Analysis of titanium distribution behaviour in vanadium-containing titanomagnetite smelting blast furnace

The operating data of a commercial vanadium-containing titanomagnetite smelting blast furnace (BF) have been examined over a period of one year. The liquidus temperatures and viscosities of a large number of slags were calculated by using the software Multi-Phase Equilibrium. The results show that both the slag liquidus temperature and hot metal temperature of the BF were 60 K lower than that of conventional BF operation, while both slags had similar viscosity. The correlations between the Ti distribution of hot metal and slag and the operating temperature, and hot metal and slag chemistry were analysed. Ti distribution ratio increases with increasing temperature and carbon content in hot metal. The Ti distribution calculated based on a slag/hot metal equilibrium model gave reasonably good agreement with plant measurements. This suggests that the slag and hot metal phases were close to equilibrium in the furnace hearth. A sensitivity analysis showed that temperature and C content has a significant influence on the Ti distribution ratio. The effect of slag chemistry on the Ti distribution is insignificant. Lowering of the operating temperature and carbon in hot metal can help reducing the Ti distribution into the hot metal, hence reducing the formation of Ti(C,N).