Development of Coal-Based Direct Reduction Ironmaking Process

摘要

In recent years, world steel production has been increasing steadily combined especially with Asian economic growth. The mainstream, current ironmaking technology is the blast furnace process, which needs material-preparing plants such as coke ovens and sintering plants, placing a high load on the environment. On the other hand, gas-based direct reduction processes such as the MIDREX~R Process is one of the alternatives to blast furnace ironmaking. However, it is limited to locations where natural gas is economically available. On this background, demand is growing for new ironmaking processes that can utilize not only a wide variety of materials and fuel, but are environmental friendly. In response to this demand, three coal-based direct reduction ironmaking processes FASTMET~R, FASTMELT~R and ITmk3~R (Ironmaking Technology mark III) - have been developed. These processes can produce high quality iron units, such as DRI, hot metal and iron nuggets, from iron ore fines and coal that exist abundantly all over the world. Their energy consumption and environmental load are competitive compared with the large-capacity blast furnace process. FASTMET commercial plants are in operation in Japan. The developmental phase of the ITmk3 Process, conducted at a pilot demonstration plant, has been completed, making possible the construction of a commercial-scale plant.