Title

OVERCOMING PROBLEMS OF USING CHARCOAL AS A SUBSTITUTE FOR COAL AND COKE IN IRON AND STEELMAKING OPERATIONS

OVERCOMING PROBLEMS OF USING CHARCOAL AS A SUBSTITUTE FOR COAL AND COKE IN IRON AND STEELMAKING OPERATIONS

Authorship

Somerville, Michael Anthony; Mathieson, John Gordon; Ridgeway., Philip Leslie

Somerville, Michael Anthony

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Mathieson, John Gordon

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Ridgeway., Philip Leslie

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DOI

10.5151/2594-357X-22195

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Abstract

The substitution of charcoal for coal and coke is being investigated as a way to reduce the net CO2 emissions from iron and steel making operations. The particular properties of charcoal such as high reactivity, low ash and sulphur content and controllable chemical properties, e.g. volatile matter, makes it suitable for many steelmaking applications. However, other properties such as low density and a high propensity to absorb water from the atmosphere are problems which could restrict the future utilisation of charcoal. The density of charcoal is the main topic of this study and is an important property to optimise in order to minimise transport and handling costs as well as control charcoal reactivity and strength. Investigations into charcoal density included comparisons between pyrolysed dense biomass fuel (DBF) wood pellets and pyrolysed conventional Australian Eucalypt wood chips. The resulting properties of dense charcoal made from DBF pellets were compared to conventional charcoal made from wood chips. The comparisons showed that the true density of charcoal particles increased with pyrolysis temperature. There was little difference between the true density of conventional charcoal made from wood chips and dense charcoal made from DBF pellets. However, the apparent density of charcoal made from DBF pellets was about 80% higher than that of conventional charcoal. Charcoal porosity was found to increase with pyrolysis temperature. The porosity of dense charcoal from DBF pellets was about half the porosity of conventional charcoal. The bulk density of dense charcoal from DBF pellets was about 120% higher than the density of charcoal made with wood chips. Making charcoal from dense wood pellets was shown to be a convenient and effective way to increase the density of charcoal for possible application in steel-making.

The substitution of charcoal for coal and coke is being investigated as a way to reduce the net CO2 emissions from iron and steel making operations. The particular properties of charcoal such as high reactivity, low ash and sulphur content and controllable chemical properties, e.g. volatile matter, makes it suitable for many steelmaking applications. However, other properties such as low density and a high propensity to absorb water from the atmosphere are problems which could restrict the future utilisation of charcoal. The density of charcoal is the main topic of this study and is an important property to optimise in order to minimise transport and handling costs as well as control charcoal reactivity and strength. Investigations into charcoal density included comparisons between pyrolysed dense biomass fuel (DBF) wood pellets and pyrolysed conventional Australian Eucalypt wood chips. The resulting properties of dense charcoal made from DBF pellets were compared to conventional charcoal made from wood chips. The comparisons showed that the true density of charcoal particles increased with pyrolysis temperature. There was little difference between the true density of conventional charcoal made from wood chips and dense charcoal made from DBF pellets. However, the apparent density of charcoal made from DBF pellets was about 80% higher than that of conventional charcoal. Charcoal porosity was found to increase with pyrolysis temperature. The porosity of dense charcoal from DBF pellets was about half the porosity of conventional charcoal. The bulk density of dense charcoal from DBF pellets was about 120% higher than the density of charcoal made with wood chips. Making charcoal from dense wood pellets was shown to be a convenient and effective way to increase the density of charcoal for possible application in steel-making.

Keywords

Charcoal; Density; Dense biomass fuel pellets; Wood chips; Pyrolysis.

Charcoal; Density; Dense biomass fuel pellets; Wood chips; Pyrolysis.