Technological advancements in evaluating the performance of the pulverized coal injection through tuyeres in blast furnace

Abstract

The pulverized coal injection (PCI) is pursued to reduce the hot metal production cost by replacing the expensive metallurgical coke with the non-coking coal. Increasing the PCI rate causes various difficulties in the blast furnace (BF) operation. In the present work, an attempt is made to review the various aspects of PC injection in BF such as the challenges with increasing the PCI rate and modifications in the injection system to circumvent the concerns related to higher PCI rate. Various methods for detecting the tuyere blockage and failure caused due to the high PCI rate are elaborated. The factors influencing the combustion of coal in front of tuyeres have been discussed and their impact in the replacement ratio has been discussed. Further, recommendations are made to improve the coal combustibility in front of tuyeres.

A Method for Image-Based Interpretation of the Pulverized Coal Cloud in the Blast Furnace Tuyeres

“…The combustion reactions in the lower part of the furnace generate large amounts of heat and reducing gases, providing the necessary conditions for the smelting and reduction processes in the upper parts. As injecting pulverized coal (PC) is the main approach to reduce coke consumption, most blast furnaces employ Pulverized Coal Injection (PCI) technology, where pulverized coal conveyed by a carrier gas (typically nitrogen) and hot air ("blast") is injected into the tuyere region and undergo intense combustion [1]. Unburned pulverized coal can lead to a deterioration in the permeability of the furnace and affect the properties of the slag.…”

Development and Implementation of Decision Support Systems for Blast Smelting Control in the Conditions of PrJSC “Kamet-Steel”

“…Known works are devoted to peculiarities of preparation and transportation of pulverized coal before blowing into a BF; increasing the completeness of combustion of pulverized coal, including when using various designs for supplying pulverized coal to the blast channel of the tuyere tool; and requirements necessary to achieve high specific consumption of pulverized coal. A literature review on solving these problems is presented in [36]. At the same time, almost no attention has been paid to the problem of ensuring a uniform or directed (given) uneven distribution of the blast during the injection of pulverized coal.…”