Analysis of Economic and Energy Efficiency of Using Electric-Arc Reduction for Iron-Containing Materials

For many years an important task for metallurgical scientists is the search for alternative technologies of iron production from mineral raw materials without using expensive coke, natural gas and with the least pressure on ecology. Technologies are required with maximum extraction of iron from ore, and with the least pollution of the atmosphere using cheap and least scarce reducing agents, for example power generating coal. Recently in OAO VNIIMT a new method has been developed and proven under laboratory conditions for direct preparation of iron by reduction of fine-grained material with solid reducing agent in a direct current electric arc furnace, including ground ore, iron-bearing sludge, etc. This technology makes it possible to prepare cast iron containing 3–4% carbon in a molten condition that may be granulated, cast into pigs, and treated in a ladle-furnace unit with minimum specific yield of gas and slag.