US20040076539A1 - Granular metallic iron - Google Patents

Granular metallic iron Download PDF

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Publication number
US20040076539A1
US20040076539A1 US10/332,951 US33295103A US2004076539A1 US 20040076539 A1 US20040076539 A1 US 20040076539A1 US 33295103 A US33295103 A US 33295103A US 2004076539 A1 US2004076539 A1 US 2004076539A1
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Prior art keywords
metallic iron
iron
nuggets
slag
iron nuggets
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Abandoned
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US10/332,951
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English (en)
Inventor
Shuzo Ito
Yasuhiro Tanigaki
Isao Kobayashi
Osamu Tsuge
Keisuke Honda
Koji Tokuda
Shoichi Kikuchi
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MIDREX INTERNATIONAL Zurich Branch BV
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MIDREX INTERNATIONAL Zurich Branch BV
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Assigned to MIDREX INTERNATIONAL B.V. ZURICH BRANCH reassignment MIDREX INTERNATIONAL B.V. ZURICH BRANCH ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: HONDA, KEISUKE, ITO, SHUZO, KIKUCHI, SHOICHI, KOBAYASHI, ISAO, TANIGAKI, YASUHIRO, TOKUDA, KOJI, TSUGE, OSAMU
Publication of US20040076539A1 publication Critical patent/US20040076539A1/en
Priority to US11/296,320 priority Critical patent/US20060070495A1/en
Priority to US11/480,840 priority patent/US20060248981A1/en
Priority to US11/750,705 priority patent/US20070258843A1/en
Priority to US11/757,504 priority patent/US7806959B2/en
Abandoned legal-status Critical Current

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    • CCHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C22METALLURGY; FERROUS OR NON-FERROUS ALLOYS; TREATMENT OF ALLOYS OR NON-FERROUS METALS
    • C22CALLOYS
    • C22C35/00Master alloys for iron or steel
    • CCHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C22METALLURGY; FERROUS OR NON-FERROUS ALLOYS; TREATMENT OF ALLOYS OR NON-FERROUS METALS
    • C22CALLOYS
    • C22C37/00Cast-iron alloys
    • C22C37/10Cast-iron alloys containing aluminium or silicon
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B22CASTING; POWDER METALLURGY
    • B22FWORKING METALLIC POWDER; MANUFACTURE OF ARTICLES FROM METALLIC POWDER; MAKING METALLIC POWDER; APPARATUS OR DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR METALLIC POWDER
    • B22F9/00Making metallic powder or suspensions thereof
    • B22F9/02Making metallic powder or suspensions thereof using physical processes
    • B22F9/06Making metallic powder or suspensions thereof using physical processes starting from liquid material
    • CCHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C21METALLURGY OF IRON
    • C21BMANUFACTURE OF IRON OR STEEL
    • C21B13/00Making spongy iron or liquid steel, by direct processes
    • C21B13/0006Making spongy iron or liquid steel, by direct processes obtaining iron or steel in a molten state
    • CCHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C21METALLURGY OF IRON
    • C21BMANUFACTURE OF IRON OR STEEL
    • C21B13/00Making spongy iron or liquid steel, by direct processes
    • C21B13/0046Making spongy iron or liquid steel, by direct processes making metallised agglomerates or iron oxide
    • CCHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C21METALLURGY OF IRON
    • C21BMANUFACTURE OF IRON OR STEEL
    • C21B13/00Making spongy iron or liquid steel, by direct processes
    • C21B13/008Use of special additives or fluxing agents
    • CCHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C21METALLURGY OF IRON
    • C21BMANUFACTURE OF IRON OR STEEL
    • C21B13/00Making spongy iron or liquid steel, by direct processes
    • C21B13/10Making spongy iron or liquid steel, by direct processes in hearth-type furnaces
    • C21B13/105Rotary hearth-type furnaces
    • CCHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C22METALLURGY; FERROUS OR NON-FERROUS ALLOYS; TREATMENT OF ALLOYS OR NON-FERROUS METALS
    • C22CALLOYS
    • C22C37/00Cast-iron alloys
    • CCHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C22METALLURGY; FERROUS OR NON-FERROUS ALLOYS; TREATMENT OF ALLOYS OR NON-FERROUS METALS
    • C22CALLOYS
    • C22C38/00Ferrous alloys, e.g. steel alloys
    • C22C38/02Ferrous alloys, e.g. steel alloys containing silicon
    • FMECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F27FURNACES; KILNS; OVENS; RETORTS
    • F27BFURNACES, KILNS, OVENS, OR RETORTS IN GENERAL; OPEN SINTERING OR LIKE APPARATUS
    • F27B9/00Furnaces through which the charge is moved mechanically, e.g. of tunnel type; Similar furnaces in which the charge moves by gravity
    • F27B9/14Furnaces through which the charge is moved mechanically, e.g. of tunnel type; Similar furnaces in which the charge moves by gravity characterised by the path of the charge during treatment; characterised by the means by which the charge is moved during treatment
    • F27B9/16Furnaces through which the charge is moved mechanically, e.g. of tunnel type; Similar furnaces in which the charge moves by gravity characterised by the path of the charge during treatment; characterised by the means by which the charge is moved during treatment the charge moving in a circular or arcuate path
    • FMECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F27FURNACES; KILNS; OVENS; RETORTS
    • F27BFURNACES, KILNS, OVENS, OR RETORTS IN GENERAL; OPEN SINTERING OR LIKE APPARATUS
    • F27B9/00Furnaces through which the charge is moved mechanically, e.g. of tunnel type; Similar furnaces in which the charge moves by gravity
    • F27B9/30Details, accessories, or equipment peculiar to furnaces of these types
    • F27B9/39Arrangements of devices for discharging
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B22CASTING; POWDER METALLURGY
    • B22FWORKING METALLIC POWDER; MANUFACTURE OF ARTICLES FROM METALLIC POWDER; MAKING METALLIC POWDER; APPARATUS OR DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR METALLIC POWDER
    • B22F2998/00Supplementary information concerning processes or compositions relating to powder metallurgy
    • B22F2998/10Processes characterised by the sequence of their steps
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B22CASTING; POWDER METALLURGY
    • B22FWORKING METALLIC POWDER; MANUFACTURE OF ARTICLES FROM METALLIC POWDER; MAKING METALLIC POWDER; APPARATUS OR DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR METALLIC POWDER
    • B22F2999/00Aspects linked to processes or compositions used in powder metallurgy
    • CCHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C21METALLURGY OF IRON
    • C21BMANUFACTURE OF IRON OR STEEL
    • C21B2100/00Handling of exhaust gases produced during the manufacture of iron or steel
    • C21B2100/40Gas purification of exhaust gases to be recirculated or used in other metallurgical processes
    • C21B2100/42Sulphur removal
    • YGENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02PCLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PRODUCTION OR PROCESSING OF GOODS
    • Y02P10/00Technologies related to metal processing
    • Y02P10/10Reduction of greenhouse gas [GHG] emissions
    • Y02P10/134Reduction of greenhouse gas [GHG] emissions by avoiding CO2, e.g. using hydrogen

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to metallic iron nuggets made by reducing-melt of a material containing iron oxide, such as iron ore, and a carbonaceous reductant, such as coke, the metallic iron nuggets having a high Fe purity, specified C, S, Si, and Mn contents, and a specified diameter.
  • a direct iron-making process for making reduced iron by direct reduction of an iron oxide source such as iron ore using a carbonaceous substance or a reducing gas has long been known.
  • Extensive research has been conducted as to the specifics of the reducing process and continuous reduction equipment.
  • Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 11-337264 discloses a rotary hearth that allows efficient continuous production of reduced iron, in which, during reduction by heating of green pellets prepared by solidifying a mixture of an iron oxide source such as steelmaking dust or fine ore and a carbonaceous substance using a binder, explosions which occur when undried green pellets are rapidly heated are prevented due to installation of a preheating zone.
  • Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 9-256017 discloses a method for making metallic iron nuggets having a high metallization ratio, the method including heating and reducing compacts containing iron oxide and a carbonaceous reductant until a metallic iron sheath is formed and substantially no iron oxide is present in the inner portion while forming nuggets of the produced slag in the inner portion, continuing heating so as to allow the slag inside to flow outside of the metallic iron sheath so as to separate the slag, and further performing heating so as to melt the metallic iron sheath.
  • the present invention is developed based on the above-described background.
  • An object of the present invention is to provide metallic iron nuggets of stable quality that have an optimum size in view of the overall production possibility and handling quality as an iron source, and in which the contaminant content of the metallic iron nuggets, such as carbon and sulfur contents, is specified.
  • the metallic iron nuggets of the present invention can thus satisfy the demands in the market such as a greater flexibility in the choice of material for making metallic iron and a reduction of the cost required for making iron or steel using, for example, an electric furnace.
  • Metallic iron nuggets of the present invention that overcome the above-described problems are metallic iron nuggets having an Fe content of 94% (percent by mass, contents of components are in terms of percent by mass) or more, a C content of 1.0 to 4.5%, a S content of 0.20% or less, and a diameter of 1 to 30 mm, the metallic iron nuggets being made by reducing-melt of a material containing a carbonaceous reductant and an iron-oxide-containing material.
  • the metallic iron nuggets of the present invention need not be spherical. Granular substances having an elliptical shape, an oval shape, and slightly deformed shapes thereof are also included in the metallic iron nuggets of the present invention.
  • the diameter of the nuggets ranging from 1 to 30 mm is determined by dividing the total of the lengths of the major axis and the minor axis and the maximum and minimum thicknesses of a nugget by 4.
  • the metallic iron nuggets further include 0.02 to 0.50% of Si and less than 0.3% of Mn.
  • the metallic iron nuggets are prepared by heating the material so as to react a metal oxide contained in the material with the carbonaceous reductant and a reducing gas produced by such a reaction and to reduce the metal oxide in the solid state, and further heating the resulting reduced iron in a reducing atmosphere so as to carburize and melt the resulting reduced iron and allow the reduced iron to cohere while excluding any by-product slag.
  • a CaO source is added to the material to adjust the basicity of the slag components in the material, i.e., CaO/SiO 2 , within the range of 0.6 to 1.8. In this manner, sulfur contained in the material can be efficiently captured by the slag produced during reducing-melt, and metallic iron nuggets having a S content of 0.08% or less can be obtained.
  • the amount of the carbonaceous reductant is adjusted so that the remaining carbon content during the step of reducing-melt of the material is in the range of 1.5 to 5.0% when the metallization ratio of the metallic iron nuggets after the solid reduction is 100%. In this manner, the resulting carbon content can be controlled within the above-described range.
  • FIG. 1 is an explanatory schematic view showing an example of reducing-melt equipment for making metallic iron nuggets of the present invention.
  • FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A in FIG. 1.
  • FIG. 3 is an explanatory cross-sectional view in which FIG. 1 is developed in the longitudinal direction.
  • FIG. 4 is a graph showing the transitions of the atmosphere temperature, the temperature of material compacts, the reduction ratio, and the amount of CO and CO 2 gasses throughout a solid-reduction period and a melting period when a two-stage heating process is employed in the present invention.
  • FIG. 5 is a graph showing the transitions of the residual Fe content and the metallization ratio of the metal oxide in the material compacts throughout the solid-reduction period and the melting period.
  • FIG. 6 is a graph showing the relationship between the residual carbon content in the reduced iron when the metallization ratio is 100% and the residual carbon content of the end product metallic iron nuggets.
  • FIG. 7 is a graph showing the relationship between the metallization ratio and the reducing degree.
  • FIG. 8 is a graph showing a change in the reducing degree of an atmosphere gas and in the temperature of the interior of the material compacts when a coal powder is used as an atmosphere adjustor and when the coal powder is not used as an atmosphere adjustor.
  • FIG. 9 is a photograph showing the state of metallic iron and slag immediately after carburization and melting obtained by a manufacturing experiment.
  • FIG. 10 is an experimental graph demonstrating that the sulfur content of the metallic iron nuggets can be decreased by adjusting the basicity of the slag by intentionally adding a CaO source to material compacts.
  • FIG. 11 is a graph showing the relationship between the sulfur content of the metallic iron nuggets and the basicity of the product slag.
  • FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram showing the composition of the material, and the ratio and the composition of the products such as metallic iron nuggets produced by a manufacturing process employed in Example.
  • FIG. 13 is a photograph of metallic iron nuggets prepared in Example 1.
  • FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram showing the composition of the material, and the ratio and the composition of the products such as metallic iron nuggets produced by a manufacturing process employed in another Example.
  • FIG. 15 is a photograph of metallic iron nuggets prepared in Example 2.
  • FIG. 16 is a graph showing the relationship between the diameter of the material compacts (dry pellets) and an average diameter and an average mass of the produced metallic iron nuggets.
  • Metallic iron nuggets of the invention are granular metallic iron made by reducing-melt of a material containing a carbonaceous reductant and an iron-oxide containing material.
  • the metallic iron nuggets contain 94% or more (more preferably 96% or more) of Fe and 1.0 to 4.5% (more preferably 2.0 to 4.0%) of C.
  • the S content of the metallic iron nuggets is 0.20% or less, more preferably, 0.08% or less, and the diameter is in the range of 1 to 30 mm (more preferably 3 to 20 mm). The reasons for setting these ranges are as follows.
  • the Fe content of the metallic iron nuggets is the primary factor that controls the quality of the metallic iron nuggets. Naturally, the higher the Fe purity, i.e., the lower the contaminant content, the better. In the present invention, the required Fe purity is 94% or more, and more preferably, 96% or more. The reason for this is as follows. When metallic iron nuggets having a contaminant content exceeding 5% are used as a material for iron and steelmaking, the contaminants contained in the material float on the surface of a bath and form slag, which is difficult to remove.
  • the Fe content of the metallic iron nuggets of the present invention must be at least 94%, and more preferably, at least 96%.
  • the C content of the metallic iron nuggets is essential in securing the required amount of C to suit the steel grade when the metallic iron is used as a material for steelmaking, and is important in view of increasing versatility as material iron. Accordingly, the C content of the metallic iron nuggets is preferably at least 1.0%, and more preferably, at least 2.0%.
  • the metallic iron contains excessive amounts of carbon, the tenacity and the shock resistance of steel or alloy steel made from such metallic iron are adversely affected, and thus the steel or alloy steel becomes fragile. Thus, a decarburization process such as blowing becomes necessary during the process of refinning.
  • the C content In order to use the metallic iron nuggets as a material for iron and steelmaking without being burdened by these additional processes and without hindrance, the C content must be 4.5% or less, and more preferably, 4.0% or less.
  • the metallic iron nuggets of the invention used as a material preferably contain 0.20% or less, and more preferably, 0.08% or less of sulfur.
  • the Si content should be in the range of 0.02 to 0.5%, and the Mn content should be less than 0.3%.
  • the metallic iron nuggets of the invention having the above-described C, S, Si, and Mn contents are particularly advantageous when compared to most commonly used pig iron made using blast furnaces.
  • the pig iron made using blast furnaces generally contains 4.3 to 4.8% C, 0.2 to 0.6% Si, and 0.3 to 0.6% Mn, although the contents of C, S, Mn, Si, and the like in the pig iron made using a blast furnace vary according to the type of metal oxide and coke used therein, operation conditions, and the like.
  • the produced molten metallic iron is carburized at the bottom part of the blast furnace in a high reducing atmosphere in the presence of a large amount of coke; hence, the C content is nearly saturated.
  • SiO 2 which is included as a gangue component, is readily reduced in a high-temperature atmosphere in the presence of a large amount of coke, approximately 0.2 to 0.6% of Si is contained in the molten metallic iron, and it is difficult to obtain molten metallic iron having a Si content of less than 0.20%.
  • MnO is easier to reduce than SiO 2 , MnO is readily reduced in a highly reducing atmosphere when a large amount of MnO is included in the material iron ore. As a result, the Mn content in the molten metallic-iron becomes inevitably high.
  • the metallic iron nuggets of the present invention made by a process described below contain 1.0 to 4.5% C, 0.02 to 0.5%, and more preferably less than 0.2%, Si, and less than 0.3% Mn.
  • the metallic iron nuggets of the present invention differ from common metallic iron described above in the composition.
  • the S content of the metallic iron nuggets of the present invention is reduced by using a CaO source during the step of making a material compact so as to increase the basicity of the slag components.
  • the metallic iron nuggets of the present invention is distinguishable from metallic iron made according to a common process in that the S content is 0.08% or less.
  • the metallic iron nuggets of the present invention have a diameter in the range of 1 to 30 mm. Minute particles having a diameter less than 1 mm cause quality and handling problems because fine slag components easily become mixed with such minute particles and such minute particles of metallic iron fly off easily.
  • the upper limit of the diameter is set in view of reliably obtaining a predetermined level of the Fe purity within required manufacturing restrictions.
  • large compacts In order to obtain large nuggets having a diameter exceeding 30 mm, large compacts must be used as a material. With such large material compacts, the time taken to conduct heat toward the inside of the material compacts during a process of solid reduction, carburization, and melting, particularly during solid reduction, for making metallic iron nuggets, is long, decreasing the efficiency of solid reduction. Moreover, the incorporation of the molten iron after carburization and melting due to cohesion does not proceed uniformly. As a result, the produced metallic iron nuggets have complex and irregular shapes, and metallic iron nuggets having a uniform diameter and quality cannot be obtained.
  • the size and shape of the iron nuggets are affected by various factors including the size of the material compacts as described above, the composition of the material (the type of metal oxide source and the composition of the slag), the carburization amount after solid reduction, the furnace atmosphere temperature (particularly the atmosphere temperature in the region where carburization, melting, and cohesion are performed), and the supply density at which the material compacts are supplied to the reducing-melt furnace.
  • the supply density and the size of the material compacts have the same influence. The higher the supply density, the likelier it is for the molten metallic iron produced by carburization and melting to form large nuggets on a hearth due to cohesion and incorporation.
  • the size of the produced metallic iron nuggets is also affected by the type and the characteristics of the iron ore contained in the material compacts. Generally, the cohesion property is satisfactory when magnetite iron ore is used as an iron oxide source. However, not all of the iron content in one material compact necessarily coheres into one metallic iron nugget. The iron content in one material compact frequently forms two or three nuggets. The cause of such a phenomenon is not precisely known, but a complex combination of difference in oxygen content, in crystal structure of iron ore, in slag composition derived from the gangue composition are considered as possible causes. In any case, metallic iron nuggets having a relatively uniform diameter and shape can be obtained at a diameter of the product nuggets of 30 mm or less.
  • the metallic iron nuggets of the present invention satisfy all of the requirements described above and can be effectively used as an iron source for making iron, steel, or alloy steel using various facilities for iron, steel, or alloy-steelmaking, such as an electric furnace.
  • FIGS. 1 to 3 are schematic illustrations showing an example of a reducing-melt furnace of a rotary hearth type developed by the inventors used for making metallic iron nuggets of the present invention.
  • the reducing-melt furnace has a ring-shaped movable hearth and a dome-shaped structure.
  • FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration thereof
  • FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A in FIG. 1
  • FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the movable hearth, developed in a moving direction to promote understanding of the structure.
  • reference numeral 1 denotes a rotary hearth
  • reference numeral 2 denotes a furnace casing that covers the rotary hearth.
  • the rotary hearth 1 is configured to rotate at an adequate speed by a driver not shown in the drawing.
  • a plurality of combustion burners 3 is provided at suitable positions of the wall of the furnace casing 2 .
  • the combustion heat and the radiant heat thereof from the combustion burners 3 are applied to material compacts on the rotary hearth 1 so as to perform heat reduction of the compacts.
  • the furnace casing 2 shown in the drawing is a preferable example and is divided by three partitions K 1 , K 2 . and K 3 into a first zone Z 1 , a second zone Z 2 , a third zone Z 3 , and a fourth zone Z 4 .
  • a feeder 4 for feeding material and an auxiliary material, the feeder 4 facing the rotary hearth 1 is provided.
  • a discharger 6 is provided at the lowermost stream in the rotation direction, i.e., the position upstream of the feeder 4 because of the rotatable structure.
  • the resulting iron which is substantially completely reduced, is then further heated in a reducing atmosphere in the third zone Z 3 so as to carburize and melt the reduced iron while allowing the reduced iron to separate from by-product slag and form nuggets, i.e., metallic iron nuggets.
  • the resulting metallic iron nuggets are cooled and solidified in the fourth zone Z 4 by a suitable cooling means C, and are sequentially discharged by the discharger 6 at the downstream of the cooling means C.
  • the by-product slag derived from the gangue component, etc., in the iron ore is also discharged.
  • the by-product slag is separated from the metallic iron by suitable separating means, such as a screen and a magnetic separation apparatus, after the slag and the metallic iron is fed to a hopper H.
  • suitable separating means such as a screen and a magnetic separation apparatus
  • the resulting metallic iron nuggets have an iron purity of approximately 94% or more, and more preferably, 96% or more, and contain a significantly low amount of the slag component.
  • the fourth zone Z 4 in the drawing is of an open-air type
  • the fourth zone Z 4 is preferably provided with a cover so as to prevent heat dissipation as much as possible and to suitably adjust the atmosphere inside the furnace in actual operation.
  • the rotary furnace is divided into the first zone Z 1 , the second zone Z 2 , the third zone Z 3 , and the fourth zone Z 4 using three partitions K 1 to K 3
  • the zone configuration of the furnace is not limited to this structure. Naturally, the zone configuration may be modified according to the size of the furnace, the required manufacturing capacity, the operation mode, or the like.
  • a structure in which a partition is provided at least between the solid-reduction area of the first half period of the heating reduction, and the carburization, melting, and cohesion area of the second half period of the heating reduction so that the furnace temperature and the atmosphere gas can be separately controlled is preferable.
  • Metallic iron can still be produced by smelting-reduction; however, when reduction occurs in the molten state, the separation of reduced iron from by-product slag is difficult. Moreover, the reduced iron is obtained in the form of a sponge, which is difficult to make nuggets therefrom, and the slag content in the reduced iron becomes high. Accordingly, it becomes difficult to achieve an Fe content within the range specified by the present invention. Furthermore, the molten metallic iron formed by incorporation due to cohesion may flow on the hearth and may become planular instead of granular.
  • FIG. 4 shows the state of the reaction when material compacts (pellets having a diameter of 16 to 19 mm) containing iron ore as an iron oxide source and coal as a carbonaceous reductant are fed to a furnace having an atmosphere temperature of approximately 1,300° C. (the straight line 1 in the graph) so as to solid-reduce the material compacts until a reduction ratio of 100% (the elimination ratio of oxygen in the iron oxide in the material compacts) is reached, and then the resulting reduced iron is fed to a melting zone controlled at approximately 1425° C. (straight line 2 ) beginning at the time indicated by straight line 3 in the drawing so as to melt the resulting reduced iron.
  • material compacts pellet having a diameter of 16 to 19 mm
  • iron ore as an iron oxide source and coal as a carbonaceous reductant
  • the temperature inside the compacts In the graph, the temperature inside the compacts, the atmosphere temperature of the furnace, and changes of carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide over time produced during the reduction process are also shown.
  • the temperature inside the compacts is continuously measured using a thermocouple inserted into the material compacts in advance.
  • the furnace temperature is preferably maintained in the range of 1,200 to 1,500° C., and more preferably, 1,200 to 1,400° C., to perform solid reduction, and subsequently increased to 1,350 to 1,500° C. to reduce the remaining iron oxide while allowing the produced metallic iron to form nuggets by carburization and melting. According to this two-stage heating process, metallic iron nuggets having a high Fe purity can be reliably and efficiently manufactured.
  • the time indicated by the horizontal axis in FIG. 4 may vary depending on the composition of the iron ore or the carbonaceous substance constituting the material compacts. Normally, solid reduction of the iron oxide, melting, cohesion, and incorporation can be completed and metallic iron nuggets can be made within 10 to 13 minutes.
  • the preferable furnace temperature that can securely achieve a high reduction ratio is 1,200 to 1,500° C., and more preferably 1,200 to 1,400° C.
  • the solid reduction reaction progresses slowly, and thus the dwell time in the furnace must be made longer, resulting in poor productivity.
  • the metallic iron nuggets incorporate with one another to form large nuggets of irregular shapes. Such metallic iron nuggets are not preferable as a product.
  • the metallic iron nuggets may not incorporate with one another to form large nuggets in a temperature range of 1,400 to 1,500° C. depending on the composition and the amount of the iron ore in the material. However, this possibility and frequency are low.
  • the temperature during the solid reduction period is preferably 1,200 to 1,500° C., and more preferably 1,200 to 1,400° C. In actual operation, it is possible to adjust the furnace temperature to 1,200° C. during the early stage of the solid reduction period and then increase the furnace temperature to 1,200 to 1,500° C. during the latter stage of the solid reduction.
  • the compacts subjected to the required reduction in the solid-reduction zone are transferred to a melting zone having a high furnace temperature of 1,425° C.
  • the temperature inside the compacts increases as shown in FIG. 4, drops after reaching a point C, and then increases again until a predetermined temperature of 1,425° C. is reached.
  • the temperature drop at point C is caused by latent heat accompanying melting of the reduced iron, i.e., the point C can be considered as the starting point of the melting.
  • This starting point is substantially determined by the residual carbon content in the reduced iron particles. Since the melting point of the reduced iron drops as a result of the carburization by the residual carbon and a CO gas, melting of the reduced iron is accelerated.
  • the content of the residual carbon is determined by the amount of the iron ore and the carbonaceous substance used in making the material compacts.
  • the inventors have confirmed through experiments that when the amount of the carbonaceous substance is initially adjusted so that the residual carbon content, i.e., the excess carbon content, in the solid-reduced substance is 1.5% at the time the final reduction ratio during the solid-reduction period reaches 100%, i.e., at the time the metallization ratio reaches 100%, the reduced iron can be rapidly carburized, thereby causing a drop in the melting point.
  • the reduced iron can rapidly form nuggets having a suitable diameter by cohesion and incorporation in a temperature range of 1,300 to 1,500° C. Note that when the residual carbon content of the solid-reduced carbon is less than 1.5%, the melting point of the reduced iron does not drop sufficiently due to the shortage of carbon for carburization, and the heating temperature must thus be increased to 1,500° C. or more.
  • the melting temperature is 1,530° C., and the reduced iron can be melted by heating at a temperature exceeding this temperature.
  • the operating temperature is preferably low to reduce heat load imposed on furnace refractories.
  • the operating temperature is preferably approximately 1,500° C. or less.
  • the operating conditions are preferably adjusted to allow a temperature increase of approximately 50 to 200° C. after the staring point C of melting, which is the beginning of the melting and cohesion-period.
  • the temperature during the carburization and melting is preferably 50 to 200° C., and more preferably, 50 to 150° C. higher than the temperature during the solid reduction.
  • the final carbon content in the end product metallic iron nuggets must be in the range of 1.0 to 4.5%, and more preferably, 2.0 to 4.0%.
  • the final carbon content is substantially determined by the amount of the carbonaceous substance used in making material compacts and atmospheric adjustments during the solid-reduction period.
  • the lower limit of the carbon content is determined by the residual carbon content in the reduced iron during the final stage of the solid reduction and the retention time (carburization amount) during the period following the period of solid reduction. If a reduction ratio of 100% is nearly achieved during the final stage of the solid reduction as described above while securing 1.5% of the residual carbon content, the end product of the metallic iron nuggets can have a carbon content of 1.0% or more.
  • the inventors have also confirmed that when the residual carbon content in the reduced iron upon completion of the solid reduction is 5.0% and carburization, melting, and cohesion of this reduced iron are performed during the subsequent period of melting and cohesion, the carbon content in the resulting metallic iron nuggets can be increased to 4.5%.
  • the residual carbon content in the reduced iron after completion of the solid reduction is preferably controlled in the range of 1.5 to 4.5%.
  • FIG. 5 shows results of examination on the relationship among the metallization ratio, the residual FeO, and the residual carbon in the resulting material of the solid reduction.
  • FeO decreases as solid reduction progresses, that is, as the metallization ratio increases.
  • straight line 1 in the graph solid reduction of the material compacts progresses inside the furnace controlled at a temperature of 1,200 to 1,500° C.
  • carburization, melting, and cohesion of the reduced iron progress during the melting period in which the temperature is controlled in the range of 1,350 to 1,500° C. in a highly reducing atmosphere.
  • the relationship among the metallization ratio, the residual FeO and the residual carbon changes as shown by the portions of the curves included in the right section of the graph from the straight line 1 .
  • Curves ( 1 ) and ( 2 ) in FIG. 5 show the relationship between the metallization ratio and the residual carbon content.
  • the curve ( 1 ) is when the residual carbon content is 1.5% when the metallization ratio is 100%.
  • the curve ( 2 ) is when the residual carbon content is 3.0% when the metallization ratio is 100%.
  • the amount of the carbonaceous substance is preferably controlled during the process of making material compacts so that the residual carbon content is above the curve ( 1 ).
  • the amount of the carbonaceous substance should be suitably adjusted according to the reducing degree of the atmosphere gas used in the operation.
  • the initial amount of the carbonaceous substance is preferably adjusted so that the final residual carbon content is 1.5% or more at a metallization ratio of 100%.
  • FIG. 6 shows the results of the examination on the relationship between the residual carbon content at a metallization ratio of 100% and the C content of the resulting metallic iron nuggets.
  • the residual carbon content is 1.5 to 5.0%
  • the resulting metallic iron nuggets can securely have a C content of 1.0 to 4.5%.
  • the residual carbon content is 2.5 to 4.5%
  • the resulting metallic iron nuggets can securely have a C content of 2.0 to 4.0%.
  • two indices i.e., the metallization ratio and the reduction ratio
  • the definitions of the metallization ratio and the reduction ratio are described below.
  • the relationship between the two is, for example, shown in FIG. 7.
  • the relationship between the two changes depending on the type of the iron ore used as an iron oxide source.
  • FIG. 7 shows the relationship between two when magnetite (Fe 3 O 4 ) is used as an iron oxide source.
  • Metallization ratio [metallic iron nuggets produced/(metallic iron nuggets produced+iron in iron ore)] ⁇ 100 (%)
  • Reduction ratio [amount of oxygen removed during the reduction process/amount of oxygen in the iron oxide contained in the material compacts] ⁇ 100 (%)
  • the reducing-melt furnace used in making the metallic iron nuggets of the present invention employs burners to heat the material compacts, as described above.
  • the iron oxide source and the carbonaceous substance in the material compacts fed into the furnace react with each other to produce a large amount of CO gas and a small amount of CO 2 gas. Accordingly, the region adjacent to the material compacts is maintained at a sufficient reducing atmosphere as a result of the shielding effect of the CO gas emitted from the material compacts themselves.
  • the reduced iron becomes vulnerable to the exhaust gas, i.e., an oxidizing gas such as CO 2 and H 2 O, produced by burner heating, and reoxidation of the reduced metallic iron may occur.
  • an oxidizing gas such as CO 2 and H 2 O
  • melting and cohesion of the minute particles of reduced iron progress due to the carburization of the reduced iron using the residual carbon in the compacts and a decrease in the melting temperature resulting from the carburization.
  • the self-shielding effect is poor, the reoxidation of the reduced iron may readily occur.
  • the composition of the atmosphere gas in the carburization and melting regions is preferably optimized.
  • coal powders having different particle diameters were used as atmosphere adjustors.
  • the coal powder was bedded to a thickness of approximately 3 mm on an alumina tray, and 50 to 60 material compacts having a diameter of approximately 19 mm were placed on the bed of the coal powder.
  • a thermocouple was provided to one of the material compacts.
  • the material compacts were fed into the box furnace.
  • the temperature of the composite during heating was measured, and the composition of the gas produced was measured to determine the possibility of the reoxidation of the produced metallic iron. Note that the temperature inside the electric furnace was adjusted so that the maximum furnace temperature is approximately 1,450° C.
  • the initial composition of the atmosphere gas inside the furnace was CO 2 :20% and N 2 :80%.
  • FIG. 8 shows the results of the experiments in which the temperature of the material compacts detected by the thermocouple described above and the composition of the atmosphere gas when the temperature inside the electric furnace is gradually elevated were measured over time.
  • the horizontal axis shows changes in temperature, and the vertical axis shows a simplified reducing degree (CO)/(CO+CO 2 ) of the atmosphere gas.
  • Curve ( 3 ) shows the result of the experiment where no atmosphere adjustor was used.
  • Curve ( 4 ) shows the result of the experiment where a coarse coal powder having an average diameter exceeding 3.0 mm was used as an atmosphere adjustor.
  • Curves ( 1 ) and ( 2 ) show the results of the experiments where fine coal powders A and B having a diameter of 2.0 mm or less were used.
  • an FeO—Fe equilibrium curve and an Fe 3 O 4 —FeO equilibrium curve are also included.
  • the circled regions indicate periods during which the solid reduction nearly completes and the carburization, melting, and cohesion of the reduced iron begin in these experiments.
  • the control of the atmosphere gas during these periods is particularly important for preventing reoxidation of the iron oxide and for obtaining metallic iron nuggets of a high Fe purity.
  • the curves ( 1 ) and ( 2 ) show the results of the experiments in which fine coal powder was used.
  • the reducing degree of the atmosphere gas was significantly improved.
  • the region A in which the carburization, melting, and cohesion of the reduced iron occurred was above the FeO—Fe equilibrium curve, meaning that the generation of FeO was prevented in these experiments.
  • the curve ( 3 ) shows the results of the experiment using a coarse coal powder.
  • the region B in which the carburization, melting, and cohesion of the reduced iron occurred was slightly below the FeO—Fe equilibrium curve. This means some degree of reoxidation might have occurred.
  • the composition of the produced metallic iron was examined, and the results confirmed that substantially no reoxidation occurred in this experiment.
  • the metallic iron nuggets having an Fe content of 94% or more and a carbon content of 1.0 to 4.5% can be highly effectively manufactured by controlling the reducing degree of the atmosphere gas to at least 0.5, more preferably, at least 0.6, yet more preferably, at least 0.7, and most preferably above the FeO—Fe equilibrium curve, at least during the beginning stage of the carburization, melting, and cohesion period. In this manner, carburization, melting, and cohesion can be smoothly performed without allowing the reoxidation of the reduced iron produced by solid reduction.
  • a coal powder used as an atmosphere adjustor is preferably pulverized to a diameter of 3 mm or less, and more preferably, 2 mm or less to further reliably prevent the reoxidation during carburization, melting, and cohesion.
  • the diameter of the coal powder is most preferably in the range of 0.3 to 1.5 mm.
  • No limit is imposed as to the thickness at which the coal powder is bedded, but the thickness of the coal powder bed is preferably approximately 2 mm or more, and more preferably 3 mm or more since the amount of the coal powder as the atmosphere adjustor is insufficient at an excessive small thickness. No limit is imposed as to the upper limit of the thickness.
  • the atmosphere adjusting effect saturates at an excessively large thickness, it is practical and cost-effective to restrict the thickness to preferably approximately 7 mm or less, and more preferably, approximately 6 mm or less.
  • Any material can be used as an atmosphere adjustor as long as it releases CO. Examples of such materials include coal, coke, and charcoal. These materials may be used alone or in combination.
  • the atmosphere adjustor may be bedded on a hearth before the material compacts are fed on a hearth.
  • the atmosphere adjustor also functions to protect the hearth refractory from the slag bleeding during the reducing-melt process.
  • the atmosphere adjustor exerts its effect during the carburization, melting, and cohesion period after the solid reduction, it is also effective to sprinkle the atmosphere adjustor from above the hearth immediately before the carburization and melting of the material compacts begin.
  • the reoxidation of the reduced iron can be prevented and carburization, melting, and formation of nuggets can be effectively performed since the reducing degree of the atmosphere gas during the carburization and melting period is enhanced.
  • metallic iron nuggets having a high Fe content and a suitable size can be efficiently manufactured.
  • the temperature and the atmosphere gas are preferably separately controlled according to the step.
  • the temperature during the solid reduction period is preferably 1,200 to 1,400° C. to prevent reducing-melt reaction, as described above.
  • the temperature during the carburization, melting, and cohesion period is preferably 1,300 to 1,500° C. More preferably, the temperature during the solid reduction period is 50 to 200° C. lower than the temperature during the carburization, melting, and cohesion period.
  • the atmosphere gas As for the atmosphere gas conditions, since a large amount of CO gas that is produced by the burning of the carbonaceous substance inside the material compacts maintains a highly reducing atmosphere during the solid reduction period, the atmosphere gas inside the furnace does not require extensive control. In contrast, during the carburization, melting, and cohesion period, emission of the CO gas from the material compacts drastically decreases. As a result, reoxidation caused by the oxidizing gas produced by the combustion of the burners may readily occur. Thus, in order to obtain metallic iron nuggets having an adequate carbon content, it is essential to suitably adjust the atmosphere gas inside the furnace from this period on.
  • the atmosphere gas can be adjusted by using an atmosphere adjustor, for example.
  • the reducing-melt furnace is preferably divided into at least two zones in the traveling direction of the hearth by using a partition, as shown in FIGS. 1 - 3 .
  • the upstream zone is configured as a solid reduction zone
  • the downstream zone is configured as a carburization, melting, and cohesion zone so as to separately control the temperature and the atmosphere gas composition of each zone.
  • FIG. 3 shows as example in which the furnace is divided into four zones using three partitions to allow more stringent control of the temperature and the atmosphere gas composition. The number of zones can be adjusted to suit the scale and the structure of the reducing-melt facility.
  • the metallic iron nuggets of the present invention made by the above-described process contain substantially no slag component and have an Fe purity of 94% or more, and more preferably 96% or more, and a carbon content of 1.0 to 4.5%.
  • the diameter thereof is in the range of 1 to 30 mm.
  • These metallic iron nuggets are used as an iron source in known facilities for steelmaking, such as a electric furnace and a converter.
  • the sulfur content therein is preferably as low as is feasibly possible. The investigation has been conducted to remove sulfur contained in the iron ore and the carbonaceous substance as much as possible during the process of making the metallic iron nuggets and to obtain metallic iron nuggets having a low sulfur content.
  • the sulfur content in the end-product metallic iron nuggets can be reduced to 0.08% or less by intentionally adding a CaO source, e.g., burnt lime, slaked lime, or calcium carbonate, during making the material compacts using the iron ore and the carbonaceous substance so as to adjust the basicity (i.e., the ratio of CaO/SiO 2 ) of the overall slag components contained in the material compacts to 0.6 to 1.8, and more preferably 0.9 to 1.5, the overall slag components including the gangue component in the iron ore, etc.
  • a CaO source e.g., burnt lime, slaked lime, or calcium carbonate
  • coke or coal which is the most commonly used carbonaceous reductant, normally contains approximately 0.2 to 1.0% of sulfur.
  • the majority of sulfur contained therein is captured in the metallic iron.
  • the basicity calculated based on the slag composition in the material compacts is usually 0.3 or less, although the basicity significantly varies according to the type of iron ore.
  • sulfur cannot be prevented from becoming mixed into the metallic iron during the solid reduction process or the subsequent process of carburization, melting, and cohesion.
  • Approximately 85% of total sulfur in the material compacts will be included in the metallic iron. As a result, the sulfur content of the metallic iron nuggets is increased, and the quality of the end-product metallic iron is degraded.
  • the sulfur content reduction is considered to occur when sulfur contained in the material compacts is allow to react with CaO and is thus fixed as CaS (CaO+S ⁇ CaS).
  • CaS CaS
  • the above-described reducing-melt mechanism was not clearly known, it was considered that desulfurization effect comparable to that of a hot metal desulfurization cannot be achieved by the addition of CaO.
  • the inventors have confirmed that CaO in the slag captures sulfur when the reduced iron melts, forms nuggets, and becomes separated from the slag due to the carburization caused by the residual carbon inside the reduced metal, and thus the sulfur content in the resulting metallic iron nuggets can be dramatically decreased.
  • Such a sulfur reduction mechanism is different from a normal hot metal desulfurization using CaO-containing slag and is considered as a reaction unique to the above-described process.
  • a liquid-liquid (molten iron-molten slag) reaction may determine the ratio of the S content in the slag (S%) to the S content in the metallic iron nuggets [S%], i.e., the distribution ratio of sulfur (S%)/[S%].
  • S% S content in the slag
  • S% the S content in the metallic iron nuggets
  • the desulfurization mechanism of intentionally adding CaO into the material compacts employed in the above process includes a sulfur trapping reaction peculiar to CaO during carburization, melting, and cohesion of reduced iron, the sulfur trapping reaction preventing the sulfurization of the metallic iron nuggets.
  • the amount of the CaO added to adjust the basicity should be determined based on the amount and the composition of the gangue component contained in iron ore or the like and on the type and the amount of the carbonaceous substance added to the material.
  • a standard amount of CaO required to adjust the basicity of the overall slag component in the above-described range of 0.6 to 1.8 is, in terms of pure CaO, 2.0 to 7.0%, and more preferably 3.0 to 5.0%, of CaO in the entirety of the composites.
  • slaked lime [Ca(OH) 2 ] or calcium carbonate (CaCO 3 ) is used, the amount thereof should be converted to CaO.
  • Apparent desulfurization ratio (%) [S content (%) in the metallic iron nuggets made from CaO-added material compacts/S content (%) in the metallic iron nuggets made from material compacts not using an additive CaO] ⁇ 100.
  • FIG. 10 shows changes in sulfur content when reducing-melt is performed as described above using iron ore, a carbonaceous substance, a small amount of binder (bentonite, or the like), and an adequate amount of CaO.
  • This graph illustrates the relationship between the final basicity of the slag and the sulfur content in the metallic iron nuggets.
  • the slag was produced while varying the amount of the CaO source, and each of the points in the graph shows an actual result.
  • the shaded region in the graph shows the results of the above-described basic experiments using a box furnace. Since the basic experiments employed an electrical heating method and used an inert gas as an atmosphere gas, the oxidation potential of the atmosphere was low, which advantageously affects the apparent desulfurization ratio. In contrast, the demonstration furnace employed burner combustion, and thus the reducing degree of the atmosphere gas was low due to the generation of combustion gas compared to that of the basic experiments.
  • the sulfur content in the metallic iron nuggets was higher than the results of the basic experiments. However, the basic tendency was substantially the same as that shown by the results of the basic experiments. It could be confirmed that when no CaO source was added, the sulfur content in the metallic iron nuggets in the region A was approximately 0.12%. When the basicity was adjusted to approximately 1.0, the S content was reduced to 0.05 to 0.08%, as shown in region B, and the apparent desulfurization ratio was approximately 33 to 58%. When the basicity was increased to 1.5, the sulfur content in the metallic iron was reduced to approximately 0.05%, as shown in region C.
  • a two-stage heating method including a solid reduction period and a carburization, melting, and cohesion period is preferably performed.
  • the temperature is preferably adjusted to 1,200 to 1,400° C.
  • the temperature is preferably adjusted to 1,350 to 1,500° C.
  • the solid reduction can be sufficiently performed below the melting point of the by-product slag, and, subsequently, the reduction of the remaining FeO, and carburization, melting, and cohesion of the reduced iron can be performed to minimize undesirable bleeding of the by-product slag.
  • the amount of the carbonaceous reductant in the material compacts, the temperature conditions during solid reduction, and the composition of the atmosphere gas and the temperature conditions during carburization and melting, and the like should be suitably adjusted.
  • reduction, carburization, melting, cohesion, and incorporation can be efficiently performed, and metallic iron nuggets having a high Fe purity, a suitable carbon content, and a suitable diameter can be obtained.
  • the resulting metallic iron nuggets have a Si content of 0.02 to 0.5%, and a Mn content of less than 0.3%.
  • the sulfur content of the metallic iron nuggets can be reduced by intentionally adding CaO in the material compacts so as to adjust the basicity of the slag component.
  • the resulting metallic iron nuggets of the present invention have a high Fe purity, a suitable carbon content, a uniform shape, and a size of 1 to 30 mm.
  • the metallic iron nuggets of the present invention exhibit high handling quality and can thus effectively used as an iron source for making iron, steel, or various alloy steels.
  • Material compacts having a diameter of approximately 19 mm were made by uniformly mixing hematite ore, i.e., an iron source, coal, and a small amount of a binder (bentonite). Metallic iron was made using these material compacts.
  • the material compacts were fed inside a reducing-melt furnace of a rotary hearth type shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 , and solid reduction was performed at an atmosphere temperature of approximately 1,350° C. until a metallization ratio of approximately 90% was reached. Subsequently, the resulting material compacts were transferred to a carburization, melting, and cohesion zone at an atmosphere temperature of 1,440° C. so as to perform carburization, melting, and cohesion, and to separate by-product slag to make slag-free metallic iron nuggets.
  • coal powder i.e., an atmosphere adjustor
  • an atmosphere adjustor having a diameter of 2 mm or less
  • the metallic iron that had been melted, cohered, and substantially completely separated from the slag was then transferred to a cooling zone to be cooled to a temperature of 1,000° C. and solidified, and was discharged outside the furnace with a discharger.
  • the production ratios and the compositions of the recovered metallic iron nuggets, the by-product slag, and the excess carbonaceous substance were analyzed.
  • the reduced iron immediately before the carburization and melting was sampled from the reducing-melt furnace to analyze the composition of the reduced iron immediately before the carburization and melting. The results demonstrated that the metallization ratio was approximately 90%, and the residual carbon content was 4.58%.
  • the time taken from feeding of the material compacts to discharging of the metallic iron was remarkably short, i.e., approximately 9 minutes.
  • the resulting metallic iron had a carbon content of 2.88%, a Si content of 0.25%, and a S content of 0.165%.
  • the resulting metallic iron could be easily separated from the by-product slag.
  • a photograph of the produced metallic iron nuggets is shown in FIG. 13.
  • the metallic iron nuggets had a diameter of about 10 mm and a substantially uniform size.
  • Material compacts having a diameter of approximately 19 mm were made by uniformly mixing magnetite ore, i.e., an iron source, coal, a small amount of a binder (bentonite), and 5% of CaCO 3 as a slag basicity adjustor and forming the resulting mixture into compacts.
  • magnetite ore i.e., an iron source, coal, a small amount of a binder (bentonite), and 5% of CaCO 3 as a slag basicity adjustor
  • the material compacts were fed on a bed of coal powder (average diameter: approximately 3 mm) having a thickness of approximately 3 mm, the bed of coal powder being formed on a hearth.
  • the coal powder was used as an atmosphere adjustor.
  • the solid reduction was performed as in Example 1 while maintaining the atmosphere temperature at approximately 1,350° C. until the metallization ratio reached nearly 100%.
  • the resulting material compacts were transferred to a melting zone maintained at 1,425° C. so as to perform carburization, melting, cohesion, and separation of by-product slag so as to make slag-free metallic iron.
  • the material composition, the composition of the reduced iron after completion of solid reduction, the composition of the end-product metallic iron, the composition of the produced slag, etc., are shown in FIG. 14.
  • the metallic iron that had been melted, cohered, and substantially completely separated from the slag was then transferred to a cooling zone to be cooled to a temperature of 1,000° C. and solidified, and was discharged outside the furnace with a discharger.
  • the production ratios and the compositions of the recovered metallic iron nuggets, the by-product slag, and the excess carbonaceous substance were analyzed.
  • the reduced iron immediately before the carburization and melting was sampled from the reducing-melt furnace to analyze the composition of the reduced iron immediate before the carburization and melting. The results demonstrated that the metallization ratio was approximately 92.3%, and the residual carbon content was 3.97%.
  • the time taken from feeding of the material compacts to discharging of the metallic iron was remarkably short, i.e., approximately 8 minutes.
  • the resulting metallic iron had a carbon content of 2.10%, a Si content of 0.09%, and a S content of 0.07%. Since a CaO source was added to decrease the S content in this example, the S content was lower than that in Example 1.
  • a photograph of the produced metallic iron nuggets is shown in FIG. 15, and 98% or more of the iron nuggets had a diameter in the range of 5 to 30 mm.
  • Example 1 not using a CaO source, Fe—(Mn)—S was present on the surface of the reduced iron at a high concentration. It was confirmed that during the carburization and melting, Fe—(Mn)—S was captured inside the molten iron.
  • Example 2 using a CaO source, most sulfur was allowed to react with the CaO source and was fixed during the end stage of the solid reduction. It was confirmed that sulfur was prevented from entering the molten iron during the step of carburization and melting.
  • Example 2 An experiment was conducted under the same conditions as those in Example 1 and an actual furnace. In this experiment, the diameter of the material compacts (pellets) was varied within the range of 3 to 35 mm to examine the effect of the size of the material compacts on the average diameter and the average mass of the resulting metallic iron nuggets. The results are shown in FIG. 16.
  • metallic iron nuggets having a diameter in the range of 5 to 20 mm i.e., the type of metallic iron nuggets exhibiting superior handling quality as the end-product metallic iron, could be effectively manufactured from material compacts (dry pellets) having a diameter of approximately 10 to 35 mm.
  • the present invention having the above-described configuration provides metallic iron nuggets having a high Fe purity, an adequate C content, and a suitable size for handling ease.
  • the metallic iron nuggets further has low S, Si, and Mn contents, are easy to handle as an iron source, and has a reliable quality. As described above, these metallic iron nuggets can be efficiently and reliably manufactured with a high reproducibility by suitably controlling the manufacturing conditions.

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