Sintering process with gaseous fuel injection into the sintered layer

• Published in: Metallurgist (New York) 2024-05, Vol.68 (1), p.21-30
• Main Authors: Shapovalov, A. N., Fuks, A. Yu
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Characterization and Evaluation of Materials; Charge efficiency; Chemistry and Materials Science; Consumption; Fuel consumption; Fuel injection; Gaseous fuels; Indicators; Materials Science; Metallic Materials; Natural gas; Sintering; Solid fuels
• ISSN: 0026-0894; 1573-8892
• DOI: 10.1007/s11015-024-01699-1

This paper presents the results of laboratory experiments to study the effect of the consumption of gaseous fuel (natural gas) supplied into a sintered charge layer on sintering process indicators and sinter quality under the charge conditions of the Ural Steel Company at charge layer heights of 350 to 500 mm. It was established that an increase in the consumption of natural gas supplied to the sintered charge layer in the range from 3 m 3 /t to 7 m 3 /t of sinter increases the vertical sintering rate, yield, specific productivity, and strength properties of the sinter. The benefit of supplying gaseous fuel to the layer is due to improvement in the temperature-time conditions of sintering, which increases the degree of involvement of the charge ore in the processes of melt formation and ensures a more complete use of solid fuel at lower consumption. The efficiency of supplying gaseous fuel to the sintered charge layer increases substantially with increasing sintered layer height because of a decrease in the proportion of the upper part of the sinter, which is formed under less favorable thermal conditions. According to the totality of indicators, considering the cost of natural gas, its optimal consumption in the charge conditions of the Ural Steel Company is 3.0 m 3 /t of sinter, which ensures the maximum increase in sintering indicators and sinter quality compared with traditional sintering technology.