Analysis of chemical-metallurgical agglomeration processes during charge sintering

Thermally activated chemical and metallurgical processes of lumping of fine-dispersed iron ore raw material during sintering are examined in the work. The following processes are included: moisture removal, ignition of coke fines and burn-off of carbonates, taking into account burning features of coke fines, fusion of grain charge, forming of agglomeration cake, creation of overhumidification area in sintering layer owing to condensation of water vapours in washout of heat-carrying gas. Parameters of sintering kinetics are obtained experimentally, other parameters characterizing layer shrinkage of sintering charge are presented. It was established that the temperature in the sintering area has substantial effect on shrinkage. The presented temperature relationship describes experimental data with sufficient precision. The values of power exchange coefficients in the drying area are examined. The criteria equations of heat and mass exchange are presented. The mathematical model using empiric material is proposed; it describes sintering kinetics for agglomeration charge, taking into account layer shrinkage and variation of head losses in technological areas of fusion and forming of ready agglomerate, what corresponds well with the experimental data. Multi-factor relationship between chemical and metallurgical processes (from one side) and heat and mass exchange in the sintering layer of agglomeration charge (from other side) is noted. Adequacy of mathematical models allows to use them for analysis of high-efficient conditions of agglomerate fabrication. The research was conducted under financial support of the Russian Foundation of Basic Research (RFFI within the framework of the scientific project No. 18-29-24094 МК and in accordance with the State assignment, the project No. FSWF-2020-0019.

Technological modes of efficient metallization of iron-oxide-containing waste from metallurgical production

During the research, rolled scale and gas cleaning slimes from oxygen-converter workshop No. 1 of JSC “EVRAZ ZSMK” were used as iron-oxide-containing materials. Semi-coke from brown coals of the Berezovskoye deposit of the Kansko-Achinsk basin (temperature of semi-coking is 750 °C), coke fines of PJSC “Coke” and dust from coke dry-quenching plant of JSC “EVRAZ ZSMK” were used as carbon reducing agents. Total iron, FeO and Fe2 O 3 oxides amount to 73.3, 75.5 and 20.9 % in scale, 41.2, 4.7 and 53.7 % in sludge, respectively. Sludge also contains 4.3 % of total carbon and 20.6 % of CaO. Brown-coal semi-coke, coke fines and coke dust contains carbon and volatiles 94.05 and 9.5 %, 97.50 and 2.1 %, 97.47 and 1.6 % on dry ashless weight, respectively. For metallization of furnace charges with composition: scale, slime–semi-coke, coke fines, dust with addition of 10 % water-soluble binding–molasses, strong unroasted briquettes were pressed. Metallization modes of analyzed charge compositions were thermodynamically predicted and technologically determined. Metallization degree and metal iron content at usage of brown-coal semi-coke were found to be 97.5 and 90.2 % for scale, 97.5 and 71.3 % for sludge; of coke fines: 70.7 and 61.9 % for scale, 68.9 and 48.4 % for sludge; of coke dust: 72.1 and 62.6 % for scale, 69.2 and 48.2 % for sludge. The possibility of achievement the metallization degree of 97.0 – 98.0 % was established for briquetted charge from scale – brown-coal semi-coke with 92.0 – 93.0 % of total iron, 89.8 – 90.6 % of metallic iron, 2.8 – 3.2 % of FeO, 0.06 – 0.08 % of S, 0.016 – 0.018 % of P, 1.7 – 1.9 % of C, 1.0 – 1.2 % of CaO and 0.25 – 0.35 % of MgO at 1173 K and duration of 40 min.

An efficient method of foundry and metallurgical coke quality improvement

At foundry coke production, introduction into a coal burden comparatively small amount of non-sintering carbonaceous additives is one of effective methods of the coke mechanical, physical and chemical properties intended control. A review of industrial tests on coal burdens coking with different thinning additives, carried out at coking plants of Western Siberia and the Urals, presented. Coke dust of coke dry quenching facility was used as additives, as well as oil-coke and semi-coke fines, and rubber crumb. Under industrial conditions of JSC “Altaj-koks” and JSC “Koks” coke dust of coke dry quenching facility was tested as a thinning additive. After introduction into the burden of 1.6–3.0% of coke dry quenching facility dust, the coarseness and mechanical strength of foundry coke increased. The industrial burden coking with oil-coke fines was accomplished at JSC “Altajkoks” Nos 1 and 2 coke-oven batteries. Oil-coke fines in the amount of 5% was added to a burden (у = 15–16 mm) without change of coking regime (the period of coking is 15–16 h). Strength of foundry coke (М40) increased by average 0.5%, of BF coke – by 1.2%, ash content decreased by 0.3%, sulfur content increased by 0.03–0.06%, reaction ability decreased by 19% (rel.). At the OJSC “Gubakhinsky koks” it was determined by industrial tests, that it is possible to produce a metallurgical coke, meeting requirements of non-ferrous metallurgy, providing up to 5% of oil-coke fines are added instead of the same amount of low-sintering coals. VUKHIN’ studies showed, that still higher effect in improving foundry and BF coke quality can be reached by introducing into the coal burdens “modified” oil coke up to 50% as a coking additive. During industrial tests at JSC “Altaj-koks” semi-coke fines were introduced into production burden instead of KCH coal in the amount of 3–7%. At its utilization a burden crushing degree decreased down to 76.5%, dust content (class 0.5–0 mm) decreased down to 39.1%, its bulk density increased up to 780 kg/m3 . At that the coke mechanical strength corresponds to that for coke made of industrial burden, and its coarseness increased. Results of successful industrial tests of foundry coke made of burdens with coke dry quenching facility dust and oil coke fines at smelting in cupola gray cast iron and malleable cast iron.

Results of tuyere coke sampling with regard to application of appropriate coke strength after reaction (CSR) for a blast furnace

Raising pulverized coal injection (PCI) will decrease coke rate, but increase the residence time of coke and abrasion in the blast furnace (BF). Thus, insufficient coke strength will generate more coke fines in the lower BF and result in lower permeability and production of hot metal (HM). For understanding the behavior of coke at various HM productivities, a tuyere coke sampler was used to collect the coke samples for measuring the coke strength. Firstly, the difference of sampled coke under the conditions of various HM productivities was explored. Secondly, the BF operating conditions and causes of generating more coke fines was correlated by testing the coke reaction rate after reaction. Finally, according to the above analysis results, the relative regression equations had been obtained for sampling coke properties, BF operation conditions and BF permeability. Furthermore, the coke strength after reaction (CSR) quantitative target and its online system at various blast conditions were set to provide some reference for coke and HM production.

Oxidizing Roasting Performances of Coke Fines Bearing Brazilian Specularite Pellets

Oxidized pellets, consisting of Brazilian specularite fines and coke fines, were prepared by disc pelletizer using bentonite as binder. The roasting process of pellets includes preheating stage and firing stage. The compressive strength of preheated pellets and fired pellets reached the peak value at 1.5% coke fines dosage. During the initial stage of preheating, some original Fe2O3 was reduced to Fe3O4 because of partial reduction atmosphere in pellet. During the later stage of preheating and firing stage, coke fines were burnt out, and the secondary Fe2O3 (new generation Fe2O3) was generated due to the re-oxidization of Fe3O4, which improved the recrystallization of Fe2O3. Compared with the fired pellets without adding coke fines, fired pellets with 1.5% coke fines exhibited the comparable RSI (reduction swelling index) and RDI+3.15 mm (reduction degradation index), and slightly lower RI (reducibility index).