Reduction characteristics of cold-agglomerated pellets in blast furnace conditions

Abstract

There is a significant and necessary drive towards reducing CO2 emissions produced by iron and steelmaking industries. Binding Solutions Ltd has developed a technology to contribute to the reduction of CO2 in the short and long term, by introducing a cold-bonded iron ore pellet to the furnace burden. Binding Solutions’ cold-agglomerated pellets, manufactured from magnetite and hematite iron ore, were tested in accordance with ISO standard tests alongside a standard market pellet. ISO standards were developed to assess the quality of lump ore, sinter and hot-bonded or alternatively known as indurated pellets, and there can be anomalies when testing cold-agglomerated pellets by the same methods. Additional test methodology, outside the scope of international standards may be utilised to give a fuller picture of pellet characteristics. The HOSIM test method was used to assess the properties of cold-bonded pellets of different minerologies. Results found that the time needed to reach a set point of reduction for a cold-agglomerated pellet is shorter than for an indurated control pellet. The data also showed that for the same iron ore source, alternate cold agglomeration methods can have a significant impact on the balance of pellet properties.