Review on alternative fuel application in iron ore sintering

ABSTRACT

Various kinds of fuel such as high rank coal and coke breeze have been adopted over the years. However, their low combustion efficiency levels have given rise to the production of alternative fuels such as charcoal, biomass, semi-coke breeze, solid waste and gas, but the most extensively applied in recent times is semi-coke due to its high combustion efficiency and low pollutant emission level as compared to the other alternative fuels. The aim of this work is to review alternative fuels reported in literature as effective and efficient in powering sinter plants. This review presents problems that may occur with the adoption of each kind of alternative fuel, and their relative combustion efficiencies as compared to the other. Also, the kind of alternative fuel utilized in powering sinter plants may contribute to escalation of climate change and its variability or result in their drastic reduction.

KEYWORDS:

• Sintering
• alternative fuel
• combustion efficiency
• pollutant emissions
• semi-coke
• climate change
• human health
• environment

Acknowledgements

This research was financially supported by the Key Laboratory of Hubei Province for Coal Conversion and New Carbon Materials (Wuhan University of Science and Technology). The support of Nangang Industry Development Co. Ltd is also appreciated.

Disclosure statement

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

Additional information

Funding

This research was financially supported by Key Laboratory of Hubei Province for Coal Conversion and New Carbon Materials (Grant No. WKDM202007) and Hubei Technological Innovation Special Fund (Grant No. 2020ZYYD019). The support of Nangang Industry Development Co. Ltd is also appreciated.