Current state of steelmaking slag processing

In the present work, the properties and composition of steelmaking slag are assessed by analysing existing processing methods, including desulfurisation and dephosphorisation. The atomic absorption and optical emission methods were used to study the chemical composition of slag samples, and metallographic analysis was used to study their microstructure. Major approaches to processing slags applied in Russia and abroad were studied. It was shown that steelmaking slags are neutralised and treated by various methods and subsequently applied in construction and road industries, while the obtained phosphorus-containing products are used in agriculture instead of superphosphate. In addition, these products reduce lime consumption and improve slag formation in steelmaking. The key factor hampering reusing electric steelmaking and converter slags for metal refining is shown to be the presence of phosphorus. The chemical composition of slag samples from the electric steelmaking production was analysed; the iron content amounted to 33.2 wt%, calcium – 19.15 wt%, phosphorus – 0.33 wt% and silicon – 5.39 wt%. Iron is present in the oxidised form (FeO, Fe2O3 and Fe3O4), silicon and calcium in the form of dicalcium silicate (2CaO ∙ SiO2 ), phosphorus in the form of calcium silicophosphate having complex composition – Ca2(SiO4)6(Ca3(PO4)2. Phosphorus is fed to the melting units with gangue minerals, agglomerate, ore and fluxes. When the slags are reused, phosphorus returns to the metal, thus contaminating the final product. Possible methods for extracting phosphorus from steelmaking slags include magnetic and electrostatic separation, gravity and flotation concentration, as well as hydrometallurgical processing.

Video registration of physicochemical processes in BOF cavity at bath top blowing at application oxygen lances of various designs. Report 3. The picture of bath blowing at application two-level oxygen lances

Further increase of resources- and energy-saving efficiency of BOF processes is unthinkable without development of new methods of blowing and designs of blowing devices. It requires information on the real physicochemical phenomena in the converter cavity accompanying the blowing of the converter bath using new designs of oxygen lances in order to assess the possible risks in the mastering of the proposed developments in industrial conditions. The paper presents the results of video filming of the top blowing of a 80-kg converter bath by groups of multi-pulse supersonic and sonic oxygen jets formed, respectively, by Laval and cylindrical two-level nozzles of two designs equipped with double-row tips with a circular arrangement of Laval nozzles and cylindrical ones and upper block with cylindrical nozzles. Previously unknown information was obtained on the picture of the bath blowing with the formation of a reaction zone of interaction of supersonic and sonic oxygen jets with a metal melt with a flow of carbon monoxide going out the bath and afterburning of CO to CO2 under conditions of a counter-directed double curtain of sonic oxygen jets at different levels of location of the foamed slag-metal emulsions. It was established that in the initial period of blowing during slag formation most of the thermal energy of CO to CO2 combustion flares is transferred to the surface of the bath with lumps of added lime, and the rest is transferred by forced convection to the converter walls and gases escaping from the bath to the neck. In the case of the location of the foamed slag level at the upper tier of the cylindrical nozzles of the lance, heat transfer from high-temperature flares of localized afterburning of CO to CO2 within a limited in size near-lance flow of exhaust gases from the reaction zone is carried out according to the laws of submerged combustion and is completed completely in foamed slag-metal emulsion with the prevention of aggressive action of afterburning flares and volumes of overheated slag on the converter lining. Revealed and recorded by video recording modes of blowing the converter bath, contributing to the development of such undesirable phenomena during smelting as the appearance of intense emissions of slag-metal suspension from the facility, coagulation of the slag with the cessation of dephosphorization of the metal melt, the development of intense dust formation and the removal of small metal particles and slag with the formation of crust on the lance barrel. A variant of the final stage of blowing with a transition to supplying nitrogen instead of oxygen through cylindrical nozzles of two-level lances was experimentally tested, which provides an effective reduction in the level of foamed slag-metal emulsion before the converter turning down. The data obtained were used in the development of an industrial design of a two-level lance with a double-row tip, blowing and slag modes of blowing a converter bath with its use.

Investigations of regularities in the accumulation of hydrogen-reduced slags in circulation circuits with lead-containing coolants

The paper presents a computational analysis of regularities in the accumulation of slags during the interaction of lead and lead-bismuth coolants with oxygen gas. Oxidation of lead-containing coolants will cause the formation of lead oxide, while the formation of bismuth oxide is unlikely. Dosed supply of oxidizing gas to lead-containing coolants makes it possible to oxidize, selectively, chromium and nickel to their oxides without the slag formation from solid lead oxide. Regularities were studied which are involved in the lead oxide formation during the interaction of lead-containing coolants with oxygen gas. It has been found that, in the process of interacting with oxygen gas, a lead-bismuth alloy is oxidized 1.7 times as intensively as lead, this being explained by the presence of bismuth in the alloy. Bismuth is oxidized more intensively than both lead and the lead-bismuth alloy. The inert gas overpressure during depressurization does not prevent air oxygen from entering the circuit, and the dependence of the nitrogen and oxygen flow into the circuit on the argon flow out of the loop is close to linear regardless of the circuit state (cold, without coolant; heated, without coolant; heated, with circulating coolant). Oxygen is a chemically active impurity and is absorbed by the circuit; it is therefore important to control nitrogen in the gas spaces of the reactor and research plant circuits with lead-containing coolants. This will make it possible to signal, in a timely manner, the ingress of oxygen into the circuit and to take measures required to avoid or reduce the scale of the slag formation from lead oxides.

Video registration of physicochemical processes in BOF cavity at bath top blowing at application oxygen lances of various designs. Report 2. The picture of bath blowing at application two-circuit lances

To elaborate blowing and slag modes, a clear picture of BOF bath blowing in various periods of heat is needed. It can be obtained by video registration of physicochemical processes in a BOF cavity. Results of video filming of BOF bath blowing with application two-circuit oxygen lances of five designs presented. Reliable information was obtained on rational form of organization of reaction zone of interaction of ultrasonic and sonic oxygen jets with BOF bath. The picture of physicochemical processes within the reaction zone of interaction of oxygen jets with metal, slag and gas phases of the cavity, preceded to a stable “ignition” of a heat and in the process of the whole heat. A possibility was revealed to accelerate the processes of lime dissolving and slag formation and phosphor removal intensification. The intensification can be accomplished by increase of the number of reaction zones of interaction of ultrasonic and sonic oxygen jets on bath surface and forming of foamed slag-metal emulsion, being stable within the basic part of blowing time. It was shown that at initial period of a heat, it is necessary to ensure consolidation of supersonic oxygen jets, coming out of different reaction zones of interaction. It will enable to oncoming jets to create a curtain on the way of metal and slag drops taking away, to form a flare of CO afterburning to CO2 and ensure heat energy transfer from them to mainly the bath surface. It was established that at the location of the foamed slag-metal emulsion level higher the head end of the lance, the high-temperature products of CO to CO2 afterburning reaction transfer the heat of CO surrounding macro bubble to the shell of slag-metal emulsion. An additional control effect of “hard” supersonic oxygen jets on the bath was also established when replacing the subsonic and sonic oxygen jets by nitrogen ones. At that the flow rate of nitrogen should be big enough to prevent the sealing of cylinder nozzles of the lance head by metal and slag drops during final stage of blowing. The variant of the final stage of blowing was checked experimentally by transfer to the “hard” supersonic oxygen blow, contributing to final metal and slag oxidation decrease.

A Study on Bituminous Coal Base Acid Ratio to the Slagging Factor at Large Scale Boiler

Different types of coal have different characteristics and performances. In thermal coal plant, deposition of coal ash inside the furnace causes slag formation inside the boiler rear path and consequently reduces the heat transfer process and boiler efficiency. Besides, accumulation of ash on the boiler tube surfaces form layers of slags and blocks the flue gas flow out of the boiler. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship between sub-bituminous coal base acid ratio towards the heat transfer process inside large-scale boilers. The base acid ratio for sub-bituminous coal is measured before firing inside large-scale boiler of studied the thermal plant which has a generation capacity of 700 MW. This study found correlation between high furnace rear path temperature (FRPT) that is observed to be above 800℃, with the build up of ash accumulation inside the boiler, for the studied coal. Thus, a high base acid ratio causes the accumulation of coal ash, thus reducing the heat transfer process which results in high FRPT of the boiler. Therefore, it proves that a base acid ratio is an indicator for coal performance during firing inside the boiler.