Reduction and foaming of FeO containing slag

Abstract

Smelting reduction processes being developed for producing liquid iron using coal and oxygen are attractive because they allow the use of ore fines directly and do not depend on coke. This paper presents a brief review of some aspects of smelting reduction and some results of an experimental investigation carried out on the reduction of 5-20 wt-% FeO in a synthetically prepared slag by various reductants in a plasma reactor. Some results of a simulation of the smelting reduction process by carrying out post-combustion with oxygen lancing over the slag surface are also presented. It has been possible to achieve a steady state condition, namely, 1-2 wt-% FeO in the slag with a slag height of 4-5 cm during periodic addition of a charge consisting of iron ore, coal, and flux. A kinetic analysis of FeO reduction with various reductants is presented in detail.