Theoretical and experimental investigation of oxygen blast furnace process with high injection of hydrogenous fuel

Abstract

A novel oxygen blast furnace process, which is characterised by blasting pure oxygen instead of conventional hot air, together with injecting powdery coal and hydrogen rich gas is proposed in this paper, and feasibility of the process is discussed. A theoretical model is established based on mass and energy balances of the oxygen blast furnace process. The calculation confirms that both the mass and energy balances in the upper and bottom parts of the furnace can be satisfied under the condition that the theoretical combustion temperature in the tuyere area is controlled at around 1800–1850°C. A series of experiments have been carried out to study the reduction rate of wüstite in the gas mixture with identical gas composition in the oxygen blast furnace process as calculated or in the conventional blast furnace process. The influence of the prereduction ratios of iron ore on the softening and melting properties of iron ore and the thermal property of coke is also investigated.

Keywords:

• Oxygen blast furnace process
• Theoretical model
• Reduction of wüstite
• Coke ratio
• Hydrogenous fuel
• CO₂ emission

This work is supported by Program for Innovative Research Team in Anhui University of Technology (grant no. TD200909).

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