdust pellets were produced under strictly controlled conditions on a laboratory scale. The aim of the work was to investigate how the moisture content of raw material and the densification parameters, pressure and temperature, affect compression strength, dry density and moisture uptake of the formed pellets. In the experiments performed, temperature (26–144 °C), moisture content (6.3–14.7 wt.% of d.b.) and pressure (46–114 MPa) were the factors which varied according to a prescribed central composite design. The relationships between the factor settings and the responses (dry density, moisture uptake and compression strength) were evaluated by multiple linear regressions.In the present study, it was found that high compression strength was strongly correlated with the density of the pellets. High temperature (at least up to 144 °C) and low moisture content at the start of compression (down to 6.3 wt.% of d.b.) increased the dry density of the pellets. Remarkably, compression force had very little effect in the tested range of 46–114 MPa, indicating that pressure in the die does not need to be higher than 50 MPa.Similarly, compression force had very little effect on moisture uptake in the pellets. The least moisture uptake occurred when the pellets were produced at 90 °C.     

Effects of raw material particle size distribution on the characteristics of Scots pine sawdust fuel pellets

In order to study the influence of raw material particle size distribution on the pelletizing process and the physical and thermomechanical characteristics of typical fuel pellets, saw dust of Scots pine was used as raw material for producing pellets in a semi industrial scaled mill (∼ 300 kg h^− 1). The raw materials were screened to a narrow particle size distribution and mixed into four different batches and then pelletized under controlled conditions. Physical pellet characteristics like compression strength, densities, moisture content, moisture absorption and abrasion resistance were determined. In addition, the thermochemical characteristics, i.e. drying and initial pyrolysis, flaming pyrolysis, char combustion and char yield were determined at different experimental conditions by using a laboratory-scaled furnace. The results indicate that the particle size distribution had some effect on current consumption and compression strength but no evident effect on single pellet and bulk density, moisture content, moisture absorption during storage and abrasion resistance. Differences in average total conversion time determined for pellet batches tested under the same combustion conditions was less than 5% and not significant.     

Effect of iron ore properties on its balling behaviour

The pelletization behavior of an iron ore as well as the properties of the pellets produced are affected by the various properties of the ore. The main effective ore properties are: its specific surface area, porosity, mineralogical composition, and particle size distribution of the fine material to be pelletized. The effects of these properties are reflected in the amount of moisture needed for proper pelletization, and the sensitivity of balling kinetics to changes in moisture content and particle size distribution of the feed. The material properties also affect the quality of the product pellets both wet and dry. The properties of the feed material that improve the quality of wet pellets may not improve the quality of dry pellets.     

Dry Strength of Pelletized Spheres

Three limestone powders, differing only in specific surface area, were agglomerated in a balling drum to form pellets of various sizes. The pellets were tested for dry compressive strength at different rates of deformation. A limiting elastic energy criterion for failure was used to derive the relation (analogous to the classical Hertz relation for strength of an elastic isotropic sphere) between the pellet size, the total deformation, and the load at failure. The surface area of the powder, the porosity of the pellet, and its compressive strength are analytically related; the results are in good agreement with the experimental data.     

Effect of lubrication on the distribution of force between spherical agglomerates during compression

We employ the carbon paper technique to aid the understanding of in die force and spatial distributions, upon compression of approximately 1 mm sized spherical agglomerates (pellets) of microcrystalline cellulose (MCC). The aim in this study was to test for the effect of lubricant film on force and spatial distributions. Pellets of MCC were formed via granulation and extrusion/spheronisation. Investigation of pellet bed compression was performed on a materials tester. Prior to compression studies the pellets were characterised for bulk density, size and deformability. Two pellet types were investigated; MCC and MCC lubricated with magnesium stearate. The carbon paper technique relies upon carbon paper as the medium for transferring imprints from compressed pellets onto photo quality paper. The digitised images of these imprints form the basis of analysis through the use of image processing software. Using the carbon paper technique within the range of 10-30 MPa indicates that lubrication does not have a significant effect on the distribution of forces between spherical agglomerates during uniaxial compression. Spatial analysis of the imprints revealed that the lubricated pellets exhibited a higher packing order than the unlubricated ones at low applied pressures (10 and 20 MPa), a difference that could not be observed at 30 MPa. Hence interparticle friction and/or cohesion appear to influence the initial particle rearrangement, whereas confinement is suggested to dominate at higher pressures.     

Predictive models and operation guidance system for iron ore pellet induration in traveling grate–rotary kiln process

Thermal state of iron ore pellets in industrial traveling grate–rotary kiln process cannot be revealed straightforward, which is unfavorable for field operations. In this study, coupled predictive models of pellet thermal state within traveling grate and rotary kiln were established. Based on the calculated temperature profiles, predictive model of pellet compression strength was also established to assist in process optimization. All the models proposed were validated by the industrial data collected from a domestic plant, and the results show that grate model possesses a high accuracy, kiln model is considered to be accurate to within 10–15% of actual values, and strength model can identify the variation of pellet strength caused by the thermal changes. The proposed models were embodied into an operation guidance system developed for a large-scale pelletizing plant, and the system running results illustrate that the predictive models and expertise rules established can optimize the process very well.     

Influence of Viscous Deformation at the Contact Point of Primary Particles on Compaction of Alkoxide-Derived Fine SiO2 Granules under Ultrahigh Isostatic Pressure

Viscous deformation and the adhesion force at the contact point between amorphous silica particles under ultrahigh isostatic pressure (up to 1 GPa) are important in the densification of powder compacts. The amount of viscous deformation and the strength of adhesion force have been changed in the present study by altering the calcination temperature and particle diameter, and the new values have been determined successfully using a diametral compression test. The diameter of spherical and monosized alkoxide-derived silica powders has been controlled within the range of 10–400 nm. Close-packed granules of these powders have been produced by spray drying. Because of viscous deformation, as-spray-dried ultrafine silica powders without calcination could be consolidated into highly dense compacts (>74% of theoretical density) by applying ultrahigh isostatic pressure (1 GPa). Relatively high temperature in the calcined particles (400°C) causes viscous deformation at the contact point to disappear almost completely and clearly increases the adhesion force, because of neck growth that has resulted from viscous sintering. At temperatures >200°C, the green density of the calcined powders decreases to 65% of theoretical density, even under 1 Gpa pressure. The relationship between green density and viscous deformation in silica particles at the point of contact has been analyzed quantitatively by the Hertz and Rumpf model. On the other hand, if relatively low isostatic pressure ( P c < 100 MPa) is applied, the green density and intergranular pore volume depend on the strength of the spray-dried granules. The relationship between granule strength and neck growth at the contact point with calcination has been estimated quantitatively.     

Wet granule breakage in a breakage only high-hear mixer: Effect of formulation properties on breakage behaviour

Wet granule breakage can occur in the granulation process, particularly in granulators with high agitation forces, such as high-shear mixers. In this paper, the granule breakage is studied in a breakage only high-shear mixer. Granule pellets made from different formulations with precisely controlled porosity and binder saturation were placed in a high-shear mixer in which the bulk medium is a non-granulating cohesive sand mixture. After subjecting the pellets to different mixing time in the granulator, the numbers of whole pellets without breakage are counted and taken as a measure of granule breakage. The experimental results showed that binder saturation, binder viscosity and surface tension as well as the primary powder size have significant influence on granule breakage behaviour. It is postulated that granule breakage is closely related to the granule yield strength, which can be calculated from a simple equation which includes both the capillary and viscous force of the liquid bridges in the granule. The Stokes deformation number calculated from the impact velocity and the granule dynamic strength gives a good prediction of whether the granule of certain formulation will break or not. The model is completely based on the physical properties of the formulations such as binder viscosity, surface tension, binder saturation, granule porosity and particle size as well as particle shape.     

Natural gas storage in activated carbon pellets without a binder

Activated carbon pellets without a binder from cellulose microcrystals as a raw material were investigated. After compression of the raw materials, the thus obtained raw material pellets were slowly carbonized to 1073 K under nitrogen. To activate them, the carbon pellets were heated to 1173 K under carbon dioxide. The activated carbon pellet shape, after heat treatment, was columnar by using the previous employed compression of the raw material. The total surface area, pore volume, and average pore diameter for all the samples were evaluated from the analysis of N₂ adsorption isotherm data. The total surface area and the pore volume were decreased with an increase in compression pressure under the same heat treatment conditions. On the contrary, the bulk densities of the activated carbon pellets were increased. However, these properties can be easily controlled by changing the sintering temperature and time. The bulk density of sample pellet was 0.56 g/cm³. It is 2.3 times higher than activated carbon powder, which was made without the compression process. The total methane storage capacity at 298 K reached 164 cm³ in 1 cm³ volume of activated carbon pellets at 3.5 MPa.