Fate of the Residual Elementsfrom Coal Injection during Iron Making Processes

本研究的主要目的：本项目的主要目的是确定高炉炼铁中喷吹煤中挥发性元素（如硫、钾和钠）的具体反应行为。开发一种方法来确定在不同的热条件和气体成分中产生的挥发性元素和化合物的定性和定量分析。2.定义离开不同热区并进入工艺的化合物的相，识别潜在的材料相互作用。3.确定高炉炼铁过程中确定的阶段的潜在影响和缓解措施。确定高炉工艺如何影响硫、钠和钾化合物在气相和固相之间的分布和分配。该项目旨在回答的问题：将煤粉喷入高炉，以降低炼铁过程中的比焦消耗。具体类型的喷吹煤对高炉性能的影响在硫和碱金属化合物（在工艺中称为“残留物”）方面还没有得到很好的理解。由于煤炭贸易市场由于需求量大和每个矿井的可用性有限而非常不稳定，因此选择煤炭的灵活性非常重要。基于煤的区域差异，其物理和化学性质存在很大差异。了解和选择具有这些不同特性的煤，在炼铁过程中的使用方面是复杂的，需要进一步研究煤燃烧后在回旋区中残留的残留元素。该项目将研究存在哪些化合物以及它们如何受到不同热条件和反应环境的影响。在高炉中，这些残余物被称为关键元素，据信其影响“死人”区域和“粘结区”的渗透性。在TATA Steel减少CO2替代炼铁工艺Hisarna的背景下，也将考虑该信息，以确定这些残留物如何影响原材料的表面反应性，从而影响工艺稳定性。了解这些残留元素在煤喷射中的作用，将用于改进为此目的选择合适的煤。根据该项目的结果，可以根据气体变化、优选的化学反应、溶液反应（HIsarna）或冷凝区域，为残留元素含量高的煤推导出进一步的选择标准（高炉）。新的物理科学/工程方法，将在项目过程中进行：一个落管式炉将被用来模拟燃烧的高炉“回旋区”，并适应开发一种新的测试方法，可用于测量气相和固相之间的残留元素的分配。这些信息旨在通过改进煤的选择和潜在的工艺变化对高炉工艺产生影响，以减轻问题。先进的分析将用于确定对表面性能的影响，并与高炉炼铁的新型低碳替代品Hisarna有关。该研究与EPSRC产品组合相一致的领域：这项工作与制造业的挑战和潜在的未来相一致。通过识别和选择最合适的煤来提高高炉效率，并将研究结果应用于替代Hisarna炼铁工艺，这项工作与低碳制造未来保持一致。

The key objectives / aims of the Research:The primary aim of this project is to determine the specific reaction behaviour of volatile elements from coal injection in blast furnace ironmaking such as sulphur, potassium and sodium.The main objectives will be to:1. Develop a methodology to determine the qualitative and quantitative analysis of volatile elements and compounds produced in different thermal conditions and gas compositions.2. Define the phases of the compounds that leave the different thermal zones and enter the process, identifying potential material interactions.3. Determine the potential impact and mitigation of the phases identified on the blast furnace ironmaking process.4. Identify how the blast furnace process influences the distribution and partitioning of sulphur, sodium and potassium compounds between the gas and solid phases.Questions the project intends to answer: Pulverised coal is injected into the blast furnace to decrease the specific coke consumption during the Ironmaking process. The impact of specific types of injection coal on the blast furnace performance is not well understood in terms of the sulphur and alkali metal compounds (known as 'residuals' in the process).Since the coal trading market is very volatile due to the high demand and the limited availability of each mine, flexibility with regard to the selection of coals is of major importance. Based on regional differences in coals there is a wide variation in the physical and chemical properties. Understanding and selecting coal with these different characteristics, in regards to usage in ironmaking processes, is complex and requires further research in regard to residual elements that remain after coal combustion in the raceway. The project will investigate what compounds are present and how they are affected by different thermal conditions and reacting environments. In the blast furnace these residuals are known as critical elements, which are believed to influence permeability of the 'deadman' region and 'cohesive zone'. This information will also considered in the context of the TATA Steel reduced CO2 alternative ironmaking process Hisarna, to establish how these residuals influence the surface reactivity of the raw materials and therefore the process stability. The understanding of the role of these residual elements in coal injection will be used to improve the selection of suitable coals for this purpose. Based on the results of the project, further selection criterion could be derived for coals with high amounts of residual elements based on gaseous modifications; preferable chemical reactions; solution reactions (HIsarna); or condensation areas (blast furnace).The Novel Physical Sciences/Engineering methodology that will be carried out during the course of the project: A drop tube furnace will be used to simulate the combustion 'raceway zone' of the blast furnace and adapted to develop a novel test methodology which can be used to measure the partitioning of residual elements between gas and solid phases. This information will aim to have an impact on the blast furnace process through improved selection of coals and potential process changes to mitigate against issues. Advanced analysis will be used to determine the effect on surface properties and relate to the novel low carbon alternative to blast furnace ironmaking, Hisarna. The area in which the research aligns with EPSRC portfolio:This work aligns to challenges in manufacturing and potential futures for these. Through improvements in blast furnace efficiency through the identification and selection of the most suitable coals, and by applying the findings to the alternative Hisarna ironmaking process, this work aligns to lower carbon manufacturing futures.