The Sixth Royal Society Technology Lecture - Nuclear energy for the steel industry

1974 ◽  
Vol 340 (1621) ◽  
pp. 129-146
Keyword(s):  
Steel Industry ◽  
Nuclear Power ◽  
Iron Ore ◽  
Fossil Fuels ◽  
Raw Materials ◽  
Direct Reduction ◽  
Technical Problems ◽  
Power Stations ◽  
Nuclear Heat ◽  
Cold Metal

The steel industry, as a major consumer of coking coal and hydrocarbons, is exploring ways to reduce its dependence on these potentially expensive raw materials by making direct use of nuclear heat. Of the present two routes for producing steel, the major one (the hot metal route) employing the blast furnace which reduces iron ore to yield molten iron which is subsequently refined by basic oxygen steelmaking, does not lend itself to the application of nuclear heat; in the second (the cold metal route) recycled steel-or a substitute-is melted in an arc furnace where already today a proportion of the electricity used is generated in nuclear power stations. The development of ‘direct reduction’ processes allows iron ore to be converted to a solid pre-reduced iron product. In the conventional prereduction process, fossil fuels are used as both fuel and as chemical reductant. With nuclear heat, the fossil fuel-re-formed to a suitable reductant-is confined to the chemical role and not used as a source of heat. This reduction stage would be followed by arc melting, as in the present cold metal route. This basic process, which at present constitutes the minor route, could become the major one for the manufacture of steel in the long term. The lecture will discuss the various processes and outline a possible configuration for an eventual nuclear steelworks, together with some of the technical problems involved.

Embodied Energy and Energy Return on Investment

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter Rez
Keyword(s):  
Return On Investment ◽  
Nuclear Power ◽  
Fossil Fuels ◽  
Raw Materials ◽  
Energy Generation ◽  
Embodied Energy ◽  
Energy Costs ◽  
Energy Return On Investment

It is nearly always the case that the energy used to make the materials dominates, whereas the energy used in shipping either the raw materials or the finished product is usually small in comparison. For most things that we use, the embodied energy is much less than the energy consumed in operational use. When considering energy generation, there are two energy costs that should be considered. There is the energy needed to build the system, which can be thought of as a ‘capital’ or investment energy, and the energy needed to provide the fuel. For fossil fuels, the energy needed to provide the fuel dominates; for renewables, the fuel is free, so there is only an investment energy. The investment energy for nuclear power is greater than the energy needed to make the fuel, but only by a factor of about 4.

scholarly journals The study of the stress-strain state of the massif in mining uranium at “VOSTGOK” deposits

2020 ◽  
Vol 166 ◽  
pp. 03005
Author(s):  
Mykola Stupnik ◽  
Vsevolod Kalinichenko ◽  
Mykhailo Fedko ◽  
Olena Kalinichenko ◽  
Mykhailo Hryshchenko
Keyword(s):  
Nuclear Power ◽  
Strain State ◽  
Raw Materials ◽  
Uranium Content ◽  
State Enterprise ◽  
Uranium Deposits ◽  
Radioactive Elements ◽  
Mineral Extraction ◽  
Power Stations ◽  
Mixture Preparation

Being one of the world’s largest uranium producers(about 2% of the world’s production), the state enterprise “Vostochnyi Mining and Processing Works” (“VostGOK”) provides about 40% of Ukraine’s nuclear power stations with uranium raw materials. Considering the conditions of uranium deposits exploitation (location in densely populated areas, protected sites etc.), to protect the environment from possible emissions of radioactive elements room mining is applied with subsequent backfilling of the dead area with consolidating mixtures. This technology is economically reasonable at deposits with the increased uranium content. To exclude a number of labour-consuming and environmentally dangerous operations from the production process, lean uranium-containing ores are reasonable to be mined applying underground block leaching. This enables reaching maximum values of mineral extraction and avoiding considerable material expenditures on backfilling mixture preparation and backfilling dead rooms, as they are almost completely backfilled with the muck pile, and on utilization of waste after the mined ore primary processing (barren rocks and off-balance ores) on the daylight surface.

Study on the Reduction of Oolitic Hematite Ores in N2-CO Atmosphere

2014 ◽  
Vol 968 ◽  
pp. 198-201
Author(s):  
Guang Long Jin ◽  
Jin Zhu Zhang ◽  
Ben Jun Xu ◽  
Song Yang
Keyword(s):  
Carbon Monoxide ◽  
Steel Industry ◽  
Iron Ore ◽  
Direct Reduction ◽  
Iron And Steel Industry ◽  
Iron And Steel ◽  
Reduction Time ◽  
Potential Source ◽  
Maximum Value ◽  
Metallization Rate

The oolitic hematite will be a potential source of raw iron ore for the Chinese iron and steel industry. Up to now, the oolitic hematite have hardly been utilized effectively by any single traditional technology. The direct reduction may be a practical technology for the exploitation of oolitic hematite. The results show that the metallization rate of the HeZhang oolitic hematite increases with both the partial pressure of CO increase and the reduction time lasted, and the maximum value of the metallization rate is obtained at 35% carbon monoxide in the N2-CO atmosphere and 4h reduction time at 1050°C with 10% calcium oxide in the oolitic hematite. The diffusion may be the primary factor controlled the metallization rate in the later stage of reduction.

A mathematical model of metallization of titanium-magnetite ores of Kachkanar deposit in Midrex shaft furnace

2021 ◽  
Vol 77 (10) ◽  
pp. 1039-1045
Author(s):  
A. N. Dmitriev ◽  
M. O. Zolotykh ◽  
G. Yu. Vit’kina ◽  
L. A. Marshuk ◽  
M. S. Yalunin
Keyword(s):  
Mathematical Model ◽  
Iron Ore ◽  
Raw Materials ◽  
Shaft Furnace ◽  
Block Diagram ◽  
Direct Reduction ◽  
Widespread Application ◽  
Magnetite Pellets ◽  
Metallization Process ◽  
Titanium Magnetite

Development of a technology for obtaining direct reduction iron from titanium-magnetite ores, which will be the main ore base of the Ural ferrous metallurgy in the future, is one of the urgent tasks of metallurgical science. The world and domestic experience of the development of direct iron reduction processes, which are the most environmentally friendly of all existing methods of obtaining iron from ore considered. It was shown that the technology of metallization of iron ore materials in the Midrex shaft furnace has received the most widespread application. It is noted that the accumulated experience of using Midrex technology in Russian Federation will allow increasing the production of metallurgical raw materials with a reduced carbon footprint. An algorithm and a block diagram for calculating technical and economic indicators of the metallization process for the Midrex process shaft furnace are described. A methodology for calculating material and thermal balance of the Midrex process has been developed, taking into account the use of iron ore raw materials containing vanadium and titanium in the charge. On its basis, an algorithm was developed and a mathematical model of the metallization process was implemented, calculations of the metallization process of titanium-magnetite pellets obtained from the ores of the Kachkanar deposit in the Midrex mine furnace were performed. A comparison of the indicators of the metallization process of titanomagnetite pellets carried out in the shaft furnace of JSC “OEMK named after A.A. Ugarov” and obtained using the created software product showed satisfactory convergence of the results.

Study on Direct Reduction Process of Cylindrical Briquetting Hematite

2020 ◽  
Vol 988 ◽  
pp. 36-41
Author(s):  
Andinnie Juniarsih ◽  
Anistasia Milandia ◽  
Actur Saktianto ◽  
Suryana
Keyword(s):  
Heat Transfer ◽  
Heat Transfer Rate ◽  
Transfer Rate ◽  
Iron Ore ◽  
Raw Materials ◽  
Direct Reduction ◽  
Reduction Process ◽  
Iron And Steel ◽  
Direct Reduction Process ◽  
Rate Study

There are two types of iron resources such as primary iron ore and iron sand. In general, primary iron ores use as raw materials in iron and steel making and can reduce directly. In Direct reduction process, Fe2O3 (hematite) is converted to metallic iron by the removal of oxygen. This work presents a heat transfer rate study for direct reduction process of iron ore cylindrical briquette. An investigation has been carried out of different reduction parameter such as different sizes cylindrical geometry over temperatures ranging from 700°C to 1100°C for reaction time from 10 minutes to 1 hour. The result was indicated that the value of the heat transfer rate decreases in the core and outer parts of the cylinder briquettes.

scholarly journals Towards Improved Circular Economy and Resource Security in South Korea

2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 17
Author(s):  
Kyounga Lee ◽  
Jongmun Cha
Keyword(s):  
Circular Economy ◽  
Security Policy ◽  
Nuclear Power ◽  
Fossil Fuels ◽  
Raw Materials ◽  
Poor Country ◽  
Renewable Energy Resources ◽  
Korean Economy ◽  
Critical Raw Materials ◽  
Resource Security

This study explores the importance of critical raw materials and minerals by analyzing the Republic of Korea’s recent circular economy and resource security policy. Raw materials and rare metals are becoming increasingly significant to the Korean economy because the country is currently shifting away from fossil fuels and nuclear power towards renewable energy resources as well as transforming its industries towards decarbonization, digitization, and automation. Korea is a resource-poor country and is heavily dependent on imported minerals and rare earths, which are essential for its economy and new industry. Responding to these challenges and concerns, Korea is moving towards a sustainable circular economy and achieving greater resource security. Despite certain limitations, this transition would ultimately contribute in preparing Korea for current and future challenges in the areas of critical raw materials and minerals.

Analysis of Cylindrical Briquette Dimension on Total Iron Content and the Degree of Metallization in Direct Reduction Process of Iron Ore and Iron Sand Mixture

2019 ◽  
Vol 964 ◽  
pp. 19-25 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fakhreza Abdul ◽  
Sungging Pintowantoro ◽  
Alief Bram Hidayatullah
Keyword(s):  
Gas Flow ◽  
Iron Ore ◽  
Raw Materials ◽  
Direct Reduction ◽  
Reduction Process ◽  
Total Content ◽  
Outer Diameter ◽  
Direct Reduction Process ◽  
Sand Mixture ◽  
Fe Content

Indonesia has abundant resources or raw materials, especially the iron sand raw materials. But, the iron sand processing in Indonesia is still low. Even though, the steel demand in Indonesia is still high. So, the iron sand processing product as raw materials in steelmaking is the solution of it. In this research, the study was conducted by using the variation of briquette dimension of mixture of iron sand and iron ore in Direct Reduction process. The aim of this research is to study the effect of briquette dimension on Fe content and degree of metallization of the Direct Reduced Iron (DRI). First, the iron sand and iron ore were crushed and shieved until pass the 50 mesh standar size. Then, iron sand and iron ore were mixed and briquetted based on the variation of dimension. There are three variations of briquette dimension. Then, the briquettes was reduced at 1250°C for 12 hours. The reduced briquettes then were analyzed using XRD, XRF and degree metallization calculation. The result showed that the dimension of briquette affect the Fe content and the degree metallization of DRI. The dimension of briquette will affect the reductor gas flow in the crucible, so the rate and direction of reduction process of iron oxide will be affected too. The best briquette is Briquette B (7.9 cm for inside diameter, 15.1 cm for outer diameter and 19.5 cm for the height), with 75.02% for Fe total content and 66.52% for degree of metallization. This was due to The briquette B has the most evenly diffused dimension either vertically and horizontally.

scholarly journals Experimental Study on the Preparation of Cementing Materials by Direct Reduction Coupling of a Hematite-Carbon Base

Metals ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (8) ◽  
pp. 1086 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ruimeng Shi ◽  
Junxue Zhao ◽  
Xiaoming Li ◽  
Chong Zou ◽  
Yaru Cui ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Experimental Study ◽  
Iron Ore ◽  
Raw Materials ◽  
Direct Reduction ◽  
Tricalcium Silicate ◽  
Dicalcium Silicate ◽  
Raw Material ◽  
Experimental Conditions ◽  
Reduction Of Iron ◽  
Direct Reduction Of Iron

The reduction of iron in hematite and process coupling of cementing material generated from gangue components are explored in this paper, and a technical proposal for preparing directly reduced iron and cementing materials considering the processes of energy and material flows is proposed. An experimental study preparing cementing materials, such as tricalcium silicate and dicalcium silicate, by roasting the components, was performed. In this study, hematite was used as the raw material and powdered carbon was added, as the reducing agent, with CaO; at the same time, the gangue components of iron ore were used as the principal raw materials for the process of directly reduced iron preparation by direct reduction of iron ore. The FactSage software package was used to perform thermodynamic calculations of the reduction of iron and its influence on the formation of tricalcium silicate and dicalcium silicate. The feasibility of the direct reduction of iron to elemental iron and preparation of cementing materials by roasting of gangue components under the studied thermodynamic conditions was discussed. Different temperature control strategies were used to verify the reaction coupling test. The results showed that zero-valent iron could be produced by roasting and reducing hematite under certain experimental conditions, and cementing materials, such as tricalcium silicate and dicalcium silicate, could be produced simultaneously by reacting the gangue components with CaO. Fe2O3 exerted an adverse effect on the formation of tricalcium silicate, and sufficient reduction of the iron was a precondition for the formation and stability of tricalcium silicate.

Thermo-Hydraulic Analysis in a Assembly Representative of a Feedwater Nozzle

2003 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xavier Boissiere ◽  
Christian Laine ◽  
Louis Doubliez
Keyword(s):  
Steam Generator ◽  
Nuclear Power ◽  
Thermal Loading ◽  
Thermal Stresses ◽  
Experimental Testing ◽  
Flow Behavior ◽  
Life Time ◽  
Technical Problems ◽  
Power Stations ◽  
The Impact

One of the ways to reduce costs in modern nuclear power stations is to increase the life time of the steam generator. Much research is being carried out to gain a better understanding of the mechanical and thermal loads, which are generally overestimated in the interest of safety. One of the main technical problems is the feedwater of the reactor at a relatively cold (40 °C) temperature into the hot steam generator (270 °C). The connection zone, i.e. where the cold pipe is connected to the steam generator, is protected by an annulus inside the feedwater nozzle to reduce the thermal stresses. We have to identify the thermo-hydraulic behavior in that zone in order to accurately assess thermal information. This will give reliable boundary conditions for thermo-mechanical calculations. The configuration of the flows is a superposition of well known elementary fluid mechanic problems which interact strongly. No databases are available for this typical configuration, so we need to qualify the flow before using CFD modelisations. Therefore, a specific experimental testing bench was developed. In this paper, we focus our attention on the understanding of the flow in the one eyed cavity. PIV measurements allows us to identify the flow behavior. Our hypothesizes are demonstrated by a frequencies analysis, and finally confirmed with a numerical model. We also present and discuss the impact on a low thermal loading.

scholarly journals The Direct Reduction of Iron Ore with Hydrogen

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (16) ◽  
pp. 8866
Author(s):  
Shuo Li ◽  
Huili Zhang ◽  
Jiapei Nie ◽  
Raf Dewil ◽  
Jan Baeyens ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Co2 Emissions ◽  
Iron Ore ◽  
Fossil Fuels ◽  
Direct Reduction ◽  
Catalytic Decomposition ◽  
Reduction Reaction ◽  
Reduction Of Iron ◽  
Vibrated Fluidized Bed ◽  
Direct Reduction Of Iron ◽  
Decomposition Of Nh3

The steel industry represents about 7% of the world’s anthropogenic CO2 emissions due to the high use of fossil fuels. The CO2-lean direct reduction of iron ore with hydrogen is considered to offer a high potential to reduce CO2 emissions, and this direct reduction of Fe2O3 powder is investigated in this research. The H2 reduction reaction kinetics and fluidization characteristics of fine and cohesive Fe2O3 particles were examined in a vibrated fluidized bed reactor. A smooth bubbling fluidization was achieved. An increase in external force due to vibration slightly increased the pressure drop. The minimum fluidization velocity was nearly independent of the operating temperature. The yield of the direct H2-driven reduction was examined and found to exceed 90%, with a maximum of 98% under the vibration of ~47 Hz with an amplitude of 0.6 mm, and operating temperatures close to 500 °C. Towards the future of direct steel ore reduction, cheap and “green” hydrogen sources need to be developed. H2 can be formed through various techniques with the catalytic decomposition of NH3 (and CH4), methanol and ethanol offering an important potential towards production cost, yield and environmental CO2 emission reductions.

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