Developments in iron ore sintering using a laboratory scaled development platform

Abstract

Iron ore sintering is the pre-treatment process of agglomerating fine grained iron ores into a coarse grained solid porous burden, suitable for the blast furnace. Iron ore sinter is the primary source of a blast furnace’s burden and as such plays a critical role in the steel making process. A small-scale pilot line sinter pot was commissioned and validated for the proposed research. Findings suggested that altering blend chemical composition, granulation properties, bed permeability and flame front characteristics were the most important parameters in optimising the process. Research conducted in this paper suggested that varying these parameters impacted the iron ore sintering process and quality of the sinter produced. Thus, this work package focused on how these parameters could be varied in order to maximise productivity and quality. The work package also focused on various fuel particle size distributions as well as ratios and found that this also plays a critical role in influencing process parameters as well as the quality of sinter produced. It was found that by controlling the particle size of fuel, process stability increased. This paper also focused on novel additions to a sintering blend, which could be up-scaled and implemented to industry, ensuring the iron and steel making industry is heading towards a more circular economy. It was found that by micro-pelletizing fine iron ores, permeability was increased and thus pro-ductivity improved. It was also found that the chemical composition of by-products such as used Mag-C refractory brick used in lining vessels at the BOS plant could be utilised by crushing and incorporating into raw sinter blends, offsetting purchased materials. Quality parameters of the produced sinter during investigations included sinter strength, reducibility, chemical composition, optical microscopy and phase min-eralogy. Process parameters such as sintering time, temperature, flow rates, cooling rates and flame front characteristics were also monitored through out to make precise and accurate conclusions.

Minimising Particulate Emissions From Sintering Operations

“…After discharge of the pilot-scale sinter rig, the sinter cake is subjected to the desired post-analysis testing. The laboratory configuration and equipment can be seen in detail in Tariq Al-Haji et al[92]…”