skip to main content
OSTI.GOV title logo U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Title: Blast-furnace ironmaking -- Existing capital and continued improvements are a winning formula for a bright future

Book ·
OSTI ID:129071
;  [1]
  1. U.S. Steel, Monroeville, PA (United States)

Throughout the years the blast-furnace process has been improved upon significantly. Increases to the hot-blast temperature, improvements to the physical, chemical, and metallurgical properties of coke and burden materials, the use of more fuel injectants, and improvements to the design of the furnace facilities have led to significant decreases in furnace coke rate, increases in productivity, and increases in furnace campaign life. As a result, many of the alternative cokeless reduction processes have not replaced blast-furnace hot-metal production in North America. In the future, these continued blast-furnace improvements will potentially result in coke rates decreasing to 400 pounds per net ton of hot metal (lb/NTHM) as more pulverized coal is injected. These improvements, coupled with the fact that existing blast furnaces and coke plants can be refurbished for approximately $110 per annual ton of hot metal [$100 per annual net ton of hot metal (NTHM)], will result in extending the life of the North American blast furnaces well into the twenty-first century.

OSTI ID:
129071
Report Number(s):
CONF-9504182-; ISBN 0-932897-99-1; TRN: IM9550%%439
Resource Relation:
Conference: 78. steelmaking and 54. ironmaking conference, Nashville, TN (United States), 2-5 Apr 1995; Other Information: PBD: 1995; Related Information: Is Part Of Ironmaking conference proceedings. Volume 54; PB: 584 p.
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English