Sintering and Briquetting Synergy in Blast Furnace Smelting

The article describes the concept of partially replacing the sinter in a blast furnace charge with extrusion briquettes to form the basis for sintering and briquetting synergy. The comparability criteria for sinter and extrusion briquette (brex) properties and production parameters were analyzed along with a substantiation of the fundamental possibility of partially replacing sinter with brexes. Such replacement of 50% of the sinter in the blast furnace charge, leading to a proportional decrease in its production, was established to result in a twofold decrease in the harmful emissions of the sinter plant and the production of higher strength sinter due to the structure of the modified blast furnace charge. At the stage of sinter production, such an alteration will lead to a decrease in the total consumption of iron ore concentrate, as well as allowing blast furnace and aspiration fines used in the sinter charge to be output to briquetting. As a result of improved sinter quality, the formation of fines can be significantly reduced against the background of increased dolomite, limestone, and solid fuel consumption. The modified blast furnace charge is also characterized by a decrease in skip sinter and dry skip coke consumption. The results of calculating the options of 10, 20, and 30% partial sinter replacement in the charge are provided.