EP4575004A1

EP4575004A1 - Reduced iron production method

Info

Publication number: EP4575004A1
Application number: EP23865056.8A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Kenya HORITA; Takahide Higuchi; Yuji Iwami; Kenta Takehara; Naoto Nakamura; Shohei Fujiwara; Yuya Morita
Original assignee: JFE Steel Corp
Current assignee: JFE Steel Corp
Priority date: 2022-09-16
Filing date: 2023-07-11
Publication date: 2025-06-25
Also published as: JPWO2024057694A1; JP7477064B1; CN119866381A; WO2024057694A1; AU2023341035A1; CA3262920A1; US20260071287A1; EP4575004A4

Abstract

Provided is a method of producing reduced iron that can suppress clustering of iron ore pellets. The method of producing reduced iron ore includes: a pellet production process of mixing iron ore powder, binder, and auxiliary material, granulating to obtain green pellets, and then firing the green pellets to obtain iron ore pellets; and a reduction process of charging the iron ore pellets into a vertical shaft furnace and directly reducing the iron ore pellets via a reducing gas to obtain reduced iron pellets. Raw material of the iron ore powder includes iron ore having a composition in which total Fe content is 63 mass% or less and the sum of SiO₂ and Al₂O₃ is 4 mass% or more. The reduced iron pellets satisfy the following Expression. (SiO₂ + Al₂O₃ + CaO + MgO + FeO)/M.Fe ≥ 0.15

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

This present disclosure relates to a method of producing reduced iron, including a process of direct reduction of iron ore pellets in a vertical shaft furnace.

BACKGROUND

In a vertical shaft furnace method of reduction that is currently a mainstream direct reduction ironmaking method, iron ore pellets or lump ore are used as charged raw material. In a high-temperature reducing atmosphere in a vertical shaft furnace, the charged raw material may cause a sticking phenomenon known as clustering, which makes it difficult for the charged raw material to descend and decreases productivity. Therefore, the maximum temperature in the furnace had to be controlled to suppress clustering, and the furnace temperature could not be raised to increase the reduction rate.
Technologies to suppress clustering have been studied, including consideration of auxiliary material for iron ore pellets and evaluation of iron ore by iron grade. Patent Literature (PTL) 1 describes pellets in which "the surface of the raw material iron ore is coated with cement". Further, Non-Patent Literature (NPL) 1 states that "pellets having higher iron grade have higher shrinkage and are more likely to form clusters".

CITATION LIST

Patent Literature

PTL 1: JP S62-7806 A

Non-Patent Literature

NPL 1: Dentaro Kaneko, et al., "Clustering Phenomena during Iron Oxide Reduction in Shaft Furnace", Tetsu-to-Hagane, Vol. 64 (1978), .

SUMMARY

(Technical Problem)

Adding impurities that are not required for actual reduction, as in PTL 1, requires large-scale modification of apparatus and causes an increase in electric power consumption rate due to an increase in slag ratio, and is therefore undesirable and leaves room for improvement in the technology of suppressing clustering. Further, as indicated in the EXAMPLES section of the present disclosure below, metallization rate in the reduction process and basicity of iron ore pellets also affect clustering, and therefore it is not the case that clustering can be controlled in reduced iron production operations by focusing only on the grade of iron ore, as in NPL 1. Therefore, there was a need for a method of producing reduced iron that can suppress clustering of iron ore pellets based on comprehensive evaluation criteria that includes the type of iron ore material, metallization rate in the reduction process, and basicity of the iron ore pellets.
In view of the above, it would be helpful to provide a method of producing reduced iron that can suppress clustering of iron ore pellets.

(Solution to Problem)

The inventors have conducted extensive studies and found that when SiO₂, Al₂O₃, CaO, and MgO content of reduced iron pellets, FeO content of residual iron oxide in the reduced iron pellets, and M.Fe. content of metallic iron in the reduced iron pellets satisfy the following Expression (1), clustering of iron ore pellets can be suppressed.

(SiO₂ + Al₂O₃ + CaO + MgO + FeO)/M.Fe ≥ 0.15 ... (1)
Primary features of the present disclosure are as follows.

[1] A method of producing reduced iron ore, the method comprising:
- a pellet production process of mixing iron ore powder, binder, and auxiliary material, granulating to obtain green pellets, and then firing the green pellets to obtain iron ore pellets; and
- a reduction process of charging the iron ore pellets into a vertical shaft furnace and directly reducing the iron ore pellets via a reducing gas to obtain reduced iron pellets,
- wherein,
- raw material of the iron ore powder includes iron ore having a composition in which total Fe content is 63 mass% or less and the sum of SiO₂ and Al₂O₃ is 4 mass% or more, and
- the reduced iron pellets satisfy the following Expression (1)
  
  (SiO₂ + Al₂O₃ + CaO + MgO + FeO)/M.Fe ≥ 0.15 ... (1)
- where, in Expression (1), SiO₂, Al₂O₃, CaO, and MgO are SiO₂, Al₂O₃, CaO, and MgO content, in mass%, of the reduced iron pellets, FeO is residual iron oxide content, in mass%, of the reduced iron pellets, and M.Fe is metallic iron content, in mass%, of the reduced iron pellets.
- Hereinafter, the left side of Expression (1), (SiO₂ + Al₂O₃ + CaO + MgO + FeO)/M.Fe, is also referred to as the "clustering index".
[2] The method of producing reduced iron according to [1], wherein one or both of (A) SiO₂, Al₂O₃, CaO, and MgO content of the iron ore pellets and (B) metallization rate in the reduction process are intentionally set so that the reduced iron pellets satisfy Expression (1).
[3] The method of producing reduced iron according to [2], wherein (B) is preset, and (A) is intentionally set so that the reduced iron pellets satisfy Expression (1).
[4] The method of producing reduced iron according to [2] or [3], wherein the setting of (A) is performed by setting one or both of (A-1) composition of the iron ore powder and (A-2) type and content of the binder and the auxiliary material in the pellet production process.
[5] The method of producing reduced iron according to [4], wherein (A-2) is preset, and (A-1) is intentionally set so that the reduced iron pellets satisfy Expression (1).
[6] The method of producing reduced iron according to any one of [1] to [5], wherein the metallization rate in the reduction process is set in a range from 88 % to 96 %.
[7] The method of producing reduced iron according to any one of [1] to [6], wherein temperature of the reducing gas in the reduction process is determined based on the value of the left side of Expression (1).

(Advantageous Effect)

The method of producing reduced iron can suppress clustering of iron ore pellets.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the accompanying drawings:

FIG. 1A is a schematic diagram of a load softening reduction test apparatus used for each experiment example, and FIG. 1B is a schematic diagram of an I-type rotational test machine used for each experiment example;
FIG. 2 illustrates the relationship between T.Fe of reduced iron pellets and clustering rate of reduced iron pellets in Experiment Example 1;
FIG. 3 illustrates the relationship between clustering index of reduced iron pellets and clustering rate of reduced iron pellets in Experiment Example 1;
FIG. 4 illustrates the relationship between T.Fe of reduced iron pellets and clustering rate of reduced iron pellets in Experiment Example 2;
FIG. 5 illustrates the relationship between clustering index of reduced iron pellets and clustering rate of reduced iron pellets in Experiment Example 2;
FIG. 6 illustrates the relationship between metallization rate and clustering index of reduced iron pellets in Experiment Example 3;
FIG. 7 illustrates the relationship between mix ratio of low/medium-grade iron ore in iron ore pellets and clustering index of reduced iron pellets in Experiment Example 4;
FIG. 8 illustrates the relationship between clustering index of reduced iron pellets and clustering rate of reduced iron pellets in Experiment Example 4; and
FIG. 9 illustrates the relationship between clustering index of reduced iron pellets and furnace temperature upper limit in Experiment Example 5.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following is a description of the method of producing reduced iron according to the present disclosure. The embodiment described below is an example embodiment of the present disclosure, and does not limit configuration to the specific example described.
The method of producing reduced iron according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes the following processes: a pellet production process of mixing iron ore powder, binder, and auxiliary material, granulating to obtain green pellets, and then firing the green pellets to obtain iron ore pellets; and a reduction process of charging the iron ore pellets into a vertical shaft furnace and directly reducing the iron ore pellets via a reducing gas to obtain reduced iron pellets. Further, raw material of the iron ore powder includes iron ore having a composition in which total Fe content is 63 mass% or less and the sum of SiO₂ and Al₂O₃ is 4 mass% or more, and the reduced iron pellets satisfy the following Expression (1).

(SiO₂ + Al₂O₃ + CaO + MgO + FeO)/M.Fe ≥ 0.15 ... (1)
Here, in Expression (1), SiO₂, Al₂O₃, CaO, and MgO are SiO₂, Al₂O₃, CaO, and MgO content, in mass%, of the reduced iron pellets, FeO is residual iron oxide content, in mass%, of the reduced iron pellets, and M.Fe is metallic iron content, in mass%, of the reduced iron pellets.
The raw material of iron ore pellets is typically iron ore powder, binder, and auxiliary material. According to the present disclosure, high-grade iron ore, medium-grade iron ore, and low-grade iron ore are defined as follows, according to the total Fe content (T.Fe), Al₂O₃ content, and SiO₂ content of the iron ore.

High-grade iron ore: T.Fe > 63 % or Al₂O₃ + SiO₂ < 4 %.
Medium-grade iron ore: T.Fe ≤ 63 % and 4 % ≤ Al₂O₃ + SiO₂ < 6 %
Low-grade iron ore: T.Fe ≤ 63 % and Al₂O₃ + SiO₂ ≥ 6

A portion of the composition that volatilizes due to heating in the component analysis of iron ore is measured as a volatile portion (ignition loss), but T.Fe is the content of the composition of the iron ore including the volatile portion (content of the iron ore before volatilization), while SiO₂ and Al₂O₃ are the content of the composition of the iron ore without the volatile portion (content of the iron ore after volatilization).
According to the present disclosure, the raw material of the iron ore powder includes iron ore having a composition in which total Fe content is 63 mass% or less and the sum of SiO₂ and Al₂O₃ is 4 mass% or more, that is, medium-grade iron ore or low-grade iron ore. The clustering index can be suitably adjusted by using medium-grade iron ore or low-grade iron ore. Further, there is no upper limit to the ratio of medium-grade iron ore or low-grade iron ore used in the raw material of the iron ore powder, and all raw material of the iron ore powder may be one or both of medium-grade iron ore and low-grade iron ore.
The iron ore pellets preferably include one or more types of binder. Bentonite is a preferred binder for the iron ore pellets, but any known or optional binder may be used, including organic and inorganic binders that provide similar effects.
The iron ore pellets may be mixed with quicklime, limestone (CaCO₃), dolomite (CaMg(CO₃)₂), or the like, as auxiliary material. Adjustment of basicity of the iron ore pellets (adjustment of CaO content) is made by the auxiliary material. The basicity of the iron ore pellets is calculated by the weight ratio of CaO/SiO₂ in the iron ore pellets. By adjusting CaO/SiO₂ to lower values, the iron content, or hematite (Fe₂O₃) content, of the iron ore pellets can be increased. Iron ore pellets typically develop strength through hematite solid phase bonding, and therefore adjusting CaO/SiO₂ to a lower value increases the ratio of hematite solid phase bonding and produces iron ore pellets having higher strength. Therefore, the basicity of the iron ore pellets is preferably 0.6 or less, from the viewpoint of obtaining suitable strength. Further, the slag ratio can be suitably suppressed when the basicity is 0.6 or less. A lower limit of the basicity of the iron ore pellets is not particularly limited, but is generally 0.1 or more.
The raw material described above is used to produce the iron ore pellets typically through the processes of grinding, mixing, granulation, and firing. Raw material that has been finely ground by a grinder such as a ball mill is mixed using a high-speed agitator mixer or the like, processed into pellet form using a pelletizer, drum mixer, or the like, and fired using an electric furnace, rotary kiln, or the like. Crushing strength of the iron ore pellets is preferably more than 250 kg. To obtain sufficient crushing strength, firing conditions are preferably set to a firing temperature (furnace temperature) of 1200 °C to 1350 °C and a hold time at the firing temperature of 10 min to 25 min. Particle size of the iron ore pellets is not particularly limited. Particle size of the iron ore pellets is preferably 10 mm to 12.5 mm.
In the reduction process of the iron ore pellets, a vertical shaft furnace is used to obtain reduced iron pellets. Reducing gas is not particularly limited, and may be, for example, a mixed gas containing, in vol%, 55 % H₂ and 35 % CO, with the balance being CO₂ and CH₄, or a mixed gas containing 75 % H₂ and 20 % CO, with the balance being CO₂ and N₂.
Temperature of the reducing gas is preferably determined based on the clustering index to make clustering less likely. The temperature of the reducing gas is preferably 900 °C or more. The temperature of the reducing gas is more preferably 950 °C or more. The temperature of the reducing gas is even more preferably 1000 °C or more. Reduction efficiency is suitable when the temperature of the reducing gas is 900 °C or more. According to the present disclosure, as in Experiment Example 5 (see FIG. 9) described later, an upper limit of the temperature of the reducing gas at which clustering is unlikely to occur may be determined based on the clustering index, and therefore the temperature of the reducing gas is preferably set to be equal to or less than the determined upper limit.
In the reduction process of the iron ore pellets, the percentage of T.Fe (total iron content) reduced to M.Fe (metallic iron) in the pellets after reduction is called the metallization rate. Note that unreduced iron is mainly FeO. When the metallization rate is low, the strength of the iron ore pellets during reduction is decreased and pulverization occurs in the furnace, resulting in lower productivity. The metallization rate is therefore preferably 88 % or more. On the other hand, when the metallization rate is excessively high, clustering occurs and hanging of the pellets occurs in the furnace, resulting in lower productivity. The metallization rate is therefore preferably 96 % or less. From the above, when the metallization rate is 88 % to 96 %, the slag ratio can be suitably controlled and clustering can be suppressed. The metallization rate is typically determined by the operating conditions of the reduction process (amount of reducing gas, temperature, hold time, and the like) and the apparatus used.
According to the present embodiment, it is important that the reduced iron pellets satisfy the following Expression (1).

(SiO₂ + Al₂O₃ + CaO + MgO + FeO)/M.Fe ≥ 0.15 ... (1)
Here, in Expression (1), SiO₂, Al₂O₃, CaO, and MgO are SiO₂, Al₂O₃, CaO, and MgO content, in mass%, of the reduced iron pellets, FeO is residual iron oxide content, in mass%, of the reduced iron pellets, and M.Fe is metallic iron content, in mass%, of the reduced iron pellets. The content of various oxides and M.Fe. is the content when the volatile portion of the iron ore is not included.
As per Expression (1), the clustering index is 0.15 or more. The clustering index is preferably 0.2 or more. When the clustering index is less than 0.15, clustering cannot be suppressed. Further, the clustering index is preferably 0.4 or less. The clustering index is more preferably 0.3 or less. When the clustering index is 0.4 or less, the amount of slag is suitable and efficient reduction can be carried out.
In order that the reduced iron pellets satisfy Expression (1), it is preferable to intentionally set one or both of (A) the SiO₂, Al₂O₃, CaO, and MgO content of the iron ore pellets and (B) the metallization rate in the reduction process. (B) The metallization rate in the reduction process is often set as an operating condition without consideration of the clustering index. When the metallization rate is preset, it is more preferable to intentionally set (A) the SiO₂, Al₂O₃, CaO, and MgO content of the iron ore pellets so that the reduced iron pellets satisfy Expression (1).
The setting of (A) the SiO₂, Al₂O₃, CaO, and MgO content of the iron ore pellets is preferably performed by setting one or both of (A-1) the composition of the iron ore powder and (A-2) the type and content of the binder and the auxiliary material in the iron ore pellet production process. (A-2) The type and content of the binder and the auxiliary material are often set according to the properties (strength, basicity, and the like) required of the iron ore pellets, without consideration of the clustering index. When (A-2) the type and content of the binder and the auxiliary material are preset, it is more preferable to intentionally set (A-1) the composition of the iron ore powder so that the reduced iron pellets satisfy Expression (1). In such a case, the clustering index is preferably set to 0.15 or more by mixing iron ore containing a large amount of gangue without changing the basicity of the iron ore pellets.

EXAMPLES

Iron ore, binder, and auxiliary material were prepared as raw material for iron ore pellets. Table 1 lists the chemical compositions of the iron ores used in Experiment Examples 1 to 5. Bentonite containing 3 % CaO, 60 % SiO₂, 15 % Al₂O₃, and 3 % MgO was prepared as the binder. Limestone containing 53 % CaO, 1 % or less SiO₂, 1 % or less Al₂O₃, and 1 % MgO was prepared as the auxiliary material.

[Table 1]

Table 1 (mass%)
Ore	Composition including volatile portion							Composition without volatile portion
Ore	T.Fe	FeO	SiO₂	CaO	Al₂O₃	MgO	Ig.loss (volatile portion)	T.Fe	FeO	SiO₂	CaO	Al₂O₃	MgO	SiO₂ + Al₂O₃
Ore A (low-grade)	56.38	0.34	5.34	0.16	3.12	0.20	10.23	62.80	0.38	5.95	0.18	3.48	0.22	9.4
Ore B (low-grade)	61.33	0.55	3.80	0.03	2.04	0.08	6.38	65.51	0.59	4.06	0.03	2.18	0.09	6.2
Ore C (medium-grade)	62.55	0.40	3.40	0.06	1.72	0.32	4.68	65.62	0.42	3.57	0.06	1.80	0.34	5.4
Ore D (high-grade)	63.74	0.82	1.24	0.01	1.83	0.04	5.56	67.49	0.87	1.31	0.01	1.94	0.04	3.3
Ore E (high-grade)	66.39	0.99	3.37	0.10	0.43	0.04	0.72	66.87	1.00	3.39	0.10	0.43	0.04	3.8

(Experiment Example 1)

The iron ore pellets were produced by changing the mix ratio of the five types of iron ore listed in Table 1, as well as the limestone and bentonite content. First, iron ore was ground in a ball mill to obtain iron ore powder. In each case, the mix ratio of the five types of iron ores listed in Table 1 was changed to obtain varied values of T.Fe in the reduced iron pellets, and a total of 2000 g of mixed iron ore powder was prepared. Further, limestone was added to the mixed iron ore powder at an addition rate set so that the basicity of the iron ore pellets was 0.2 or 1.1. Typically, a basicity of 0.2 is referred to as acidic and a basicity of 1.1 is referred to as basic, and these terms are indicated in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, which are described later. Further, a defined amount of bentonite was added and mixed at 20 rpm for 3 min using a high-speed agitator mixer. Next, the mixed raw material was placed in a 1.2 m diameter pelletizer and granulation was carried out while adding water. Pellet particles having a particle size of 10 mm to 12.5 mm were collected and rolled in a pelletizer for another 10 min to obtain green pellets. The green pellets were fired in an electric furnace controlled at a firing temperature (furnace temperature) of 1200 °C to 1350 °C for 25 min to obtain iron ore pellets (fired pellets). When the crushing strength of the iron ore pellets was measured using an autograph at a speed of 1 mm/min, the crushing strength (the point indicating maximum load) for each case exceeded 250 kg.

[Clustering rate evaluation]

In each case, a test was performed to evaluate clustering rate. This evaluation test involved reducing iron ore pellets under conditions that were more likely to cause clustering than those used in the normal production of reduced iron, and examining the degree of clustering in the obtained reduced iron pellets. This evaluation test was performed using a load softening reduction test apparatus and an I-type rotational test machine. FIG. 1A is a schematic diagram of the load softening reduction test apparatus. A carbon crucible 10 having a diameter of 100 mm was filled with alumina balls 12, 500 g of iron ore pellets 14, and alumina balls 12, in this order. While applying a load of 1 kg/cm² to the carbon crucible, reducing gas 16 that had a volume ratio of H₂:N₂ = 20:80 was flowed at 24 L/min, the temperature in the test apparatus was set at 900 °C (heated by a heater 18), hold time was 360 min for the case of 94 % metallization rate and 400 min for the case of 98 % metallization rate, and a cluster of clustered reduced iron pellets was formed.
FIG. 1B is a schematic diagram of the I-type rotational test machine. The clustered reduced iron pellets 20 were placed in the I-type rotational test machine 22 and crushed by rotating at 30 rpm for 5 min. The crushed sample was taken out and sorted through a 15 mm sieve. The weight of the sample remaining on the sieve was measured and the clustering rate CR (%) was calculated from the following formula. The higher the clustering rate, the more likely clustering would occur in a shaft furnace in actual production of reduced iron. $CR = Ws / W * 100$

W: Total mass of sample before crushing
Ws: Mass on 15 mm sieve after crushing

FIG. 2 illustrates the relationship between T.Fe of reduced iron pellets and clustering rate of the reduced iron pellets obtained. In the examples where the T.Fe was lower than the T.Fe of the iron ore material, the T.Fe was lowered by adding limestone. The trend of increasing clustering rate with increasing T.Fe of the reduced iron pellets was confirmed, but the effects of the metallization rate and the basicity of the iron ore pellets were also strongly evident. For example, in a sample of reduced iron pellets that had T.Fe near 65 %, the clustering rate varied from 5 % to 13 % depending on the basicity. This indicates that a conventional method of suppressing clustering using T.Fe (iron grade) as an index, as described in NPL 1, may have difficulty suppressing clustering, depending on the type of iron ore and the metallization rate.
FIG. 3 illustrates the relationship between the clustering index of reduced iron pellets that is a focus of the present disclosure and clustering rate of reduced iron pellets. Regardless of the metallization rate or the basicity, the reduced iron pellets that had a clustering index of 0.15 or more had a clustering rate of 9.5 % or less, which was a level of sufficient clustering suppression. This indicates that when reduced iron pellets are evaluated by the clustering index, as in the present disclosure, the clustering rate can be evaluated regardless of the metallization rate and the basicity.

(Experiment Example 2)

Iron ore pellets were produced in the same way as in Experiment Example 1 above, with further changes to the five iron ore blend mix ratios listed in Table 1 and to the basicity of the iron ore pellets to increase the number of test cases. The clustering rate evaluation tests were conducted on the obtained iron ore pellets, and the results are illustrated in FIG. 4 and FIG. 5. At this time, the metallization rate of the reduced iron pellets was changed by changing the hold time in the clustering rate evaluation test. From FIG. 4, it can be seen that the clustering rate varied even more when the T.Fe (iron grade) of the reduced iron pellets was used as an index. FIG. 5 illustrates that even when the number of test cases was increased, the reduced iron pellets that had a clustering index of 0.15 or more had a clustering rate of 9.5 % or less, which was a level of sufficient clustering suppression.

(Experiment Example 3)

Iron ore pellets were produced from low-grade iron ore "Ore A", medium-grade iron ore "Ore C", and high-grade iron ore "Ore D", respectively. First, each iron ore was ground in a ball mill to obtain iron ore powder. 2000 g of each iron ore powder was prepared, and limestone was added to the iron ore powder at an addition rate set so that the basicity of the iron ore pellets was 0.2. Further, bentonite was added at 1.0 wt% relative to the iron ore powder amount, and iron ore pellets were produced in the same way as in Experiment Example 1. Clustering rate evaluation tests were performed on the obtained iron ore pellets, and the metallization rate of the reduced iron pellets was changed by changing the hold time. The hold time was 360 min for 92 % metallization, and for each 2 % increase in metallization, the hold time was extended by 20 min until 100 % metallization.
FIG. 6 illustrates the relationship between the metallization rate and the clustering index obtained in the present experiment example. Even for iron ore pellets produced from the same raw material, the clustering index decreased as the metallization rate was increased. This may be because a higher metallization rate decreases the amount of unreduced FeO in the reduced iron pellets, which decreases the slag ratio and makes clustering more likely to occur. FIG. 6 illustrates that when low-grade iron ore or medium-grade iron ore is used, a clustering index of 0.15 or more can be achieved with a metallization rate of 96 % or less. Accordingly, the metallization rate is preferably 96 % or less. On the other hand, a lower metallization rate is undesirable because of the loss of reducibility. From this perspective, the metallization rate is preferably 88 % or more. Further, FIG. 6 illustrates that achieving a clustering index of 0.15 or more when only high-grade iron ore is used as raw material is difficult.

(Experiment Example 4)

Iron ore pellets were produced by mixing the high-grade iron ore "Ore D" with the low-grade iron ore "Ore A" or the medium-grade iron ore "Ore C". First, each iron ore was ground in a ball mill to obtain iron ore powder. In each case, a total of 2000 g of mixed iron ore powder was prepared by mixing 0 mass%, 10 mass%, 20 mass%, or 40 mass% of low-grade iron ore powder or medium-grade iron ore powder with high-grade iron ore powder. Limestone was added to the mixed iron ore powder at an addition rate set so that the basicity of the iron ore pellets was 0.2. Further, bentonite was added at 1.0 wt% relative to the amount of the mixed iron ore powder, and iron ore pellets were produced in the same way as in Experiment Example 1. The clustering rate evaluation tests were conducted on the obtained iron ore pellets, and the results are illustrated in FIG. 7 and FIG. 8. At this time, the metallization rate of the reduced iron pellets was changed by changing the hold time in the clustering rate evaluation test. When medium-grade iron ore was mixed in, the hold time was 380 min and the metallization rate was 94 %, and when low-grade iron ore was mixed in, the hold time was 400 min and the metallization rate was 96 %.
FIG. 7 illustrates the relationship between the mix ratio of low/medium-grade iron ore in the iron ore pellets and the clustering index of the reduced iron pellets. It was found that the clustering index was higher with higher percentages of low/medium-grade iron ore, and that the clustering index could be 0.15 or more at a mix ratio of 40 mass%, both with low-grade iron ore and with medium-grade iron ore. FIG. 8 illustrates that clustering rate can be controlled by controlling the clustering index.

(Experiment Example 5)

Iron ore pellets having different clustering index values were produced by changing the mix ratio of the five types of iron ore listed in Table 1. For each example of iron ore pellets, a furnace temperature upper limit at which operation was possible without clustering occurring in a vertical shaft furnace was determined. The vertical shaft furnace was charged with 500 g of iron ore pellets and tested in a gas atmosphere that had a volume ratio of H₂:N₂ = 20:80, at a gas temperature of 800 °C and a hold time of 360 min. When the sample was removed and no clustering was observed, the gas temperature was increased by 50 °C, a new sample was charged, and the same test was repeated. When clustering was observed, the test was terminated and the temperature before clustering occurred was set as the furnace temperature upper limit.
FIG. 9 illustrates the relationship between the clustering index and the furnace temperature upper limit. It can be seen that the furnace temperature upper limit increases linearly with an increase in the clustering index. Accordingly, it can be seen that the clustering index can be used to suppress clustering and increase the temperature in a shaft furnace more than in a conventional case. Thus, the effects of the present disclosure are clear.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

The present disclosure provides a method of producing reduced iron that can suppress clustering of iron ore pellets.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST

10: 100 mm diameter carbon crucible
12: alumina balls
14: iron ore pellets (fired pellets)
16: reducing gas
18: heater
20: clustered reduced iron pellets
22: I-type rotational test machine

Claims

A method of producing reduced iron ore, the method comprising:
a pellet production process of mixing iron ore powder, binder, and auxiliary material, granulating to obtain green pellets, and then firing the green pellets to obtain iron ore pellets; and

a reduction process of charging the iron ore pellets into a vertical shaft furnace and directly reducing the iron ore pellets via a reducing gas to obtain reduced iron pellets,

wherein,

raw material of the iron ore powder includes iron ore having a composition in which total Fe content is 63 mass% or less and the sum of SiO₂ and Al₂O₃ is 4 mass% or more, and

the reduced iron pellets satisfy the following Expression (1)

(SiO₂ + Al₂O₃ + CaO + MgO + FeO)/M.Fe ≥ 0.15 ... (1)

where, in Expression (1), SiO₂, Al₂O₃, CaO, and MgO are SiO₂, Al₂O₃, CaO, and MgO content, in mass%, of the reduced iron pellets, FeO is residual iron oxide content, in mass%, of the reduced iron pellets, and M.Fe is metallic iron content, in mass%, of the reduced iron pellets.
The method of producing reduced iron according to claim 1, wherein one or both of (A) SiO₂, Al₂O₃, CaO, and MgO content of the iron ore pellets and (B) metallization rate in the reduction process are intentionally set so that the reduced iron pellets satisfy Expression (1).
The method of producing reduced iron according to claim 2, wherein (B) is preset, and (A) is intentionally set so that the reduced iron pellets satisfy Expression (1).
The method of producing reduced iron according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the setting of (A) is performed by setting one or both of (A-1) composition of the iron ore powder and (A-2) type and content of the binder and the auxiliary material in the pellet production process.
The method of producing reduced iron according to claim 4, wherein (A-2) is preset, and (A-1) is intentionally set so that the reduced iron pellets satisfy Expression (1).
The method of producing reduced iron according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the metallization rate in the reduction process is set in a range from 88 % to 96 %.
The method of producing reduced iron according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein temperature of the reducing gas in the reduction process is determined based on the value of the left side of Expression (1).