Title

18 MONTHS OF CHARCOAL FINES’ INJECTION INTO GUSA NORDESTE’S BLAST FURNACES

18 MONTHS OF CHARCOAL FINES’ INJECTION INTO GUSA NORDESTE’S BLAST FURNACES

Authorship

Nascimento, Ricardo; Almeida, Alessandro; Oliveira, Eliardo; Jesus, Adriano de; Moraes, Ricardo Luchese de; Anderson, Daniel Joseph

Nascimento, Ricardo

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Almeida, Alessandro

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Oliveira, Eliardo

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Jesus, Adriano de

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Moraes, Ricardo Luchese de

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Anderson, Daniel Joseph

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DOI

10.5151/2594-357x-0085

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Abstract

Ferroeste Group, with a view to reducing energy demand and environmental impact in its operations, took a decision to implement the injection of pulverised charcoal (PCI) through the tuyeres of its blast furnaces at Gusa Nordeste’s iron works, located in the town of Açailândia, Maranhão State. The commissioning of the plant took place in October 2006, whereby charcoal fines were injected into the site’s three blast furnaces, after a 7 month lead time to build, erect and install the plant. The main characteristics of the blast furnaces are: internal volume: 155m3 (Blast Furnace no. I), 163m3 (Blast Furnaces no. II and III), with average productivity in excess of 2.0 t / d / m3, intermittent tapping and 100% lump iron ore as metallic charge. Consistent results have been observed during the first 18 months of operation of the plant, such as injection rates of 50 to 60 kg / thm and replacement ratio of 1:1 achieved without oxygen enrichment in the hot blast. Amongst the characteristics of the installation, we have: complete reutilization of the charcoal fines generated at the screening process, a unit which is compact and safe to run, operation through a supervisory system, utilization of exhaust gases generated at the glendons for drying of the charcoal at the mill and potential for utilizing fines which captured via the air cleaning systems in the future. The technical paper shall discourse on the charcoal injection unit, operational data prior and after injection took place, financial return generated by the installation and the handling of specific situations which have arisen during the first 18 months of operation.

Ferroeste Group, with a view to reducing energy demand and environmental impact in its operations, took a decision to implement the injection of pulverised charcoal (PCI) through the tuyeres of its blast furnaces at Gusa Nordeste’s iron works, located in the town of Açailândia, Maranhão State. The commissioning of the plant took place in October 2006, whereby charcoal fines were injected into the site’s three blast furnaces, after a 7 month lead time to build, erect and install the plant. The main characteristics of the blast furnaces are: internal volume: 155m3 (Blast Furnace no. I), 163m3 (Blast Furnaces no. II and III), with average productivity in excess of 2.0 t / d / m3, intermittent tapping and 100% lump iron ore as metallic charge. Consistent results have been observed during the first 18 months of operation of the plant, such as injection rates of 50 to 60 kg / thm and replacement ratio of 1:1 achieved without oxygen enrichment in the hot blast. Amongst the characteristics of the installation, we have: complete reutilization of the charcoal fines generated at the screening process, a unit which is compact and safe to run, operation through a supervisory system, utilization of exhaust gases generated at the glendons for drying of the charcoal at the mill and potential for utilizing fines which captured via the air cleaning systems in the future. The technical paper shall discourse on the charcoal injection unit, operational data prior and after injection took place, financial return generated by the installation and the handling of specific situations which have arisen during the first 18 months of operation.

Keywords

Blast furnace; Injection; PCI; Fuel and charcoal.

Blast furnace; Injection; PCI; Fuel and charcoal.