Technology of Blast-Furnace Smelting of Iron using Pulverized Coal at the NLMK

The problems of using pulverized coal to save coke during iron smelting in the NLMK blast furnaces are considered. The iron smelting technology was implemented in two stages: (i) commissioning of the pulverized-coal preparation and charging system and (ii) selection of charging system and blast conditions that ensure the maximum utilization of pulverized coal and required output. An analysis of the dynamics in the consumption of coke and fuel additives showed that the total fuel carbon consumption has decreased, despite the difference in the amount of carbon charged with natural gas and pulverized coal. The calculations based on a mathematical model showed that with increase in the consumption of pulverized coal and decrease in the consumption of natural gas, the gas-to-coke replacement ratio increases by 0.09 kg of coke per 1 m³ of natural gas on average.