Cui Wang

Combustion characteristics and kinetics of anthracite with added chlorine

The combustion process of Yangquan anthracite (YQ) with the addition of 0.045wt%, 0.211wt%, 1.026wt%, and 2.982wt% chlorine was investigated using a thermogravimetric method from an ambient temperature to 1173 K in an air atmosphere. Results show that the YQ combustion characteristics are not significantly affected by an increase in chlorine content. Data acquired for combustion conversion are then further processed for kinetic analysis. Average apparent activation energies determined using the model-free method (specifically the KAS method) are 103.025, 110.250, 99.906, and 110.641 kJ/mol, respectively, and the optimal kinetic model for describing the combustion process of chlorine-containing YQ is the nucleation kinetic model, as determined by the z(α) master plot method. The mechanism function of the nucleation kinetic model is then employed to estimate the pre-exponential factor, by making use of the compensation effect. The kinetic models to describe chlorine-containing YQ combustion are thus obtained through advanced determination of the optimal mechanism function, average apparent activation energy, and the pre-exponential factor.

Effect of chlorine on the viscosities and structures of blast furnace slags

The viscosity of CaO–SiO2–Al2O3–MgO–CaCl2 slags (C/S = 1.12) were investigated to elucidate the effects of chlorine ranging from 0.02 to 0.53 mass% on the blast furnace slags at high temperatures. Moreover, the Raman spectra of the quenched slags and the X-ray diffraction patterns of the slags cooled in air after viscosity measurement were thoroughly analysed to interpret the transformation of the structures of the slags with increasing the content of chlorine. The viscosity was found to decrease slightly with the increase of chlorine at a given temperature higher than 1673 K, and the critical temperature (TCR) decreased from about 1660 to 1590 K simultaneously which was possibly deriving from the precipitation of Ca2Al2SiO7, Ca3Al2(SiO4)3–xCl4 x and SiO2 in higher chlorine content. The degree of polymerisation for silicon–oxygen tetrahedra was found to decrease estimating from the decrease of the average amount of bridging oxygen calculated from the deconvolution results of the Raman spectra of the quenched slags, which provided the explanation for the decrease in viscosity. And that the apparent activation energy of the slags was commonly reduced by chlorine increasing demonstrated the decrease in the degree of polymerisation of molten slags simultaneously.

Effects of MnO on slag viscosity and wetting behaviour between slag and refractory

As more and more Mn bearing iron ores are used to decrease steel cost and deal with the problem of hearth deposition, slag regime change and hearth refractory erosion in blast furnace become more often. To address these problems, it is urgent to clarify the effects of MnO upon the ironmaking production. Herein, the viscosities of slags with different MnO contents were measured for the first time, and the influence mechanism of MnO was analysed by infrared spectrum. The wetting behaviours between slags with different MnO contents and alumina–carbon refractory were investigated. The results showed that meltability temperature and viscosity decrease simultaneously with the increasing MnO content from 0 to 2.0 wt-%. Infrared spectrum analysis also proved that the existence of Mn+, Ca2+ and Mg2+ makes the Si–O bonds peak moving towards high frequency and the asymmetry of Si–O bond increasing, leading to the decrease in viscosity decreasing. In addition, the characteristic temperatures for wetting reaction increased by ∼40°C with the increasing MnO content from 0 to 3 wt-% (basicity = 1.18). The characteristic temperatures decreased by nearly 50°C with the basicity of slag increasing from 1.0 to 1.3 (MnO = 1 wt-%). Therefore, the increasing MnO content in slag accelerates the erosion rate of BF hearth lining and then decreases the campaign life of blast furnace.

The influence of simultaneous adsorption of potassium and sodium vapours on coke structure and performance

Alkali metals are one of the important factors promoting the degradation of coke in blast furnace. Previous studies usually focused on the properties of coke affected, respectively, by K and Na separately, while K and Na will simultaneously affect coke performance in the actual production of blast furnace. Through simulating the actual situation where coke is affected by K and Na vapours simultaneously in blast furnace, the evolution of coke structure and thermal properties (CRI, CSR) after alkalisation with different proportions of K and Na vapours are revealed in this study. Results showed that coke structure was broken when the proportion of alkali vapours reached 3%, and coke fine formation rate increased with the increase of K vapour, indicating that K vapour caused a great damage to coke structure; CRI of coke reached the highest and CSR the lowest when K/Na ratio was 3/7. It was observed with SEM/energy dispersive spectrometer that K and Na existed in both mineral matters and carbon matrix; nepheline, generated when coke reacted with alkaline (K, Na) vapours, was determined by XRD. The content of K and Na in nepheline is dependent on the ratio of alkaline (K, Na).

Effect of harmful elements on the coke ratio of blast furnace

ABSTRACT The circulation and accumulation of harmful elements in the blast furnace leads to a decrease in gas utilisation and an increase in heat consumption, which can cause the increase of coke ratio. In this paper, the effect of harmful elements on the coke ratio was quantitatively studied using the Rist diagram. The results show that the effect degree of each harmful element on the coke ratio varies. The influence orders of accumulation times and loads of harmful elements on the coke ratio are Na > K>Zn and Zn > Na > K, respectively. The increase of heat consumption has more effect on the coke ratio than the decrease of gas utilisation. The total increase of coke ratio by the effect of K, Na and Zn is 14.2, 35.8 and 9.3 kg/tHM, respectively, of which the effect of heat consumption accounts for 55.9, 60.9, 60.9%, respectively.

Progress on Protection of Titanium-Bearing Materials in Chinese Blast Furnace

Prolonging the campaign life of the blast furnace has been an important task for iron makers, and it has been studied for decades. Adding titanium-bearing materials is a generally agreed and effective technique to protect the blast furnace hearth. Titanium from titania additions in the burden or tuyere injection react with carbon and nitrogen and form scaffolds on the hearth surface to protect the hearth from subsequent erosion. In this article, the progress on blast furnace hearth protection of titania additions in Chinese steel companies and research institutions is investigated, and the difficulties in the operation and production, such as little effect after adding titanium- bearing materials and the property deterioration of liquid iron and slags, are analyzed. The future research for protection in Chinese blast furnace is proposed, and a comprehensive process which combines protection of titanium bearing materials with reasonable thermal balance and slag- making regimes should be established.

Analysis of BF Hearth Reasonable Cooling System Based on the Water Dynamic Characteristics

A rational cooling water system is the assurance for long campaign life of blast furnace. In the paper, the heat transfer of different furnace period and different furnace condition based on the water quality characteristics were analysed, and the reason of the heat flux over the normal from the hydrodynamics was analysed. The results showed that, the vapour-film and scale existence significantly influenced the hearth heat transfer, which accelerated the brick lining erosion. The water dynamic characteristics of the parallel inner pipe or among the pipes were the main reason for the abnormal heat flux and film boiling. As to the reasonable cooling water flow, the gas film and the scale should be controlled and the energy saving should be considered.