Utilisation of low-grade raw materials for preparation of reactive catalysed-coke for blast furnace application

ABSTRACT

In this work, a method for producing highly reactive catalysed coke from medium and non-coking coal using low-grade iron ore fines as a catalyst through two different alternate routes, namely carbonisation in a stamp charge coke oven and carbonisation in a horizontal tube furnace was attempted. Phenolic resin and petroleum pitch were individually experimented as a binding material to get adequate strength. Effect of process parameters such as coal-to-iron ratio, briquetting load, binder quantity and coking to non-coking coal ratio on the coke properties such as reactivity and mechanical strength was investigated. The SEM and petrography analysis of catalysed coke were used to study the microstructure and its effects on reactivity.

KEYWORDS:

• Catalysed-coke
• reactivity
• blast furnace
• iron–coal composite
• binder
• stamp charge
• carbonisation

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank the management of Tata Steel Limited for their support and motivation towards publishing this work. We also would like to extend our gratefulness to Dr T. Venugopalan, Technical Advisor to MD, Tata Steel, for his guidance and direction towards this work.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).