Anthracite provides a high-value carbon to electric arc furnaces that are used for melting steel during the direct reduction method. Anthracite mainly reduces the quantity of coke used in EAF smelting, saving electricity and gas. In addition to providing energy, coke can also be used for heating and melting iron.
Smelting must be completed as soon as possible. The electric arc (EAF), which uses high voltages, can decarburize steel if the process takes too much time. It is a problem which can cause the EAF to break electrodes and reduce productivity. In EAF smelting anthracite helps reduce the amount slag as well as recarburizing, resulting in increased productivity and profitability.
Anthracite has to first be refined or calcined in order for it to be used as a smelting material. The anthracite is heated to between 2100 and 2000degC in the calcination process. This transforms the material into one that's more stable with a high carbon content. The process can be done in many ways. However, the vertical electric arc is most commonly used.
Increasing demand from the steel industry will drive the market for calcined alumina to increase significantly in the coming years. This product can be used as a replacement for metallurgical slag in EAF Smelting, which reduces emissions, costs and energy. This is especially true in countries such as Japan, which imports more than 6.3 million tons of anthracite per year from Russia and Australia.
However, the calcined anthracite has to be carefully prepared in order to meet industry requirements. It is essential to ensure that the anthracite contains a high-quality carbon and a low moisture content. Additionally, it must be free from volatiles and alumina. It should also have an electrical resistivity equal to graphite.
It is also a challenge to use anthracite for EAF melting because it forms SiC when exposed at the high temperatures. They can also inhibit the anthracites reaction, which may cause problems in the slag distribution process and with the smelting.
Liberty Steel UK developed ecoke to solve this problem. The company has successfully completed trials of this sustainable raw material, which can replace anthracite in the EAF smelting process and reduce carbon dioxide emissions by up to 30%. These trials took place at Aldewarke Cast Products in Rotherham. The steelmaking department of the company studied the process to determine that carbon emissions from the plant are largely accounted for by anthracite. The ecoke program is a key step in the company’s efforts to continue reducing its carbon foot print.
English
Write a Message