Nickel Iron Battery

Modern
Blast Furnace
Ironmaking
an introduction
This page intentionally left blank
Maarten Geerdes
Rénard Chaigneau
Ivan Kurunov
Oscar Lingiardi
John Ricketts
Modern
Blast Furnace
Ironmaking
an introduction
Third Edition, 2015

© 2015 The authors and IOS Press. All rights reserved.
ISBN 978–1–61499–498–5 (print)

ISBN 978–1–61499–499–2 (online)
DOI 10.3233/978–1–61499–499–2–i
Published by IOS Press under the imprint Delft University Press
Publisher
IOS Press BV
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fax: +31–20–687 0019
email: info@iospress.nl
www.iospress.nl
LEGAL NOTICE
The publisher is not responsible for the use which might be made of the following information.
PRINTED IN THE NETHERLANDS

v
Preface
The third edition of “Modern Blast Furnace Ironmaking” was prepared by
an international staff of experts in blast furnace ironmaking. We gratefully
acknowledge the contributions of Mr. Cor van der Vliet and Mr. Hisko
Toxopeus, who co–authored the first two editions of the book and agreed to
hand over future editions of the book to a next generation. Hisko Toxopeus
asked to see the revised edition, but he passed away before publication.
The objective of the book is to share our insights that optimization of the
blast furnace is not only based on “best practice transfer”, but also requires
conceptual understanding of why a measure works in some cases and not in
other cases. In other words, operational improvement is not only based on
know–how, but also on know–why.
Compared to the second edition we have included gas injection as well as coal–
gas co–injection, expert systems, more elaborate descriptions of alkali cycles,
the deadman and operational challenges.
We are indebted to many colleagues we have worked with. We are grateful to

Jennifer Wise–Alexander and Tim Vander, who find the major part of their
contributions to the second edition in chapters 10 and 4 respectively. Jim Plooij
shared with us his insights and benchmarking data. Edo Engel did the editing
and developed the colorful and insight–giving illustrations.
We learn by sharing our knowledge. We wish the same to our readers.
Maarten Geerdes, Rénard Chaigneau, Ivan Kurunov,

Oscar Lingiardi and John Ricketts
February 2015
vii
Contents
Preface v
Contents vi
List of Symbols and Abbreviations x
Chapter I Introduction of the Blast Furnace Process 1

1.1 Global steel consumption 1
1.2 Short description of the process 2
1.3 The layer structure within a furnace 5
1.4 The equipment 7
1.5 Book overview 12
Chapter II The Blast Furnace: Contents and Gas Flow 15

2.1 The generation of gas and gas flow through the burden 15
2.2 Furnace efficiency 20
2.3 Removal of liquids 20
2.4 An example of gas flow and contents of a blast furnace 21
Chapter III The Ferrous Burden: Sinter, Pellets, Lump Ore 25

3.1 Introduction 25
3.2 Iron ore 26
3.3 Quality demands for the blast furnace burden 28
3.4 Sinter 32
3.5 Pellets 35
3.6 Lump ore 39
3.7 Metallics charge and briquettes 39
3.8 Interaction of burden components 41
3.9 Chemical control of the burden 41
Chapter IV Coke 43
4.1 Introduction: function of coke in the blast furnace 43
4.2 Coal blends for cokemaking 45
4.3 Coke quality concept 46
4.4 Coke size distribution 50
4.5 Strength of coke 51
4.6 Coke deadman 54
4.7 Overview of international quality parameters 57
viii
Chapter V Injection of Coal, Oil and Gas 59

5.1 Properties of coal, oil and gas 59
5.2 Coal injection 62
5.3 Natural gas injection 70
5.4 Coal–gas co–injection 73
5.5 Complete combustion of injectants 75
Chapter VI Burden Calculation and Mass Balances 77

6.1 Introduction 77
6.2 Burden calculation: starting points 77
6.3 An example of a burden calculation 78
6.4 Process calculations: a simplified mass balance 79
6.5 Estimation of direct reduction 83
Chapter VII The Process: Burden Descent and Gas Flow Control 85
7.1 Burden descent: where is voidage created? 85
7.2 Burden descent: system of vertical forces 87
7.3 Gas flow in the blast furnace 89
7.4 Fluidization and channelling 96
7.5 Burden distribution 96
7.6 Coke layer 101
7.7 Ore layer thickness 103
7.8 Blast furnace instrumentation 106
7.9 Blast furnace daily operational control 106
Chapter VIII Blast Furnace Productivity and Efficiency 109

8.1 Productivity 110
8.2 Efficiency 111
8.3 Following the gas in the furnace 113
Chapter IX Hot Metal and Slag 127

9.1 Formation of hot metal and slag 127
9.2 Hot metal as cast from the furnace 132
9.3 Hot metal and the steel plant 137
9.4 Slag 138
Chapter X Casthouse Operation 145

10.1 Objectives 145
10.2 Liquid iron and slag in the hearth 145
10.3 Removal of liquids through the taphole 147
10.4 Typical casting regimes 148
10.5 Taphole drill and clay gun 150
10.6 Hearth liquid level 151
10.7 Delayed casting 153
10.8 No slag casting 154
10.9 One–side casting 156
10.10 Not dry casts 157
ix
10.11 Defining a dry hearth 159

10.12 Oxygen lancing 160
10.13 Cast data recording 160
Chapter XI Operational Practices and Challenges 161

11.1 The burden 161
11.2 Burden descent 166
11.3 Recirculation of alkali and zinc 169
11.4 Circumferential symmetry 172
11.5 Tuyeres 176
11.6 Stops and starts 180
11.7 Casthouse challenges 187
11.8 Greenhouse gas emissions 189
Annex I Glossary 191

Annex II Further reading 193
Annex III Starting point for calculation examples 194
Annex IV Rules of thumb 195
Annex V Coal types used for coke making 196
Annex VI Coke quality tests 198
Annex VII Expert systems and models 202
Annex VIII Rist diagram 208
Annex IX References 213
Index 215
x
List of Symbols and Abbreviations

B2, B3, B4 basicity, ratio of two, three or four components
CRI coke reactivity index
CSR coke strength after reaction
daN Decanewton (approximately 1.02 kgf)
HGI hard grove index
HMS harmonic mean size
HOSIM hoogovens simulatie (blast furnace simulation)
HV high volatile
ISO International Organisation for Standardization
JIS Japanese Industrial Standard
LV low volatile
PCI pulverized coal injection
RAFT raceway adiabatic flame temperature
RR replacement ratio
Standard Coke coke with 87.5 % carbon
STP standard temperature and pressure
tHM tonne hot metal
VDEh Verein Deutscher Eisenhüttenleute
VM volatile matter
I Introduction of the
Blast Furnace Process
1.1 Global steel consumption
Two different process routes are available for the production of steel products,
namely the blast furnace with oxygen steelmaking and the electric arc
steelmaking route. The routes differ with respect to the type of products that
can be made, as well as the raw materials used. The blast furnace–oxygen
steelmaking route mainly produces flat products, while electric arc steelmaking
is more focused on long products. The former uses coke and coal as the main
reductant (fuel) sources and sinter, pellets and lump ore as the iron–bearing
component, while the latter uses electric energy to melt scrap. The current
trend is for electric arc furnaces to be capable of also producing flat products.
Nevertheless, the blast furnace–oxygen steelmaking route is the primary source
for worldwide steel production: about 70% of the steel consumed is produced
via this route, as shown in Figure 1.1.
Global finished steel consumption: 1413 Mtpa
Resources Ironmaking Steelmaking Finished

Processes Processes Products
Iron Ore: Blast Furnace Basic Oxygen Flat: construction,
Sinter/pellet/lump Ironmaking Furnace automotive,
1918 Mtpa 1140 Mtpa (94%) 1067 Mtpa (69%) packaging
732 Mtpa (52%)
DRI
74 Mtpa (6%)
Long: wire,
construction,
Scrap EAF Steelmaking engineering
533 Mtpa 458 Mtpa (30%) 681 Mtpa (46%)
Figure 1.1 Steelmaking routes and raw materials (Steelconsult International, based
on data in the IISI Steel Statistical Yearbook and World Steel in Figures,
2012 — Corex and Open Hearth omitted)
2 Chapter I
From a geographic perspective, the world has observed major changes in steel
consumption. Figure 1.2 shows the regional steel consumption in 2012. Steel
consumption in China amounted to 646 million tons in 2012, while in 2000 it
was 124 million tons. World production capacity has increased even more, since
China has become a major steel exporter.
700
646
600
500
400
300
202
200
146
131
100 73
56 63
47
29 20
0
North Latin Europe CIS East Asia China India Turkey MENA Others
America America (excl. China)
Figure 1.2 Geographical distribution of steel consumption
The present book discusses blast furnace ironmaking. Hot metal is produced
in a blast furnace, from where it is transported as liquid hot metal to the steel
plant, where refinement of hot metal to steel takes place by removing elements
such as sulphur, silicon, carbon, manganese and phosphorous.
In the blast furnace process, iron ore in the form of lump ore, sinter and pellets
is transformed into hot metal consuming “reducing agents” (coke, coal and
natural gas). Slag is formed from the gangue of the ore burden and the ash of
coke and coal. Hot metal and liquid slag do not mix and remain separate from
each other with the slag floating on top of the denser iron. The iron can then be
separated from the slag in the casthouse.
In the introductory chapter, we discuss the basics of the process and the internal
layer structure in the furnace as well as some major aspects of furnace design,
like the profile of the blast furnace and the cooling systems.
1.2 Short description of the process
The inputs and outputs of the furnace are given in Figure 1.3. A blast furnace
is filled with alternating layers of coke and iron ore–containing burden. Hot
blast is compressed air that is blown into the blast furnace via tuyeres. A tuyere
is a cooled copper conical nozzle, numbering up to 12 in smaller furnaces, and
up to 42 in bigger furnaces, through which pre–heated air (1000–1300 °C) is
blown into the furnace.
Introduction of the Blast Furnace Process 3
Figure 1.3 Input and output of a blast furnace
This hot blast gasifies coke and other carbon–based materials injected via the
tuyeres, mostly coal, natural gas and/or oil. In this process, the oxygen in the
blast is transformed into gaseous carbon monoxide. The resulting gas has a high
flame temperature of between 1900 and 2300 °C . Coke in front of the tuyeres
is consumed, thus creating voidage. The driving forces in the blast furnace are
illustrated in Figure 1.4 on the next page.
The very hot gas ascends through the furnace, carrying out a number of vital
functions as listed below:
– Heating up the coke in the bosh/belly area.
– Melting the iron ore in the burden, creating voidage.
– Heating up the material in the shaft zone of the furnace.
– Removing oxygen of the iron ore burden by chemical reactions.
– Upon melting, the iron ore produces hot metal and slag, which drips down
through the coke into the hearth, from which it is removed by casting through
the taphole. In the dripping zone, the hot metal and slag consume coke,
creating voidage. Additional coke is consumed for final reduction of iron oxide
and carbon dissolves in the hot metal, which is called carburization.
4 Chapter I
Figure 1.4 The driving force of a blast furnace: the counter–current process creates
voidage at the indicated areas causing the burden to descend
A typical example of the temperature profile in the blast furnace is shown in

Figure 1.5. It is shown that the softening/melting zone is located in an area
where temperatures are between 1000 and 1350 °C. The temperature differences
in the furnace are large. In the example, the temperature gradients are bigger in
the horizontal direction than in the vertical direction, which will be explained
in Chapter VI.
Figure 1.5 Temperature profile in a blast furnace (typical example)

1.3 The layer structure within a furnace

Ore and coke are charged in discrete layers at the top of the furnace and
processed more downwards. The structure of layers is maintained throughout
the furnace until all ferrous burden materials have been molten. This is derived
from studies of quenched furnaces: it was evident that these layers of ore and
coke remain until the temperatures are high enough for softening and melting
of the ore to begin. Quenched furnaces are “frozen in action” with the help of
water or nitrogen and examples of quenched blast furnaces as well as a solidified
cohesive zone are presented in Figures 1.6a and 1.6b.
Figure 1.6a Dissections of quenched blast furnaces Kakogawa 1 and Tsurumi

(Based on Omori et al, 1987)
Figure 1.6b Cohesive zone after blow–down

6 Chapter I
The quenched blast furnace clearly shows the layer structure of coke and ore.
Further analysis reveals information about the heating and melting of the ore as
well of the progress of chemical reactions.
As indicated in Figure 1.7, at any moment, an operating blast furnace contains,

from top downwards:
– Layers of ore and coke.
– An area where ore starts to soften and melt, known as the softening–melting
zone or cohesive zone.
– An area where there is only coke and liquid iron and slag, called the “active
coke” or dripping zone.
– The deadman or “inactive coke zone”, which is a stable pile of coke in the
hearth, extending into the bosh of the furnace.
A blast furnace has the shape of two truncated cones that are joined at their
widest points. The sections are, from the top down:
– The throat, where the burden surface is located.
– The stack, where the ores are heated and reduction reactions start.
– The bosh parallel or belly.
– The bosh, where the reduction is completed and the ores are melted down.
– The hearth, where the molten material is collected and cast via the taphole.
The liquid iron and slag are collected in the voids between coke particles in
the hearth. The solid coke is pushed down to the bottom of the furnace by the
weight of the charge.
Figure 1.7 The zones in the blast furnace

1.4 The equipment
1.4.1 Equipment overview

An overview of the major equipment is shown in Figure 1.8. These include:
– Hot Blast Stoves. Air preheated to temperatures between 1000 and 1300 °C is
produced in the hot blast stoves and is delivered to the furnace via a hot blast
main, bustle pipe, tuyere stocks and finally through the tuyeres. The hot blast
reacts with coke and injectants. The high speed gas forms the area known as the
raceway in front of the tuyeres.
– Stock house. The burden materials and coke are delivered to a stock house.
The materials are stored, screened and then weighed before final delivery into
the furnace. The stock house is operated automatically. Corrections for coke
moisture are generally made automatically. The burden materials and coke are
brought to the top of the furnace via skip cars or via a conveyor belt, where they
are charged into the furnace in separate layers of ore and coke.
– Gas cleaning. The top gas leaves the furnace via uptakes and a downcomer. The
hot top gas contains a substantial quantity of fine particles, so it is required to
remove these particles and cool the gas in a gas cleaning system consisting of
a dust catcher or cyclone, a scrubber for wet cleaning of the gas and finally a
demister for removing the water.
– Casthouse. The liquid iron and slag collect in the hearth of the furnace, from
which they are tapped via the taphole into the casthouse and to transport ladles.
Depending on the size of the furnace, there may be one to five tapholes and one
or two casthouses.
– Slag granulation. The molten slag may be quenched with water to form
granulated slag, which is used for cement manufacturing.
Figure 1.8 Blast furnace general arrangement

8 Chapter I
The top of the blast furnace is closed, as modern blast furnaces tend to operate
with a high top pressure. There are various different systems:
– The most common system is the bell–less top, which allows burden distribution
with a rotating and tilting chute.
– The double bell system was the predecessor of the bell less top. It is often
equipped with a movable throat armour.
– Newly developed systems, such as the “Totem–top” and “No–bell top”.
Examples of various types are schematically shown in Figure 1.9.
Figure 1.9 Selection of blast furnace top charging systems, from left to right
Bell–type charging (“McKee Top”)
Chute–type charging (“Paul Wurth Bell–Less Top”)
Double Chute–type charging (“Zimmermann & Jansen No–Bell Top”)
Rotor–type charging (“Totem Top”)
Pictures taken from company websites.
1.4.2 Blast furnace construction

There are basically two construction techniques to support blast furnaces. The
classic design utilises a supported ring, or lintel at the bottom of the shaft,
upon which the higher section of the furnace rests. The other technique is
a freestanding construction, requiring an independent support for the blast
furnace top and the gas system. The required compensator allowing for
expansion (thermal as well as from the pressure) is below the lintel for the lintel
furnace, while in the freestanding furnace it is located at the top, as indicated in
Figure 1.10.
Figure 1.10 Blast furnace constructions
1.4.3 Blast furnace development

Blast furnaces have grown considerably in size during the 20t century. In the
early days of the 20t century, blast furnaces had a hearth diameter of 4 to 5
metres and were producing around 100,000 tonnes hot metal per year, mostly
from lump ore and coke. At the end of the 20t century, the biggest blast
furnaces had hearth diameters between 14 and 15 meters and were producing 3
to 4 million tonnes per year.
The ore burden developed, so that presently high performance blast furnaces
are fed with sinter and pellets. The lump ore percentage has generally decreased
to 10–15 % of the ferrous burden or lower. The reductants used developed as
well: from all coke operation to the use of injectants through the tuyeres. In
the 1960s, oil was the prevalent tuyere injectant, while since the early 1980s
coal injection is used extensively. Presently, about 30–40 % of the earlier coke
requirements have been replaced by injection of coal and sometimes oil or
natural gas. As a result of a new technology to access natural gas deposits, the
cost of natural gas has decreased in some areas of the world and now natural gas
has become 20–25% of the total reductant. Currently, the co–injection of coal
and natural gas is being optimized in the blast furnace.
The size of a blast furnace is often expressed in terms of its hearth diameter or
as its “working volume” or “inner volume”. The working volume is the volume
of the blast furnace that is available for the process i.e. the volume between the
10 Chapter I
tuyeres and the burden level. Definitions of working volume and inner volume
are given in Figure 1.11.
Bottom Bottom Bottom of

of bell of bell (vertical)
chute
Zero level burden
1m below Bottom of 1m below
bottom movable chute
of bell armour
Working Volume
Inner Volume
Total Volume
Tuyere level
Taphole level
Uppermost brick
bottom layer
Figure 1.11 Definitions of working volume and inner volume
Presently, very big furnaces reach production levels of 12,000 t/d or more. E.g.
the Oita blast furnace No. 2 (operated by Nippon Steel & Sumitomo Metal
Corporation) has a hearth diameter of 15.6 meter and a production capacity
of 13,500 t/d. In Europe, the ThyssenKrupp Steel Schwelgern No. 2 furnace
has a hearth diameter of 14.9 m and a daily production of 12,000 t/d. In
Russia, NLMK Blast Furnace No. 7 (13.1 meter hearth diameter) reached an
average production of 12,500 tHM/d. In 2013, POSCO commissioned their
Gwangyang No. 1 blast furnace with an inner volume of 5800 m³ and a rated
capacity of 5.65 million ton per year (around 16,000 tHM/d). It is the largest
furnace at the time.
1.4.4 Blast furnace profile

There is no scientific, theoretically justified practice of calculating the blast
furnace profile. The dimensions are estimated based on empirical formulas and
past experience, which takes different operating conditions, like the type of
burden materials, into account.
The design of a blast furnace starts with the production target for the furnace.
Taking into account the quality of the burden, a productivity target as tHM
(ton Hot Metal) per m³ working volume per 24 hours can be derived from
benchmarking with comparable furnaces. Then the working volume can be
derived. Hot metal production, together with the expected slag volume, can be
used to calculate the production of the total liquid volume, which is required to
define the hearth diameter and tuyere–to–taphole distance.
As soon as these primary dimensions are known, the next step is to derive the
total furnace dimensions, such as the height from tuyere to stockline and to
bottom, the number of tuyeres, the bosh dimensions, stack dimensions, throat
dimensions and the number of tapholes (Figure 1.12). Of special importance are
the slopes or angles of the bosh and shaft, which vary from furnace to furnace
in the range of 81–86 degrees and 76–82 degrees respectively.
Figure 1.12 Major dimensions of a blast furnace
1.4.5 Cooling systems

In order to maintain the integrity of the steel shell of the furnace and because
of the high temperatures, the inside of the shell is protected by a water–cooled
refractory lining. An extensive discussion of cooling systems and specifications
is beyond the scope of this book.
12 Chapter I
There are two main shell cooling systems in use: stave cooling and horizontal
cooling plates, as shown in Figure 1.13 for the bosh of a furnace. Cooling plates
are water–cooled, typically produced from copper castings, with a relatively
small distance between plate locations and an insert depth of 40–50 cm. When
leaking, they can be replaced from outside the steel shell during a blast furnace
stop within a few hours.
Staves are vertical cooling elements, which can be made from cast iron, steel or
copper, covered with refractories on the hot face. The insert depth is smaller,
which leads to an increase in working volume of a blast furnace when cooling
plates are replaced by staves.
The advantage of staves is that when the burden descends, the material can
follow the wall rather easily. This is especially an advantage in the stack. The
advantage of cooling plates is that the cooling plates can work as an anchor
for freezing a protective skull, which is difficult with staves. So especially in
the lower part of the furnace cooling plates are more forgiving than staves.
Therefore, hybrid systems are presently being developed and installed.
Figure 1.13 Cooling systems: plate coolers, staves and hybrid
1.5 Book overview
Blast furnace ironmaking can be discussed from three different perspectives:

– The operational approach: discussing the blast furnace with its operational
challenges.
– The chemical technology approach: discussing the process from the perspective
of the technologist who analyses progress of chemical reactions and heat and
mass balances.
– The mechanical engineering approach focussing on equipment.
The focus of this book is the “operator’s view”, with the aim to understand
what is going on inside the blast furnace. To this end, the principles of the
process are discussed (Chapter II), followed by the demands on burden
quality (Chapter III) and coke and auxiliary reductants (Chapters IV and V).
Simplified calculations of burden and top gas are made (Chapter VI). The
control of the process is discussed in Chapter VII: burden descent and gas flow
control. The issues pertaining to understanding the blast furnace productivity
and efficiency are presented in Chapter VIII. Subsequently, hot metal and slag
quality (Chapter IX), casthouse operation (Chapter X) and special operational
conditions like stops and starts, high moisture input or high amounts of fines
charged into the furnace (Chapter XI) are discussed.
II The Blast Furnace:
Contents and Gas Flow
2.1 The generation of gas and gas flow
through the burden
The blast furnace process starts when pre–heated air, or “hot blast” is blown
into the blast furnace via the tuyeres at a temperature of up to 1250 °C. The hot
blast gasifies the reductant that is in front of the tuyere, which is either coke or
another fuel that has been injected into the furnace through the tuyeres. This
gasification generates a very hot flame and is visible through the peepsites as the
“raceway”. At the same time, the oxygen in the blast is transformed into gaseous
carbon monoxide (CO), and hydrogen (H₂) is generated. These gases can reduce
the oxygen content of the burden, hence the name “reductant”. The hot flame
generates the heat required for melting the iron ore (Figure 2.1a). The raceway is
physically present in operation.
In Figure 2.1b, the remains of the raceway are shown, after a blast furnace has
been taken out of operation.
Figure 2.1a The raceway, horizontal and vertical sections

16 Chapter II
Figure 2.1b The raceway after a blowdown and nitrogen quench.
The blast furnace is a counter–current reactor (Figure 2.2). The driving

force is the hot blast consuming coke at the tuyeres. In this chapter, the gas
flow through the furnace is analysed in more detail. The charge consists of
alternating layers of ore burden (sinter, pellets, lump ore) and coke. The burden
is charged cold and wet into the top of the furnace, while at the tuyeres the
hot blast gasifies the hot coke. Towards the burden stockline (21 to 25 m from
tuyeres to burden surface), the gas temperature drops from a flame temperature
of 1900–2300 °C to a top gas temperature of 100–150 °C.
Figure 2.2 The blast furnace as a counter–current reactor
The process starts with the hot blast through the tuyeres, which reacts with the
coke and coal or natural gas injection in the raceway (Figure 2.1). Gasification
of the coke creates hot gas, which is able to melt the ore burden. Consumption
The Blast Furnace: Contents and Gas Flow 17
of coke and melting of the ore burden creates voidage inside the furnace, which
is filled with descending burden and coke. Moreover, gasification of coke and
coal generates carbon monoxide (CO) gas. For every molecule of oxygen, two
molecules of carbon monoxide are formed: every cubic meter (m³ STP) of
oxygen will generate 2 m³ STP of CO. So if the blast has 74 % of nitrogen and
26 % of oxygen, the bosh gas will consist of 59 % (i.e. 74/(74+2x26)) Nitrogen
and 41 % CO gas. For the time being, we neglect the effect of hydrogen (see
section 5.1) In addition, a huge amount of heat is generated in the raceway from
the combustion of coke and injectants (coal, oil, natural gas). The heat leads
to a high flame temperature, which generally is in the range of 1900–2300 °C.
Since this temperature is higher than the melting temperature of iron and slag,
the heat in the hot gas can be used to melt the burden. Flame temperature is
discussed in more detail in section 8.1.3.
The hot gas ascends through the ore and coke layers to the top of the furnace.
If there was only coke in the blast furnace, the chemical composition of the
gas would remain constant, but the temperature of the gas would lower as it
comes into contact with the colder coke layers higher up in the furnace. The gas
flowing through a blast furnace filled with coke is presented in Figure 2.3. To
the experienced blast furnace operator, the furnace filled with only coke may
seem like a theoretical concept. However, in some practical situations, like the
blow–in of a new furnace or when taking a furnace out of operation for a long
time (banking), the furnace is almost entirely filled with coke.
Figure 2.3 Gas flow in a furnace filled with coke only (left) and in a furnace filled
with alternating layers of coke and ore (right).
In the normal operational situation, the furnace is filled with alternating coke
and ore layers. About 35 to 45 layers of ore separate the coke into layers. It is
important to note that the permeability of coke is much higher than that of the
ore (see also Figure 7.7). This is due to the fact that coke is much coarser than
18 Chapter II
sinter and pellets and that the void fraction within the coke layer is higher.
For example, the mean size of coke in a blast furnace is typically 45 to 55 mm,
while the average size of sinter is 10 to 20 mm and that of pellets is 6 to 15
mm. Consequently, the burden layers determine how the gas flows through the
furnace, while the coke layers function as gas distributors.
If gas flows from the bosh upwards, what happens to the gas as it gradually
cools down? Firstly, the heat with a temperature in excess of 1500 °C, the iron
temperature during casting, is transferred to the layered burden and coke,
causing the metallic portion to melt and be heated. In the temperature range
from 1000 to 1350 °C the burden will soften and stick together rather than
melt. Below the softening and melting zone, the remaining oxygen in the
ore burden is removed, which generates additional carbon monoxide. This is
referred to as the direct reduction reaction (see section 7.2.1), which only occurs
in the lower part of the furnace.
The gas has now cooled to about 1000 °C and additional gas has been
generated. Since the direct reduction reaction requires a lot of energy, the
efficiency of the furnace is largely dependent on the amount of oxygen removed
from the burden materials before reaching this 1000 °C temperature.
In summary:
– Heat is transferred from the gas to the ore burden, which melts and softens
(over 1100 °C).
– Residual oxygen in the burden is removed and additional CO is generated. This
is known as the direct reduction reaction.
Upon further cooling down, the gas is capable of removing oxygen from the
ore burden, while producing carbon dioxide (CO₂). The more oxygen that is
removed, the more efficient the furnace is. Below temperatures of 1000 °C, the
following takes place:
– Heat is transferred from the gas to the burden.
– CO₂ gas is generated from CO gas, while reducing the amount of oxygen of
the ore burden. This is called the gas reduction reaction, and in literature it
is sometimes called “indirect reduction” as opposed to “direct reduction”. No
additional gas is generated during this reaction.
– A similar reaction takes place with hydrogen. Hydrogen can remove oxygen
from the burden to form water (H₂O).
Higher in the furnace, the moisture in the burden and coke is vaporized in the
“drying zone” and is eliminated from the burden before any chemical reactions
take place.
If we follow the burden and coke on its way down the stack, the burden and
coke are gradually heated–up. Firstly, the moisture is evaporated, and at around
500 °C the removal of oxygen begins. A simplified diagram of the removal of
oxygen from the ore burden is shown in Figure 2.4.
Figure 2.4 Schematic presentation of reduction of iron oxides and temperature
The first step is the reduction of hematite (Fe₂O₃) to magnetite (Fe₃O₄). The
reduction reaction generates energy, so it helps increase the temperature of
the burden. In addition, the reduction reaction creates tension in the crystal
structure of the burden material, which may cause the crystal structure to break
into smaller particles. This property is called Low Temperature Disintegration
(LTD). Several tests are available to quantify the effects (see Chapter III). The
second step in reduction is magnetite (Fe₃O₄) to wustite (FeO). This reduction
reaction consumes energy.
Further down in the furnace, the temperature of the burden increases gradually
until the burden starts to soften and melt in the cohesive zone. The molten iron
and slag drip through the coke layer below the cohesive zone and are collected
in the hearth.
We now consider the interaction between the gas and the ore burden. The more
the gas removes oxygen from the ore burden, the more efficient the blast furnace
process. Consequently, intimate contact between the gas and the ore burden is
very important. To optimise this contact, the permeability of the ore burden
must be as high as possible. The ratio of the gas flowing through the ore burden
and the amount of oxygen to be removed from the burden must also be in
balance.
Experience has shown, that many problems in the blast furnace are the
consequence of low permeability ore layers. The permeability of an ore layer is
largely determined by the amount of fines (under 5 mm) in the layer. Generally,
the majority of the fines are generated by sinter, if it is present in the charged
burden or from lump ores. The problem with fines in the furnace is that they
tend to concentrate in rings in the furnace. As fines are charged to the furnace,
they concentrate at the point of impact where the burden is charged. They
are also generated by low temperature reduction–disintegration. Thus, it is
20 Chapter II
important to screen the burden materials well, normally with 5 or 6 mm screens

in the stock house, and to control the low temperature reduction–disintegration
characteristics of the burden.
2.2 Furnace efficiency
The process efficiency of the blast furnace, generally considered to be the

reductant (coke plus injectants containing carbon) rate per tonne hot metal, is
continuously monitored through measurement of the chemical composition of
the gas exiting the furnace top known as “top gas”. The efficiency is expressed as
the gas utilization formula, which indicates the percentage of CO gas utilized
for reduction of the ferrous burden.
CO2
ࠒCO =
(CO + CO2)
In addition, at modern furnaces, the gas composition over the radius is

measured frequently. The latter shows whether or not there is a good balance
between the amount of reduction gas and the amount of ore in the burden
across the radius. The wall zone is especially important so the coke percentage
in the wall area should not be too low. The wall area is the most difficult place
to melt the burden as that is where the burden thickness is at its highest across
the radius, and also because the gas at the wall loses much of its temperature to
heat losses via the cooling system.
The top gas analysis gives a reasonably accurate indication of the efficiency of
the furnace. When comparing different furnaces, one should realize that the
hydrogen also takes part in the reduction process (section 8.2.4).
The gas utilization also depends on the amount of oxygen that must be
removed. Since pellets have about 1.5 atoms of oxygen per atom of Fe (Fe₂O₃)
and sinter has about 1.45 (mix of Fe₂O₃ and Fe₃O₄), the top gas utilization will
be lower when using sinter. It can be calculated as about 2.5 % difference in top
gas utilization, when comparing an all pellet burden with an all sinter burden.
2.3 Removal of liquids
The liquid hot metal and slag have to be removed from the furnace. This is done
by making a hole (taphole) of 40–60 mm diameter and a length of 2.5–3.5 m in
the furnace. Hot metal and slag separate in two liquid phases. The hot metal is
more dense (around 7.2 t/m³) than slag (around 2.3 t/m³). As a consequence, the
hot metal generally comes out of the taphole first and later hot metal and slag
are drained together. Finally, when the slag level is below the taphole elevation,
some of the gas generated in the raceway blows out of the taphole indicating
the end of the cast. An operator should be aware, that the volumes of slag and
iron are quite similar: the hot metal volume and slag volume produced are about
equal at a slag volume of 320 kg/tHM. At higher slag rates, there is a higher
volume of slag to be cast than hot metal. Moreover, since slag is more viscous
and its viscosity also more variable than that of hot metal, it is more difficult to
remove slag from the furnace than hot metal.
2.4 An example of gas flow and contents

of a blast furnace
The contents of a blast furnace and the gas flow can be derived from operational
results. How long do the burden and gas reside within the furnace? In this
book, we use a consistent set of calculation examples with the same starting
points. Details of the starting points are given in Annex 3.
For the content of a blast furnace, a large, high productivity blast furnace with a
14 m hearth diameter is being used. It has a daily production of 10,000 tHM at
a coke rate of 300 kg/tHM and a coal injection rate of 200 kg/tHM. Yield losses
are neglected. Additional data are given in Table 2.1.
Consumption Specific weight Carbon content

Ore burden 1600 kg/tHM 1800 kg/m³
Coke 300 kg/tHM 470 kg/m³ 87.0 %
Coal 200 kg/tHM 80.0 %

Blast Volume 6500 m³ STP/min
O2 in blast 26.0 %
Working volume 3800 m³
Throat diameter 10 m
Hearth diameter 14 m
A charge contains 96.0 t ore burden
A ton hot metal 945 kg Fe
contains 45 kg carbon
Voidage in shaft 30 %
Table 2.1 Data for calculation of blast furnace contents

1 tonne hot metal contains 945 kg Fe= 945/55.6 = 17.0 kmol
2.4.1 How much blast oxygen is used per tonne hot metal?
Oxygen from the blast volume amounts to 0.26 x 6500 m³ STP/min = 1690 m³
STP oxygen/min. The production rate is 10,000/(24x60) = 6.94 tHM/min. So
the oxygen use is 1690/6.94 = 243 m³ STP blast oxygen/tHM.
2.4.2 How often is the ferrous burden replaced?

To produce a tonne of hot metal, the furnace is charged with:
– 300 kg coke: 0.64 m³ (300/470) volume
– 1600 kg sinter/pellets: 0.89 m³ (1600/1800) volume
– Total per tonne of hot metal: 1.53 m³ volume
22 Chapter II
Production is 10,000 tonne per day, which is 10,000 x 1.53 m³ = 15,300 m³

volume per day. This material can be contained in the working volume of
the furnace minus the unused volume in the throat (1 m burden level) minus
the volume used for the active coke zone. The working volume is 3800 m³,
the unused volume at the top (1 m below 0–level of stockline) is about 79
m³ and we estimate the active coke zone as 3 meters above the tuyere level,
corresponding with 461 m³. So the burden is processed in a volume of 3.800–
79–462 = 3260 m³. Not taking any compression into account, the contents
of the furnace are refreshed 4.7 times per day (15,300/3260). This means the
burden charged at the top reaches the tuyeres in 5.1 hours.
2.4.3 How many layers of ore are in the furnace at any moment?
The number of ore layers depends on the layer thickness or the weight of one
layer in the burden. A layer contains 96 tonnes, corresponding with 60 tHM. In
5.1 hours, the furnace produces 2135 tonnes, which corresponds with 36 layers
of ore (2135/60). In our example, taking a throat diameter of 10 m, the ore layer
is 68 cm and the coke layer is an average of 49 cm at the throat.
2.4.4 What happens to the carbon of the coke and coal?

One tonne of HM requires:
– 300 kg coke, C content 87 %: 261 kg C
– 200 kg coal, C content 80 %: 160 kg C
– Total carbon: 421 kg C
About 45 kg carbon dissolves in the hot metal. The balance leaves the furnace
through the top gas, which is 421–45 = 376 kg. It leaves the furnace as CO and
CO₂.
2.4.5 How is this top gas CO and CO2 produced?

All oxygen input in the tuyeres gasifies carbon to CO. The amount of oxygen
entering the furnace comes mainly from the wind (2.4.1: 243 m³/tHM) and
some additional oxygen comes from moisture and coal, when calculated as
m³ STP it is 17 m³, totalling to 260 m³ STP O₂. 1 molecule O₂ generates 2
molecules CO. So the carbon gasified in front of the tuyeres is 260x2x12/22.4=
279 kg carbon per tonne HM. The top gas contains (see 2.4.4) 376 kg, the
balance, 97 kg carbon, comes from direct reduction reactions.
2.4.6 Estimate how long the gas remains in the furnace

The blast volume is 6500 m³ STP/min with 26% oxygen. Since for every
m³ of oxygen, two m³ of CO is produced, the raceway gas amounts to
6500x(1+0.26)=8190 m³ STP/min. This gas has a higher temperature
(decreasing from some 2200 °C to 125 °C top gas temperature), the furnace is
operated at a higher pressure (assume 4.8 bar absolute at the tuyeres and 3 bar
absolute at the top) and extra gas is formed by the direct reduction reaction (see
2.4.5) and finally, it contains hydrogen as well. If all these effects are neglected,
the exercise is straightforward: Suppose the void fraction in the burden is 30%,
then the open volume in the furnace is the working volume (3800 m³) minus
the part that is not used at the top, estimated 79 m³) corresponding to (3800–
79)x0,3 = 1116 m³, through which 8190 m³ STP gas is blown per minute. So
the residence time of the gas is (1116/8190)x60 = 8 seconds.
It is possible to make the corrections mentioned above. Assume an average

temperature of the gas of 900 °C and an average pressure of 4 bar, then the
effects are:
– Increase in residence time owing to higher pressure: 4/1 = 4 times longer.
– Decrease in residence time owing to higher temperature 273/(273+900)= 0.23
times shorter.
– Decrease in residence time due to extra gas from direct reduction and hydrogen
is 8190/10,387= 0.79 times shorter. Extra gas from direct reduction is the gas
coming from 97 kg carbon per ton is 97x6.94x22.4/12 (t/min) = 1.257 m³/min,
extra hydrogen is 940 m³/min, in total 8190+1257+940=10,387 m³/min
– In total, the residence time is shorter by a factor of 0.73 (4x0.23x0.79), so the
corrected residence time is 8x0.73 = 6 seconds.
2.4.7 If there is so much top gas, is there a strong “wind” the furnace?
No, at the tuyeres there are high blast velocities (over 200 m/sec), but top gas
volume is about 10,387 m³ STP/min. Over the diameter of the throat, at a gas
temperature of 120 °C and a top pressure of 2 bar, top gas velocity is 1.0 m/s.
This corresponds with Beaufort 1, which is a very light breeze. Through the
voids, the velocity is about 3 m/s. Note, that in the center, the velocity can be
higher, so that even fluidisation limits can be reached (section 7.4).
III The Ferrous Burden:
Sinter, Pellets, Lump Ore
3.1 Introduction
In the early days of commercial ironmaking, blast furnaces were often located
close to iron ore mines. In those days, blast furnaces were using local ore and
charcoal, later replaced by coke. In the most industrial areas of that time, the
19t century, many blast furnaces were operating in Germany, Great Britain
and the United States. After the application of the steam engine for ships and
transportation, the center of industrial activity moved from the ore bodies to
the major rivers, such as the river Rhine, and later from the rivers to the coastal
ports with deep sea harbours. This trend, supported by seaborne trade of higher
quality ores may appear clear at present, but has only a recent history. In 1960,
there were sixty operating blast furnaces in Belgium and Luxembourg. Since
2009, only two are operating, both have the favorable coastal location.
The trend towards fewer but larger furnaces has made the option for a rich
iron burden a more attractive one. A rich iron burden translates into a high Fe
content, frequently obtained after a physical beneficiation or enrichment process
of the ore at the mine, consequently creating more fine material as opposed to
a rich and good lump ore. These fine ores are too impermeable to gas flow to
be charged directly to the blast furnace and hence sintering and pelletizing as
an agglomeration process is favored. Sinter and pellets are used in combination
with lump ore as the ore burden. Briquetting of in–plant revert materials is
an option as recycling of some of these waste materials through a sinter plant
becomes more restricted or a prerequisite in absence of a sinter plant. Boosting
blast furnace productivity through charging of metallic iron (scrap, DRI or
HBI) can finally make up the total ferrous burden, while reducing greenhouse
gas emissions.
A good blast furnace burden consists, for the major part, of sinter and/or pellets
and can be topped off with sized lump ore (Figure 3.1 on the next page). Sinter
burdens are prevalent in Europe and Asia, while pellet burdens are used more
commonly in North America and Scandinavia. Many companies use sinter as
well as pellets, although the ratios vary widely.
26 Chapter III
Sinter Pellets Lump

90 % < 25 mm 11 mm (± 2 mm) 6–25 mm
Figure 3.1 Burden materials
Lump ores are becoming increasingly scarce and generally have poorer
properties as a blast furnace burden. For this reason, it is used mainly as a lower
cost replacement for pellets. For high productivity, low coke rate blast furnace
operation, the maximum lump ore rate is around 10 to 15 %. The achievable
rate depends on lump ore quality and the successful use of higher percentages is
documented. The present chapter deals with the ferrous burden quality.
3.2 Iron ore
Iron is the fourth most abundant element in the earth crust, making up
approximately 5 % of the total. However, mining of iron (as an oxide) is only
economically viable where substantial concentration has occurred, and only
then can it be referred to as iron ore. More than 3 billion years ago, through
the generation of Banded Iron Formation, the first concentration occurred. The
conventional concept is that several billion years ago the banded iron layers
were formed at the bottom of ancient seas as the result of an increase in oxygen
in the water to form insoluble iron oxides which precipitated out of the water,
alternating with mud, which later formed cherts and silicate layers.
Figure 3.2 Banded Iron Formation (National Museum of Mineralogy and Geology,
Dresden, picture by André Karwath, file from the Wikimedia Commons)
The Ferrous Burden: Sinter, Pellets, Lump Ore 27
Subsequently, leaching out of the cherts and silicates resulted in a concentration

of the iron oxide and through further geological processes such as (de)hydration,
inversion leaching, deformation and sedimentation, a wide variety of iron ore
deposits have been created all around the world. These total over 300 billion
tonnes at an average Fe content of 47 %.
A minor fraction of these deposits are currently commercially mined as iron

ore with Fe contents ranging from below 30 % to up to 64 % (pure iron oxide
as hematite (Fe₂O₃) contains 70 % Fe). As mentioned before, an efficient blast
furnace process requires a rich Fe burden, preferably in excess of 58 % Fe.
Within the conventional mining process of drilling, blasting and crushing, a
wide size range of particles is obtained. Through screening, lump ore and sinter
fines are separated. However, an increasing part of the iron ore needs further
beneficiation and processing prior to becoming a usable material for the blast
furnace. A vast amount of equipment has been developed to economically
upgrade the iron ore to a suitable product. These processes will not be described
here, but most of them are based on liberating the iron oxide from the gangue
minerals and then making use of the differences in density, magnetic properties
or surface properties between these minerals to separate them physically.
Sometimes, large amounts of quartz (SiO₂) need to be removed, or minor
amounts of impurities (such as phosphorus in the mineral apatite). Depending
on the specific requirements, these processes can be easily achieved, or they can
be difficult or even impossible.
These processes result in a wide variety of beneficiated iron ores with varying
grades, impurities and sizes available on the market. Silica content can vary
between 0.6% to above 10% and phosphorus from below 0.005% to above 1%.
Similar variations apply for other components such as the oxides of aluminium,
calcium, magnesium, manganese, titanium and alkalis. With tighter
environmental control over the whole process chain, tramp elements at minute
levels are starting to play a more dominant role. From sulphur, zinc and copper
to mercury, arsenic and vanadium. The importance of these elements greatly
depends on the applied process and process conditions, environmental measures
and local legislation of where the ores are to be used.
Due to the physical beneficiation, more and finer iron ores have been generated
and though the designation is not consistent, the ore in the size range for
sintering (indicative between 6 mm and 150 μm) is called sinter feed, while
smaller and more narrowly sized ore is denoted concentrate and finally
pellet feed which is, as an indication, below 150 μm and suitable mainly for
pelletizing. The original lump ore is, as an indication, between 8 and 40 mm.
Most common ferrous ores are hematite (Fe₂O₃), magnetite (Fe₃O₄) and
goethite (Fe₂O₃.nH₂O)
28 Chapter III
3.3 Quality demands for the blast furnace burden

The demands for the blast furnace burden extend to the chemical composition
and the physical durability of the burden materials. The chemical composition
must be such, that after the reduction and melting processes, the desired
iron and slag compositions are produced, and this will be determined by the
chemical composition of all the materials charged in the furnace. The physical
and metallurgical aspects of the quality demands are related to the properties in
both the cold and the hot state and to ensure that the gas can flow through the
burden and react with the ferrous components. Both aspects are discussed in
depth in this chapter.
3.3.1 Generation of fines, reducibility, softening and melting

In the shaft zone of the blast furnace, the permeability of the burden is
determined by the sizing of the burden components and specifically the amount
of fines (see Figure 3.3). Fines may be defined as the fraction of the material
smaller than 5 mm, since the burden components have a general range of 5 to
25 mm. If there are too many fines and especially fines below 5 mm, the void
fraction used for the transport of the reduction gas will be reduced and will
affect the bulk gas flow through the burden (Hartig et al, 2000). The furnace
containes fines from two sources: those that are charged into the furnace and
those that are generated by the process.
0.3
Void Fraction
0.2
0.1
1 0.5 0
Vl
Size Distribution
Vl +Vs
Figure 3.3 Permeability for gas flow depends on void fraction, which depends on the
ratio of smaller and larger particles. Example of two types of spherical
particles, large (V l) and small (Vs). The x–axis gives the fraction of the
large particles: V l/(V l+Vs). The ratio V l/Vs itself highly influences the
absolute void fraction. This example assumes a ratio between two sizes of
particles; in reality always a size range will exist.
Fines in the burden and coke can be controlled by proper screening in the
stockhouse, just before charging to the blast furnace. The aim should be less
than 3% below 5 mm after screening in the stockhouse. Measurement of the
percentage of fines after screening in the stockhouse can give an indication of
whether or not excessive fines are charged into the furnace. Material from the
stockyard will have varying levels of fines and moisture and thus screening
efficiency will be affected accordingly. In some cases, iron ore is pre–screened in
the stockyard to remove fines that cannot be removed in the stockhouse.
Once in the furnace, during the first reduction step from hematite to magnetite,
the structure of the burden materials weakens and fines are generated.
Sinter and lump ore are especially prone to this effect, known as reduction–
disintegration or reduction–degradation. The reduction–disintegration depends
on the strength of the bonds between the particles of ore fines in sinter and
lump ore. Generally speaking, the reduction disintegration is dependent on:
– The FeO percentage, especially in the sinter. The more magnetite (Fe₃O₄, which
corresponds with FeO.Fe₂O₃) is present, the stronger the sinter and the less
reduction disintegration can take place at low temperature caused by the change
in crystal structure from hematite to magnetite. In the sinter process, the FeO
percentage in the sinter can be increased by cooling sinter with air that is low in
oxygen. In an operating plant, the FeO in the sinter can be increased by adding
more fuel (coke breeze) to the sinter blend.
– The chemical and mineralogical composition of the lump ore and sinter. For
sinter, basicity, Al₂O₃ and MgO content play an important role. Higher basicity
improves sinter strength while higher alumina and magnesia can have a negative
impact on sinter strength.
– The heating and reduction rate in the furnace. The slower the progress of
heating and reduction, the higher the reduction–disintegration of sinter and
lump ore.
– The amount of hydrogen in the reducing gas. More hydrogen in the reducing
gas leads to lower reduction–disintegration.
A major requirement for the blast furnace ore burden is to limit the quantity of
fines within the furnace to as low as possible. This can be achieved by:
– Proper screening of burden materials before charging. Screens with 5 mm
aperture are normal operational practice.
– Good reduction–disintegration properties.
During charging, fines in the burden material tend to concentrate at the point
of impact on the burden surface. The level of reduction–disintegration increases
in areas where the material is heated and reduced slowly. A charged ring of
burden with a high concentration of fines will impede gas flow, experience
slower warm–up and hence result in a higher level of reduction–disintegration,
making this negative process self–sustaining.
The reducibility of the burden is controlled by the contact between gas and
the burden particles as a whole, as well as the gas diffusion into the particles.
30 Chapter III
Whether or not good reduction is obtained in the blast furnace is governed

by the layer structure of the burden and the permeability of the layers, which
determines the blast furnace internal gas flow. This is discussed in depth in the
later blast furnace chapters. The intrinsic reducibility of the burden components
will be of less importance as long as the gas flow within the furnace does not
allow sufficient gas for the reactions to take place.
As soon as burden material starts softening and melting, the permeability for
gas is greatly reduced. Therefore, the burden materials should start melting at
relatively high temperatures and the difference between softening and melting
temperatures should be as narrow as possible, so that they do not impede gas
flow while they are still high up in the stack. Melting properties of burden
materials are determined by the slag composition. Melting of acid pellets and
lump ore starts at temperatures of 1000 to 1100 °C, while fluxed pellets and
basic sinter generally starts melting at higher temperatures. See also section 9.1
on how iron ore melts.
3.3.2 Ore burden quality tests

Ore burden material is characterized by the following.
– Chemical composition.
– Size distribution, which is important for the permeability of ore burden layers in
the furnace.
– Metallurgical properties with respect to:
– Cold strength, which is used to characterize the degradation of ore burden
materials during transport and handling.
– Reduction–disintegration, which characterizes the effect of the first reduction
step and is relevant in the stack zone of the furnace.
– Reducibility, which characterizes the capability of the material to improve the
extent of reduction reactions
– Softening and melting properties, which are important for the formation of
the cohesive and melting zone in the furnace.
Most of the tests are ISO standardized; some of the tests are generic for
sinter, pellets and lump but some are specific. For pellets for example, a cold
compression strength and a swelling test are applicable. The latter is to ensure
that the volume increase during reduction does not exceed a set maximum.
Specifically lump ores are tested for decrepitation: fracturing of the lump due
to thermal decomposition of crystalline water during the initial stage of heating
near the top of the blast furnace.
Table 3.1 summarizes these characteristics with an indicative optimum range.

A short description of generic tests used for characterization of materials is given
below, with the objective to help understand the terminology.
Optimum Range
What is measured? Results Sinter Pellets Reference
Mean Size Size distribution Average size, mm ISO 4701
% 6.3–16 mm > 95 %
% < 0.5 mm <2% <2%
Cold Strength Size distribution % > 6.3 mm > 70 % > 90 % ISO 3271
after tumbling % < 0.5 mm <5%
Compression daN/p > 150 ISO 4700
Strength after Size distribution % > 6.3 mm > 80 % ISO 4696
reduction after reduction % < 3.15 mm < 20 %
LTD (Low Temp. and tumbling % < 0.5 mm < 10 %
Disintegration)
Reducibility Weight decrease %/min > 0.7 % > 0.5 % ISO 4695
during reduction
Table 3.1 Characterization of ore burden
3.3.2.1 Tests for cold strength

Cold strength is mostly characterized by a tumbler test. For this test, an
amount of material is tumbled in a rotating drum for a specified time interval.
Afterwards, the amount of fines is measured. The size distribution after
tumbling is determined and used as a quality indicator (Figure 3.4). This
process simulates the physical transport and handling of all ferrous burden
components. Pellets are also tested for Cold Compression Strength to guarantee
intrinsic strength during handling and processing inside the blast furnace.
Figure 3.4 Principle of tumbler test
3.3.2.2 Tests for reduction–disintegration

The reduction–disintegration tests are carried out by heating a sample of the
burden to at least 500 °C and reducing the sample with gas containing CO
(and sometimes H2). After the test, the sample is cooled and tumbled and the
amount of fines is measured. The quoted result is the percentage of particles
smaller than 3.15 mm.
32 Chapter III
Reducibility is measured with two different ISO tests at a temperature of 900

or 950 °C in a gas containing CO. During the test period, the weight of the
sample is measured continuously. The weight loss is contributed to oxygen loss
and either a figure for reducibility (dO/dt) or final reduction degree after 180
minutes is obtained.
Sometimes, non–ISO standardized tests are applied with the aim to simulate
the actual blast furnace conditions. HOSIM is such an example of a blast
furnace simulation test where the sample is reduced to the endpoint of gas–
reduction in a furnace. After the test, the sample is tumbled. The results are the
reducibility defined by the time required to reduce the sample to the endpoint
of gas reduction, and the reduction–disintegration is represented by the
percentage of fines (under 3.15 mm) after tumbling.
Although all these tests are relevant for the upper part of the blast furnace
process, the ISO tests are excellent to give an idea of burden quality, but the
more advanced simulation tests gives a more realistic description of the effects
of that burden in the blast furnace. If test conditions are continued to higher
temperatures and the direct reduction is included (i.e. simulation of the lower
part of the furnace), tests are referred to as softening and melting tests. Pressure
drop over the ferrous burden sample, softening and melting trajectories and the
amount of material dripped out of the sample characterize the burden.
3.4 Sinter
3.4.1 Sinter quality

Sinter is made in three different types: acid (CaO/SiO₂ ratio below 1.0), fluxed
(CaO/SiO₂ ratio between 1.0 and 2.5) and super–fluxed (CaO/SiO₂ ratio over
2.5) sinter. Fluxed sinter is the most common type. Since sinter properties
vary considerably with the blend type and chemical composition, only some
qualitative remarks can be made.
The sinter quality is defined by:

– Size distribution: sinter size ranges from 5 to 40 mm with a mean size ranges
from 15 to 25 mm as measured after the sinter plant. The more basic the sinter,
the smaller the average size. Sinter degrades during transport and handling so
sinter has to be re–screened at the blast furnaces to remove the generated fines.
Sinter from the stock yard may have different properties from freshly produced
sinter directly from the sinter plant. If stock sinter must be used in the blast
furnace, it should be charged in a controlled fashion, and diluted with as much
fresh sinter as is possible, for example by using a dedicated bin in the stockhouse
to stock sinter or pre–screened in the stockyard before going to the stockhouse.
– Cold strength: normally measured with the tumble test. The more energy is
used in the sinter process, and the more gangue components such as silica, the
stronger the sinter. The cold strength influences the sinter plant productivity
because a low cold strength results in a high fines recycle rate.
– Reduction–disintegration (reduction–degradation index or RDI used in Japan)

properties. The reduction from hematite to magnetite generates internal stresses
within a sinter particle. The stronger the sinter, the better the resistance to
these stresses. The reduction–disintegration properties improve with denser
sinter structure, i.e. when the sinter is made with more coke breeze. As a
consequence of the higher coke breeze usage, the FeO content of the sinter will
increase. From experimental correlations it is well known that for a given sinter
type, reduction–disintegration improves with FeO content. For an operator,
this is the fastest way to improve sinter quality, at cost. However, reducibility
properties are adversely affected.
The driving force of low temperature reduction–disintegration of sinter is the

changeover of the crystal structure from hematite to magnetite, which causes
internal stress in the iron oxide crystal structure. So, reduction–disintegration
of sinter is related to the fraction of hematite in the sinter. As shown in Figure
3.5, there is primary and secondary hematite in the sinter. Particularly the latter
causes reduction–disintegration, since it is more easily reduced in the upper part
of the furnace than primary hematite (see Figure 3.5).
Figure 3.5 Cracking of calcium ferrites (SFCA) due to reduction of hematite (left)
into magnetite (M). Pores appear black. (Chaigneau, 1994)
The higher the secondary hematite percentage in the sinter, the more the sinter
is prone to reduction–disintegration effects. This can also be said in reverse,
that is, there is a strong relationship between the FeO content of the sinter and
the reduction–disintegration. The higher the FeO content, the less reduction–
disintegration will take place. The FeO content of sinter can be increased by
adding more fuel to the sinter blend, which is normally done in the form of
coke breeze. However, the precise relationship between the FeO content of the
sinter and the sinter quality depends on the ore blend used and is plant–specific.
The reduction–disintegration properties depend on the type of FeO present in

the crystal structure. To illustrate this by example: a high fraction of magnetite
in the sinter blend will give sinter with a high (primary) magnetite fraction.
Moreover, in the presence of sufficient SiO₂ fayalite structures (2FeO.SiO₂) can
34 Chapter III
be formed. These structures are chemically very stable and can only be reduced
at high temperatures by direct reduction reactions. Alternatively, in the presence
of MgO, spinel structures containing large amounts of FeO can be formed.
These spinel structures are relatively easy to reduce. Finally, sinter that has been
formed at high temperatures (acid sinter), will contain glass–like structures
where the FeO is relatively difficult to reduce.
It is possible to suppress the formation of secondary hematite by cooling the

sinter with air–gas mix with a reduced oxygen percentage (12 to 14%). This
results in a relatively high FeO content of the sinter, because less secondary
hematite is formed. This has a major benefit for the reduction–disintegration
properties of this type of sinter. In addition, the calorific value of the blast
furnace top gas increases, as less oxygen has been removed from the ore burden,
giving an economic advantage.
During the sintering process, there is a major difference between the use of
CaO and MgO as fluxes. Both materials are normally added as the carbonate,
using limestone as CaCO₃ or dolomite as Ca.Mg(CO₃)₂. The carbonates are
decomposed on the sinter strand, requiring a large energy input. However, the
melts containing substantial amounts of CaO have low liquidus temperatures,
such as 1100 °C for mixtures of 20 to 27 % CaO and iron oxides. For the
melts containing MgO, the spinel structures mentioned above, the melting
temperatures are much higher. Therefore, it is easier to form slag bonds in the
sinter using CaO than with MgO. And generally, making sinter with CaO can
be done at a lower temperature. But sinter with high MgO is more resistant
against reduction–disintegration. MgO content can be increased by adding
olivine or serpentine to the sinter blend. However, there is an upper limit for
MgO content where sinter strength is negatively impacted. Again all these
relationships and their limits are plant–specific, based on raw materials and
sinter equipment.
For the final result of the produced sinter, it is important to note that the sinter
blend prior to sintering is far from homogeneous. It contains various types of
material and locally there are widely varying compositions and sizes present.
Ore particles can be as large as 5 mm, coke breeze up to 3 mm and limestone
and dolomite up to 2.5 mm. All types of chemical compositions are present on
the microscale, where the sintering takes place. Types of materials used, size
distribution of the various materials, the blending of the sinter mix, the amount
of slag bonds forming materials in the blend as well as the amount of fuel used
for the sintering all have specific disadvantages for good sinter quality. This
makes optimization of sinter quality a plant–specific technological challenge.
In the above sections, the importance of reduction–disintegration of sinter is

stressed. The lower the reduction–disintegration, the poorer the reducibility
of the sinter. Needle–like structures of calcium ferrites have a relatively open
structure and are easily accessible for reduction gas in the blast furnace. In cold
conditions, the sinter is strong (i.e. good tumbler test results), the degradation
during transportation is also good, but the relatively fast reduction in the
blast furnace makes the sinter very prone to reduction–disintegration. More
solid structures in the sinter have better properties in this respect. Reduction–
disintegration leads to poorer permeability of the ore layers in the furnace and
impedes proper further reduction of the iron oxides in the blast furnace.
3.5 Pellets
3.5.1 Pellet quality

With the correct chemical composition and induration conditions, pellets can
be easily transported from mine to blast furnace. Pellets can be stocked and
generally remain intact in the blast furnace. Therefore, when judging pellets, the
main issues are:
– Cold strength, measured as compression strength and the fines generated
through tumbling. Low figures for compression and tumble index indicate bad
or lean firing, which results in a pellet with a hard outer shell but an unfired
core.
– The reduction–disintegration properties. These properties are less of a concern
with pellets than with sinter and lump ore.
– The swelling properties. With incorrect slag composition pellets tend to have
extreme swelling properties. Since the phenomenon is well known, it normally
does not happen with commercially available pellets.
– The softening and melting. Acid pellets tend to melt at lower temperatures than
fluxed sinter.
Alongside proper induration, the slag volume and composition and the bonding
forces mainly determine the quality of pellets. The three main pellet types are:
– Acid pellets (CaO/SiO₂ ratio below 0.5).
– Basic or Fluxed pellets using limestone or dolomite as additives (CaO/SiO₂ ratio
0.9–1.3).
– Olivine pellets using olivine as the fluxing additive.
Typical properties of the three types of pellets are shown in Table 3.2.
Pellet Type Compression Reducibility Swelling

Acid ++ – +/–
Basic + + +
Olivine + + +
Compression
Pellet Type Fe % SiO2 % CaO % MgO % (daN/pellet)
Acid 66–67 2–5 < 0.5 0.1–0.6 >270
Basic 63–66 1.5–4 0.8–1.1 0.1–1.5 >240
Olivine 64–67 2–4 < 0.5 1.3–1.8 >200
Table 3.2 Overview pellet properties (daN = Decanewton, around 1.02 kgf)
36 Chapter III
Acid pellets are strong, but have moderate metallurgical properties. They
have good compression strength (over 250 daN/pellet), but relatively poor
reducibility. The softening and melting temperatures are low compared to that
of fluxed pellets or sinter. In addition, acid pellets are very sensitive to the CaO
content with respect to swelling. When the CaO/SiO₂ ratio is over 0.25, some
pellets have a strong tendency to swell, which might jeopardize proper blast
furnace operation.
Basic and fluxed pellets have good metallurgical properties for blast furnace
operation. By adding limestone or dolomite to the pellet blend, the energy
requirement of the firing/induration increases because of the decarbonisation
reaction. For this reason, production capacity of a pellet plant can sometimes
be 10 to 15 % lower when producing basic pellets compared with production of
acid pellets. However, the fluxed pellet reducibity, softening temperature and
melting temperature are higher than that of acid pellets.
Olivine pellets contain MgO in place of CaO, which is added to the blend as
olivine or serpentine. The pellets are somewhat weaker when tested for cold
compression strength.
3.5.1.1 Cold compression strength

The difference in compression strength might seem large. However, in the blast
furnace, the pellets are reduced and the difference diminishes during reduction.
After the first reduction step to Fe₃O₄, the cold compression strength drops to
45–50 daN for acid pellets and to 35–45 daN for olivine pellets. Therefore, a
little lower average compression strength has no drawback for the blast furnace
process.
Though it is sometimes claimed that pellets needs to be strong to support

the burden on top, actual calculations show that the theoretical strength of a
pellet needs to be minimum: with a ferrous burden density of 1800 kg/m³, the
weight per cm² (which is roughly the cross sectional surface area of a single
pellet of 11 mm) is 0.18 kg. A column of 20 m ferrous burden imposes a static
‘pressure’ of 3.6 kg on this single pellet only. Factors like burden movement,
blast pressure counteracting the downward pressure, bridging and coke will
offset this calculated pressure and make it dynamic. However, the average low
compression strength can occasionally be the consequence of an increased
percentage of very weak pellets (below 60 kg/pellet). That fraction is a good
indicator for the pelletizing/induration process: the more pellets that collapse at
low compression, the poorer the pellets have been fired. Therefore, pellet quality
can be influenced by the production rate: the slower the grate is moving, the
stronger the firing can be, so the induration period increases and the pellets
become stronger.
3.5.1.2 Swelling
As mentioned above, pellets, in contrast to sinter and lump ore, can have the
tendency to swell during reduction. Generally, a volume increase of 20 % or
over, measured according to ISO 4698, is seen as critical. The effect, however,
depends on the percentage of pellets used in the burden. Swelling occurs during
the transformation of wustite into iron, but like any transformation, this is a
balance between iron nucleation and growth of these nuclei. During swelling,
limited nucleation occurs and these nuclei grow like needles, causing a volume
increase which is seen as swelling, see Figure 3.6. These needles, called whiskers,
are difficult to observe; a microscopic image of the phenomenon is shown in
Figure 3.7. Under certain conditions, for example in the presence of alkalis in
the blast furnace, the swelling can become excessive and a cauliflower–like
structure develops. This coincides with a low compression strength of this
structure, with the opportunity to generate fines.
Figure 3.6 Balance between iron nucleation and nuclei growth. Limited swelling
accompanied by the formation of an iron shell (left). Limited iron
nucleation followed by strong needle growth of the nuclei with as a result
excessive swelling of the pellet (right).
Figure 3.7 Whisker formation
Main factors influencing pellet swelling are basicity and gangue (non–iron
compounds) content. Figure 3.8 on the next page shows how swelling depends
on pellet basicity. Pellets with a basicity between 0.2 and 0.7 are more prone to
swelling.
38 Chapter III
Volume Increase
B4 Basicity:
Maximum
Tolerated CaO + MgO
SiO2 + Al2O3
0.2 0.7
B4 Basicity
Figure 3.8 Graph showing volume increase effect of pellet swelling with increasing
basicity of the pellet.
Swelling is mitigated by proper induration. In the blast furnace, local process

conditions like temperature and gas composition greatly influence the swelling
behavior. At higher reduction degrees, also swollen pellets will shrink. The
Japanese measure this shrinkage in a Contraction Test and have empirical
data showing that pellet contraction of over 10 % in a large blast furnace has
a negative impact on productivity and reductant rate. As the phenomenon of
swelling is well known, it is normally under control with commercially available
pellets, but always requires a check because it could have a severe impact on the
regularity of the blast furnace process.
An overview of pellet properties is shown in Table 3.3
What is measured? Results Acceptable Reference

Range
Mean Size Size distribution % 6.3–16 mm > 95 % ISO 4701
% < 6.3 mm <2%
Cold Strength Compression Average kg/p > 150 daN/p ISO 4700
Strength % < 60 kg/p <5%
Tumbling Strength % > 6.3 mm > 90 % ISO 3271
and Abrasion % < 0.5 mm <5%
LTB (Low Temp. Size distribution after % > 6.3 mm > 80 % ISO 4696
Breakdown) static reduction and
tumbling
Reducibility Weight decrease dur- %/min (dR/dt)40 > 0.5 %/min ISO 4695
ing reduction
Table 3.3 Characterization of pellets

3.6 Lump ore

Lump ores are natural iron–rich materials, which are used directly from the
mines after the crushing and screening operations. Because the lump ores are
screened out at the mines, the mines generally produce lump ore as well as
(sinter) fines. Major lump ore deposits are present in Australia (Pilbara region),
South America (Carajas and Iron Ore Quadrangle), and South Africa (Sishen).
In many other places, limited amounts of lump ores are produced. Lump ores
are becoming more and more scarce.
The lump ores are priced lower than pellets. For this reason, in many blast
furnaces high amounts of lump ore are being considered. The lower cost
of the lump ore compared with pellets is offset by the poorer physical and
metallurgical properties. Generally speaking, in comparison with pellets, lump
ores:
– Show some decrepitation due to evaporating moisture in the upper stack of the
furnace. This can be tested with the decrepitation test.
– Generate more fines during transport and handling.
– Have poorer reduction–degradation properties and may have poorer reducibility
properties.
– Have a lower melting temperature.
– Have greater diversity in physical properties due to being naturally occurring.
Lump ore is used in an appropriate size fraction, such as 8–40 mm. For blast
furnace operation at high productivity and high coal injection levels, lump
ore is not the preferred burden material. As lump ore is a natural material,
properties can differ from type to type. Certain types of lump ores can compete
favourably with sinter, and for example Ternium Siderar blast furnaces in
Argentina have operated successfully with up to 40 % of a Brazilian lump ore in
the burden at high furnace productivity.
3.7 Metallics charge and briquettes
Two other components with ferrous content can be charged to the blast
furnace:
– Metallics like Hot Briquetted Iron (HBI, Figure 3.9 on the next page), Direct
Reduced Iron (DRI) and steel scrap to increase the productivity and efficiency
of the blast furnace whilst limiting the greenhouse gas exposure.
– In–plant reverts as briquettes. Especially if an on–site sinter plant is not
available, valuable revert materials containing iron, manganese, carbon and
fluxes can be charged with the burden. The phosphorous level is the limiting
factor in many cases.
40 Chapter III
Figure 3.9 Hot Briquetted Iron (HBI)
Direct reduced iron (DRI) is seen more and more as a feedstock for the blast
furnace. After hot briquetting in the form of HBI, it can be charged with the
other burden components and with this HBI addition, the hot metal production
is increased for situations where a mill is short on hot metal. In this way,
advantage can be taken over charging these metallics directly into the converter.
Typically, HBI contains over 90 % Fe and has a metallization degree higher
than 90 %. Since the metallics only need to be melted and hardly reduced,
a coke rate decrease per ton of hot metal is achieved and this helps lower the
carbon dioxide generation within an integrated steel plant
Table 3.4 gives typical compositions of HBI in comparison with typical sinter
and pellets.
Fe FeO Met.Fe SiO2 CaO Al2O3 MgO C

HBI 92 15 80 2.0 0.9 0.8 0.3 1
Sinter 58 7 0 4.5 9.2 1.7 1.1 0
Pellet 65 0 0 4.5 1.0 0.4 0.4 0
Table 3.4 Typical chemical composition of HBI versus sinter and pellets
In our experience, if 100 kg HBI/DRI/Steel Scrap is used per tHM, the

productivity increases with 4–6 % and the coke rate can be decreased by
around 30 kg/tHM.
Cold briquetting of in–plant reverts such as blast furnace dust, BOF sludge
and mill scale is a way to recycle these materials. The preferred way is to recycle
them through the sinter process. In North America, some sinter plants only
operate on these waste materials, whilst other locations lack such sinter capacity
and need to landfill them, sell them or recycle them via the briquetting route.
These cold–bonded briquettes often have cement as a bonding agent resulting in
high strength cold properties but poorer reduction disintegration characteristics.
However, a small furnace in India operates on 100 % briquettes, manufactured
from sludges, top dust and iron ore fines (20 %).
3.8 Interaction of burden components

The results of burden tests on the total burden can differ greatly from results
on sinter, pellets and lump ore alone. An example is given in Figure 3.10. A
relatively poor quality of lump ore is blended with good sinter. It is shown that
the behaviour of the blend is better than expected from the arithmetic mean of
the data. Generally speaking, blending of materials dilutes the disadvantages of
a certain material. Therefore, the blast furnace burden components have to be
properly blended when charged into the furnace.
Sinter
1100
Softening Temperature (°C)
1000
50/50
Lump ore blend
900
800
0 20 40 60 80
Degree of reduction
Figure 3.10 Softening temperature of a 50/50 blend of sinter and lump ore (example
taken from Singh et al, 1984)
3.9 Chemical control of the burden
Though the aim of a blast furnace is to make iron, the importance of all other
components coming with the burden as discussed in section 3.2 cannot be
neglected and a certain burden composition is required to achieve a balance
between these components. The vast majority will be tapped as slag during a hot
metal tap, though some will partition between slag and hot metal, such as silica,
manganese and sulphur and others will completely revert to the hot metal like
phosphorus.
Silica, together with alumina, in quantity represents the bulk of the components
originating from the ore gangue and coal and coke ash. They need to be fluxed
with CaO and some MgO to achieve the desired slag chemistry. A low slag
volume is desired, but depends on the quality of the raw materials available.
Beneficiation of the raw materials to the desired low gangue and ash levels
at the mine site is not always possible or only at increasing cost and yield
losses. Furthermore, some gangue is required to attain a proper sinter quality.
Operators will not go below a 3.5 % silica level in their sinter, with 4.5–5.5 %
being more common. With pellets, a good quality can still be obtained with low
gangue levels and consequently blast furnaces operating with 100 % pellets can
achieve the lowest slag volumes per tonne hot metal.
42 Chapter III
As an example: what does it mean when the burden contains 1 % more silica
(SiO₂)? Since we charge about 1600 kg per ton, 1 % additional silica means
16 kg of silica contribution which mainly ends up in the slag. In the simple
case that we correct with lime only and have a CaO/SiO₂ ratio of 1, then we
have to add also 16 kg of CaO, for which we need about double the amount
in limestone, about 32 kg, which has to be processed in the sinter plant and
consumes coke breeze (30 kg per tonne of limestone). So the slag volume
increases with 32 kg/tHM, coke breeze consumption in the sinter process
increases with 1 kg/tHM and coke consumption in the blast furnace increases
with 1.6 kg/tHM while blast furnace productivity will decrease.
The amount of alumina in slag is generally limited to levels below 20 %,

though some operators have learned to exceed these boundaries. If the burden
composition does not allow for lower alumina levels, the only solution is to
increase the total slag volume with a silica component and dilute the high level
of alumina to acceptable levels. In this case, the slag volume is dictated by
alumina rather than based on silica.
When a desirable burden composition has been established, fine–tuning can be

achieved by charging small amounts of high siliceous ore, quartzite, or directly
charge fluxes such as limestone or dolomite to the burden.
IV Coke
4.1 Introduction: function of coke
in the blast furnace
Coke is basically a strong, non–melting material which forms lumps based on a

structure of carbonaceous material glued together internally (Figure 4.1).
Figure 4.1 Coke
The average size of the coke particles is much larger than that of the ore burden
materials and the coke will remain in a solid state throughout the blast furnace
process, even at the high temperatures present in the hearth of the furnace
(1500 °C and more).
For blast furnace ironmaking, the most important functions of coke are:
– To provide the structure, through which gas can ascend and be distributed
through the burden. Coke is a solid and permeable material up to very high
temperatures (above 2000 °C), which is of particular importance in the hearth
and melting and softening zone. Below the melting zone, coke is the only solid
material in the blast furnace, so the total weight of the blast furnace content
is supported by the coke structure. The coke bed has to be permeable, so that
slag and iron can flow downward to accumulate in the hearth and flow to the
taphole.
– To generate heat to melt the burden.
– To generate reducing gases to remove the oxygen attached to iron in the
metallic burden.
44 Chapter IV
– To provide the carbon for carburization of the hot metal (also called dissolution
of carbon).
– To act as a filter for soot and dust.
The permanent efforts aimed at reducing the costs of ironmaking have led
to an increasing portion of substitute reduction materials for coke, which
has mainly been coal, injected through the tuyeres and recently natural gas
in North America in particular. Nowadays, blast furnaces with total coal
injection rates in excess of 200 kg/tHM are operated with coke consumptions
of less than 300 kg/tHM. At these high coal injection rates, coke is subjected
to more vigorous conditions in the blast furnace. Dissection of furnaces taken
out of operation and probing and sampling through the tuyeres of furnaces
in operation have allowed the assessment of the extent of coke degradation in
the furnace. Coke degradation is controlled by the properties of feed coke, i.e.
mechanical stabilization, resistance to chemical attack (solution loss, alkalis,
and graphitization) and by the blast furnace operating conditions. At high
coal injection rates, the amount of coke present in the furnace decreases and
the remaining coke is subjected to more vigorous mechanical and chemical
conditions: increased mechanical load as the ore/coke ratio becomes higher;
increased residence time at high temperatures; increased solution loss reaction
(CO₂, liquid oxides); and alkali attack. More severe coke degradation during its
descent from the furnace stockline into the hearth can therefore be expected at
high coal rates.
However, high coal injection rates can also affect the direct reduction reactions.
1. Coal injection increases hydrogen content and at elevated temperatures (800–
1100 °C), hydrogen is a very effective agent in gas reduction of iron oxides.
2. The unburnt soot (also known as char) remaining after the raceway is more
reactive than coke and used for direct reduction in preference of coke.
3. The alkali cycle is reduced as a consequence of the elimination of alkali through
the hot furnace centre.
Therefore, at high coal injection rates, the attack of coke by direct reduction
reactions may also decrease. This is beneficial for coke integrity in the lower part
of the furnace.
In Figure 4.2, we show the residence time of coke in various zones. In the
“drying” zone, before the burden starts melting, the coke is exposed to the blast
furnace gas flow for 3–6 hours. In the cohesive zone and the active coke zone,
the coke is present for 2–4 hours and is subjected to high temperature and
aggressive attack by chemical reaction (direct reduction reactions, alkali). In the
hearth, the coke residence time is much longer, especially in the more central
part called “deadman”. There, the residence time is from a week to two months.
As soon as coke reaches the area below the tuyeres, there is no further or very
little “chemical” consumption of coke, nor is there a large dissolution of carbon
in the hot metal.
Coke 45
Figure 4.2 Residence time and quality parameters in various zones in the blast
furnace
In this chapter, we will discuss coke quality parameters, test methods,

degradation processes of the coke in the blast furnace, and finally the range
of coke qualities targeted by blast furnaces that are currently operating or are
aiming to operate at the highest production levels, so are more demanding in
terms of coke quality.
4.2 Coal blends for cokemaking
The coal selected to make coke is the most important variable that controls
the coke properties. The rank and type of coal selected impacts coke strength
while coal chemistry largely determines coke chemistry. In general, bituminous
coals are selected for blending to make blast furnace coke of high strength with
acceptable reactivity and at competitive cost. For the conventional recovery
coking process, the blend must contract or shrink sufficiently for easy removal
from the oven and oven wall pressure must be acceptable to prevent coke oven
damage. For the heat recovery method of cokemaking, these constraints are not
valid, which leads to an increase in the number of usable coal types in this type
of process. Good coking coals are expensive and therefore composing a coal
blend that gives good coke and is low cost is a specialist’s work. An introduction
to coal selection for cokemaking is given in Annex 5.
46 Chapter IV
Table 4.1 shows the typical chemical composition of coke that may be
considered to be of good quality.
Typical Coke Analysis % (db)

Coke Analysis Fixed Carbon 87–92
Nitrogen 1.2–1.5
Ash 8–11
Sulphur 0.6–0.8
Volatile Matter 0.2–0.5

(for well carbonised coke)
Ash Analysis Silica SiO2 52.0
Alumina Al2O3 31.0

Iron Fe 7.0
Lime CaO 2.5
Potassium K 2O 1.8
Magnesia MgO 1.2
Sodium Na2O 0.7
Phosphorous P 0.3
Manganese Mn 0.1
Table 4.1 Coke chemistry for a typically acceptable coke quality grade
Ash directly replaces carbon, so higher ash content results in higher slag rates
and lower energy values. The increased amount of slag requires energy to melt
and more fluxes to provide a liquid slag. Ash, sulphur, phosphorus, alkalis and
zinc can be best controlled by careful selection of all coal, coke and burden
materials. The financial repercussions of ash, sulphur and phosphorus may be
assessed by value–in–use calculations for PCI coal, coking coal blends and
burden materials. Alkalis and zinc should remain below certain threshold levels
(section 6.2).
4.3 Coke quality concept
Now the questions are how to characterize coke quality and how to define and
measure the coke properties. In other words, how to establish a target for coke
manufacturing based on determined coke properties in line with the needs of
the blast furnace process. From the above discussion, the following parameters
should be considered to limit the coke degradation and maintain suitable
coke behavior in the blast furnace, especially at high coal injection rates.
Qualitatively, the coke should:
– Be made up of large, stabilized particles within a narrow size distribution band.
– Have a high resistance against volume breakage.
– Have a high resistance against abrasion.
– Have a high resistance against chemical attack (CO₂, alkali).
Coke 47
– Have a high residual strength after chemical attack.

– Have sufficient carburization properties (the dissolution of carbon in hot metal).
A more detailed description of coke quality tests is added in Annex 6.
4.3.1 Coke degradation mechanisms in the blast furnace

The basic concepts of coke degradation in the blast furnace, according to the
interconnected thermal, physical, and chemical conditions coke is subjected to
in the furnace are described in Figure 4.3.
Figure 4.3 Basic concepts of coke degradation in a blast furnace
At the stockline, the coke is generally well–stabilized due to handling to get

it to the furnace top. The effect of gasification on strength is controlled by the
mechanisms of the heterogeneous reaction. In general, diffusion is the limiting
step and the reaction is located at the surface of the lumps, the core remaining
quite unaffected. As gasification and abrasion proceed simultaneously, a peeling
of coke particles occurs (3–5 mm size reduction), leaving an exposed, unreacted
core and fines.
Beyond gasification, coke reacts with alkali vapors when passing through the
alkali circulating zone and the structure is penetrated by alkalis. This reaction
reduces the strength of the coke, making it more susceptible to size reduction
by breakage from mechanical action. Coke that has already been weakened,
arriving in the high temperature zone of the raceway, loses its alkalis by
gasification. High temperature, mechanical action and graphitization bring
about severe degradation, decrease of size and formation of fines.
48 Chapter IV
The coke travelling to the deadman is exposed to moderate temperatures, high

alkalis during long periods of time along with additional reactions (reduction of
slag, carburization) that mostly affect the surface of the coke lumps. Deadman
coke, sampled by core drilling corresponds more or less with the unreacted core
of the initial lumps and it is not surprising that it exhibits similar strength to
that of the coke that is charged at the top.
4.3.2 Degradation of coke during its descent in the blast furnace

To discuss the phenomena leading to coke degradation during descent in the
blast furnace we use Figure 4.4, representing the different zones of the process,
the relevant process conditions and the evolution of the coke size under these
conditions.
Figure 4.4 Development of coke size under the conditions that are present in the
blast furnace throughout the journey from the top to the bottom of the
furnace.
1. Charging zone: Due to the fall of the coke onto the stockline, some breakage
and abrasion will occur during charging.
2. Granular zone: In this region the coke and ore remain as discrete particles
within their separate layers. Drying occurs and recirculating elements such as
zinc, sulphur and alkalis deposit on the burden materials as they descend to the
bottom of the granular zone. From a temperature of 900 °C, coke starts to react
with CO₂, continuing to do so as the temperature increases to over 1000 °C.
In this zone, coke degradation (mostly abrasion) occurs due to mechanical load
and mild gasification.
3. Cohesive zone: This zone starts where ore agglomerates begin to soften and
deform, creating a mass of agglomerate particles sticking together. This mass
is barely permeable and the rising gas can only pass through the remaining
coke layers. Coke gasification with CO₂ becomes significant due to increased
Coke 49
reaction rates at the higher temperature level (1000–1300 °C). The contact
between the softened or molten materials and the coke lumps becomes more
intensive, leading to increased mechanical wear on the outer surface of the
coke particle. The residence time within the cohesive zone is rather short (30
to 60 minutes) depending on productivity and softening properties of the
agglomerates.
4. Active Coke or Dripping zone: This is a packed bed of coke, through which
liquid iron and slag percolate towards the furnace hearth. The coke particles
play an active role in further reducing the remaining iron oxides and increasing
the carbon content of the iron through dissolution of carbon from the coke
into the iron. The bulk of the coke arriving in this zone (also referred to as bosh
coke) flows towards the raceway region. The remaining part will move into the
deadman (also called inactive coke zone). The residence time estimates vary
from 4 to 8 hours. The temperature increases gradually from 1200 to 1500 °C.
5. Raceway: Hot blast containing oxygen is introduced through the tuyeres. The
kinetic energy of the blast creates a raceway (cavity) in front of each tuyere.
Coke particles circulate at very high velocity in this semi–void region while
being gasified together with injectants such as coal, oil and natural gas. A part
of the coke and injected reductants is not burnt completely. Soot is produced
during injection of coal and natural gas. Soot and dust are transported upwards
by the gas stream. They cover coke particles and react later following solution
loss reaction. They decrease the reactivity of coke and cause an increase in
apparent viscosity of liquid phases. The temperature increases rapidly to over
2000 °C due to the exothermic oxidation of coke and injectants. Coke fines
and injectant fines that are generated in the raceway either completely gasify
or get blown out of the raceway into the coke bed. Coke and coal fines may
accumulate directly behind the raceway, forming an almost impermeable zone
called the bird’s nest. Observations of the raceway were made in blast furnaces
in operation by inserting an endoscope through a tuyere. These observations
showed that in this zone, the coke is subjected to very severe conditions.
6. The Hearth: Since the rate of coke consumption is the highest in the ring
of the raceway, an almost stagnant zone (not directly feeding the raceway)
develops in the furnace centre. This zone is called the deadman, and is thought
to have a conical shape and a relatively dense skin structure. Molten iron and
slag accumulates throughout the structure before being tapped through the
tapholes. Tracer experiments in a German furnace gave values in the range of
10 to 14 days, but in literature also residence times of 60 days are mentioned for
the deadman coke.
The above mentioned processes are summarized in Table 4.2 on the next page.
50 Chapter IV
Blast Furnace Function of Coke Coke Degradation Coke Requirements

Zone Mechanism
Charging Zone – Impact Stress – Size Distribution
– Abrasion – Resistance to
Breakage
– Abrasion Resistance
Granular Zone – Gas permeability – Alkali Deposition – Size & Stability
– Mechanical Stress – Mechanical Strength
– Abrasion – Abrasion Resistance
Cohesive Zone – Burden support – Gasification by CO2 – Size Ditribution
– Gas permeability – Abrasion – Low Reactivity to CO2
– Iron and slag – High Strength after
drainage Abrasion
Active Zone – Burden support – Gasification by CO2 – Size Ditribution
– Gas permeability – Abrasion – Low Reactivity to CO2
– Iron and slag – Alkali attack and – Abrasion Resistance
drainage ash reactions
Raceway Zone – Generation of CO – Combustion – Strength against
– Thermal Shock Thermal Shock and
– Graphitisation Mechanical Stress
– Impact Stress and – Abrasion Resistance
Abrasion
Hearth Zone – Burden support – Graphitisation – Size Distribution
– Iron and slag – Dissolution into – Mechanical Strength
drainage hot metal – Abrasion Resistance
– Carburisation of iron – Mechanical Stress – Carbon Solution
Table 4.2 Coke functions, degradation mechamisms and requirements
4.4 Coke size distribution
The shape of the coke particles and the size distribution of the particles are the
decisive factors for the permeability of the coke bed, for ascending gas as well
as for the descending liquids. Research has shown that the harmonic mean size
(HMS) of the coke mass gives the highest correlation with the resistance to flow
of gas passing through the coke bed. HMS is the size of uniform size balls with
the same total surface as the original coke size mixture.
The lowest flow resistance is obtained when large coke is being used of high
uniformity. Fines in particular have a strong decreasing effect on the harmonic
mean size, which increases the bulk resistance of the coke. Excellent blast
furnace operations are reported with screening at 24 mm (square screen
openings) but there are also plants where screening at up to 40 mm is preferred.
Once the bulk coke has been classified by screening and crushing (see also
Figure 4.4), the aim is to have a resulting coke with a high mechanical strength
under the blast furnace conditions. This is to prevent an excessive formation of
coke fines during its descent in the blast furnace.
Coke 51
4.5 Strength of coke
4.5.1 Coke particle size during the blast furnace process

During carbonization in a coke oven, fissures in the coke are generated due
to stresses that arise from the differential contraction rates in adjacent layers
of coke, which are at different temperatures. Typically, they are longitudinal,
i.e. perpendicular to the oven walls. Additionally, many transverse fissures are
formed during pushing. These fissures determine the size distribution of the
produced coke by breakage along their lines during subsequent handling. But
not all the fissures lead to breakage at this early stage, and a number of them
remain in the coke particles. The initial coke size distribution is a function
of the coal blend and the coking conditions. A significant number of internal
fissures remain present and cause further degradation under mechanical
loads during transport and charging of the blast furnace. This process of coke
degradation is called stabilization. Stabilization lowers the mean size of the
coke, but the resulting particles are less prone to further breakage. For blast
furnace performance, it is not only important to have large, stabilized and
narrow size distribution coke charged into the furnace, but it is even more
important to have the same qualities present during its descent through the
furnace. With mechanical handling, coke particles will degrade due to breakage
and abrasion. Breakage is the degradation of coke by impact due to fissures
already present in the coke. Abrasion is the degradation of the surface by
relatively low impact processes (rolling and sliding against other particles or
the furnace walls). It is one of the main mechanical processes for decreasing the
coke size below the stock line, next to breakage in the raceway area. Abrasion
causes the formation of fines, which may hamper blast furnace permeability.
60
Belt coke average size (as HMS, mm)
50 Wharf
CP screen
BF screen
40
BF top
30
Tuyere
20
0 50 100 150 200
Cumulative drop (m)
Figure 4.5 Development of Harmonic Mean Size after mechanical handling in the
form of drops between conveyors and screens.
52 Chapter IV
The resistance to abrasion will deteriorate in the blast furnace, due to reactions
such as graphitization, gasification and carburization of the iron. Graphitization
results in a more crystalline form of carbon in the coke that is more brittle. In
Figure 4.5, the typical development of the HMS of coke from the coke wharf to
the tuyeres is presented.
In the presented transport route, the coke is screened at 35 mm (square) at the

coke plant and at 24 mm (square) at the blast furnace. The increase in HMS of
the sample after screening is due to the removal of the undersized coke from the
batch.
4.5.2 Coke strength simulation tests

Although it is known that coke degrades more rapidly at high temperatures,
there is no test in practical use that is performed at high temperatures. Not
only because of the complexity and high cost but also since it has been proven
that coke with poor low temperature strength also exhibits poor strength at
high temperatures. Therefore, most tests in practical use are done at ambient
temperature.
Coke strength is traditionally measured by empirical tumble indices. During

mechanical handling, coke size degradation takes place by two independent
processes, those being breakage into smaller lumps along fissures and cracks
still present in the lumps, and abrasion at the coke surface resulting in small
particles (below 10 mm). It is common to measure a ‘strength’ index related to
degradation by volume breakage (for example, I40, M40, stability index) and an
‘abrasion’ index (for example, I10, M10, D15015). These empirical indices cannot be
directly related to fundamental coke properties.
Figure 4.6 Schematic showing the motion of coke in a tumble test
Figure 4.6 shows a schematic representation of particle motion in a tumble

drum. As lifter bars inside the drum rotate, a portion of the coke is lifted off
the walls of the drum. Some of the coke rolls off the lifter before it reaches
the horizontal plane. The coke that is not picked up slips and rolls against the
Coke 53
bottom of the drum. The coke that is lifted past the horizontal is dropped over
a fairly narrow angular range as the lifter approaches the vertical plane. This
coke impacts with the bottom of the drum. Tests have shown, that there is a
relationship between the degradation of coke in a drum test and that after a
number of drops. This makes it possible to translate the effect on coke size after
a number of drops, in meters, into a number of rotations in a drum, and vice–
versa.
4.5.3 Coke hot strength and chemical reactivity
Chemical reactivity
Besides a high mechanical strength, coke should have a high resistance against
chemical attack. There are two measurements for coke after the reaction with
CO: the CRI (Coke Reactivity Index) and the CSR (Coke Strength after
Reaction).
Coke Reactivity Index

Reactivity of coke can be tested in numerous ways, but by far the most common
way to determine the coke reactivity is the Nippon Steel Chemical Reactivity
Index (CRI). With this test, coke of a certain size is put under a 100 % CO₂
atmosphere at 1100 °C. The percentage of coke that is gasified after 120 minutes
gives the CRI value. The more reactive the coke, the higher the mass loss will
be. Reactivity of the coke is mainly determined by the chemical composition of
the parent coal blend, because ash components act as catalysts for the reaction
of C with CO₂.
Coke Strength after Reaction

Due to the loss of mass whilst under attack by CO₂, the surface layer of the
coke particles get very porous and the mechanical strength against abrasion
drops rapidly. To measure this effect, the reactivity test is normally followed
by a tumbler test to determine the residual coke strength. The percentage of
particles that remain larger than 10 mm after 600 rotations is called the ‘Coke
Strength after Reaction’ or CSR index. For most coke produced, there exists a
strong correlation between CRI and CSR. As CRI decreases, CSR increases.
Before CRI and CSR were developed, a series of relatively expensive tests were
carried out under various research projects that involved partially gasifying
the coke in its original particle size under realistic blast furnace conditions
before subjecting it to the standard drum test. While the results of this costly
research work showed exactly how the coke in the blast furnace was subjected
to chemical attack, it provided no better information on coke quality than the
more simple methods of determining CRI and CSR. These two parameters
are now generally adopted by the cokemaking industry as the most important
parameters for determining coke quality, especially on large blast furnaces with
high productivity and high tuyere injectant rates.
54 Chapter IV
4.6 Coke deadman

The coke “deadman” is a cone–shaped coke layer, located below the cohesive
zone and active coke zone (Figure 4.7). The coke in this zone comes from
the coke charged into the center of the furnace. This coke is not or to only
a very limited extent exposed to attack by carbon dioxide and consequently,
its strength properties are not degraded. It more or less maintains its size as
charged, only affected by slight abrasion on its way down through the furnace.
Therefore, coke lumps in the deadman are bigger than those in coke layers more
towards the wall. Some companies use stronger and/or larger coke in the center
to enhance deadman permeability.
Figure 4.7 The coke deadman and the effect of a permeable deadman and
impermeable deadman on hot metal flow lines towards the taphole
The main requirement for the deadman is, that it has sufficient porosity to
ensure:
– From the level of the tuyeres upwards: unrestricted passage of gas from raceway.
– From the level of the tuyeres downwards: good permeability for liquids on its
way to the hearth.
– Within the hearth, below the taphole level: the deadman is resting on the
bottom and its permeability for hot metal and slag flowing towards the taphole
determines the flow pattern of the liquids.
Coke 55
Figure 4.7 shows two patterns of hot metal flow in the hearth: flow through the
deadman (left) and flow around the deadman (right). When the flow through
the deadman is blocked, the flow will take place along the wall of the furnace.
This will lead to increased wear of the hearth refractory lining and the hearth
refractory reaches its end of campaign more quickly.
Drainage capacity of the deadman can be quantified using the Deadman

Cleanliness Index (DCI). The DCI is based on the observation that in case of
poor contact between the liquids and the coke, the carbon content of the hot
metal deviates from the calculated equilibrium value (Nightingale, 2000; Bonte
et al, 2005). An empirical formula is available, taking into account hot metal
temperature (Thm) and composition and slag basicity (B = CaO/SiO₂):
DCI = 2Thm – 121[Si] – 128[P]– 156[S] + 11[Mn] – 389 [C] – 190B – 690.
For furnaces having volumes from 2000 to 4300 m³, using natural gas injection
and PCI, DCI varies within the range of 150–250 with the higher values
resulting in better drainage capacity of the dead man.
The coke lumps in the hearth are slowly consumed. When the burden melts,
a “primary melt” or “primary slag” is formed consisting of a large percentage
of FeO and the gangue of the burden materials. From this melting material,
hot metal separates. In the contact between the melt and the deadman coke, a
chemical reaction takes place between the carbon of the coke on the one hand
and hot metal and slag on the other hand.
– Coke reacts with iron oxide compounds which have the lowest melting
temperatures, like calcium–iron olivines (nFeO·{2–n}CaO) and fayalite
(Fe₂SiO₄) generating CO in the process and forming the basis of the “primary”
slag.
– Coke allows for desulphurization of the hot metal:
[FeS] + (CaO) + C Ⱥ [Fe] + (CaS) + CO
– Dissolution of carbon in hot metal:
3[Fe] + C Ⱥ [Fe₃C]
As a result of carbon consumption and dissolution of coke ash in slag, coke

lumps gradually decrease in size and are completely consumed. There is a slow
and continuous replacement of coke in the deadman, which is supplemented
with fresh coke descending from the top. Residence time of coke in the hearth
is estimated as about 2–3 weeks and depends on the blast furnace volume and
performance.
The inactivation of the deadman (also called “dirty deadman”) can be identified
from at least the following symptoms (Raipala, 2003):
1. Decrease of central temperature in the hearth bottom.
2. Hearth wall temperature increase.
3. Oxygen potential increase in slag (FeO and MnO in slag), resulting in poorer
desulphurization of the hot metal.
56 Chapter IV
4. Hot metal carbon decrease.

5. Slag tapping ratio decrease.
6. Hot metal temperature is higher than usual with the same energy consumption
and hot metal composition.
7. Shortening of the race way can be observed.
8. Shortening of the tap hole length.
Causes of inactivation of the deadman can be attributed to:

1. Coke properties: coke particles are exposed to mechanical stress in the stack and
in the lower part of the blast furnace. Large and strong coke results in larger
particle size and less fines in the hearth. Coke lumps are weakened in the stack
by solution loss reaction (C + CO₂ Ⱥ 2 CO) and the impact on various coke
qualities depends on its hot strength such as CSR/CRI.
2. Water leakage: Small leakages (tuyeres, cooling plates, stave circuits), especially
when they remain undetected, may lead to an inactive deadman when water
does not evaporate but seeks its way to cooler parts in the furnace bottom.
3. Maintenance stops (shutdowns): when the hot metal below the taphole level
solidifies, it has a large mass and good thermal conductivity to the cooled
bottom. Excessive hearth cooling systems increases the risk of inactivation
during blast furnace stops.
4. Low production rate: when the production rate is low, the residence time of
coke in contact with CO₂ and alkalis becomes longer and the coke properties
weaken. Heat losses through the hearth lining are relatively constant at the
beginning of the slow production period. Heat transport to the deadman slows
down, and a risk of solidification at the bottom increases.
5. Hearth cooling: hearth cooling itself is an essential factor in problems with
an inactive deadman. Because the clogged or dirty deadman is maintained by
solidified matter, it requires cooling to keep the temperature low.
1. Irregular coke quality (CSR) 2. Not permeable dead man (DMI)
3. Difficult to cast slag from one side 4. Hearth temperature differences
Picture shows the temperatures differences in a period of time (AT)
Figure 4.8 Poorer coke quality and effect on DCI, showing increased sidewall
temperatures and poorer casting on 1 taphole
Coke 57
Measures to activate a deadman include :

1. Increase the coke quality (no small coke in the burden).
2. Large lump size of centrally charged coke (over 60 mm).
3. Increase coke rate and reduce PCI rate.
4. Reduction of hearth bottom cooling.
An example of deadman inactivation is shown in Figure 4.8, where a period

with poor coke quality coincided with low values for the DCI. The effects were
also visible in poorer casting behavior as well as higher sidewall temperatures.
4.7 Overview of international quality parameters
Figure 4.2 and Table 4.3 give an overview of typical coke quality parameters
and their generally accepted levels for a ‘good’ coke quality. Although not
complete, the values given in the table represent coke qualities that have assisted
in securing excellent blast furnace results over a long period.
We have to stress, however, that blast furnace operation is very much influenced
by coke variability: the gas flow in the furnace can only be held consistent if the
layer build–up is consistent and if day–to–day consistency of the coke is very
good. There are, however, no international standards or criteria for day–to–day
consistency.
What is Results Accept. Best Reference

measured? Range
Mean Size Size Distribution AMS mm 40–60
HMS mm 35–50
% < 40 mm < 25
% < 10 mm <2
Cold Strength Size Distribution I40 % > 40 mm > 45 60 Irsid Test
after Tumbling I10 % < 10 mm < 20 16
M40 % > 40 mm > 80 87 Micum Test
M10 % < 10 mm <7 5.5
Stability at Wharf % > 1” > 58 ASTM Test
Stab. at Stockh. % > 1” > 60
Hardness % > ¼” > 70
Strength after CSR % > 9.52 mm > 58 70 Nippon
reaction Steel Test
Reactivity CRI % weight loss < 29 22 Nippon
Steel Test
Table 4.3 Acceptable range for coke quality parameters(for tests, see Annex IV)
V Injection of Coal, Oil and Gas
The coke rate of a modern, big blast furnace operating with only coke as a
reductant (fuel) is typically 500–520 kg/tHM. The coke rate can be decreased
by injection of coal, oil and natural gas (and other hydrocarbons), as was
suggested already back in 1831 by John Samuel Davis. Use of natural gas
injection started in 1957 in the Ukraine and the technology spread quite
quickly especially in the USSR. Starting in the 1960s, fuel oil injection was
implemented, while industrial coal injection started at Amanda furnace in
the USA in the 1960s. The technology of coal injection spread quite quickly,
especially from the 1980s. The recent low cost of natural gas has led to the
application of co–injection of coal and natural gas especially in North America.
Since a major part of the hot metal cost is accountable to coke, use of injectants
is economically attractive. Coke rates can be decreased to about 400 kg/tHM
by injecting natural gas, about 375 kg/tHM by injecting oil and to 320 kg/
tHM and below by injecting coal. The investments for the application of coal
injection are considerable, while those for gas or oil injection are low.
The apparent versatility of various type of injectants comes from the fact that
in the raceway, the temperatures are so high, that the injectants and moisture
are all converted to carbon monoxide and hydrogen within milliseconds after
injection, and that the blast furnace process is not influenced by where the
hydrogen and carbon monoxide are coming from.
5.1 Properties of coal, oil and gas
The energy inputs and outputs of the blast furnace are schematically shown in
Figure 5.1 on the next page. The major sources for energy in the furnace are
the coke and injectants (coal, gas, oil) and the sensible heat of the hot blast.
The major part of the energy is used to drive the change from iron oxides to
iron and the other chemical reactions. The remaining energy leaves the furnace
through the top gas, as sensible heat of iron and slag and as heat losses to the
cooling system.
60 Chapter 5
Figure 5.1 Schematic overview of energy inputs and outputs
The differences between the various injectants are based on their chemical
compositions. Oil has no ash and when using oil, the carbon–hydrogen bonds
in the oil are replaced by the carbon–oxygen bonds of carbon monoxide and less
heat is generated than when using coal. This is even more extreme when using
natural gas (mostly methane, CH₄), which has more or less twice the hydrogen
content of oil and four times the hydrogen content of coal, so injection of
natural gas generates even less heat in the raceway.
In the lower part of the furnace, in and below the cohesive zone, there is a need
for energy to:
– Heat up and melt the material from where it starts softening, about 1100 °C, to
casting temperature of 1500 °C.
– Remove the remaining oxygen from the ore burden and other hot metal
components like silicon (see section 8.3.3 for direct reduction).
The largest amount of energy (more than 70%) is used in “Direct Reduction”.
However, the amount of direct reduction that has to take place also depends on
the amount of hydrogen generated at the tuyeres since hydrogen is very efficient
in removing oxygen from the iron at high temperatures (900–1100 °C). As a
consequence, the most important properties of injectants are the amount of
heat generated when gasified to carbon monoxide (Table 5.1) and the hydrogen
content of the gas (for more details see section 5.3 on gas injection). Another
effect is that the gas volume generated at the tuyeres increases, when more
hydrogen is present. This is shown as the gas volume generated by gasifying 1 kg
of injectant in Table 5.1.
Injection of Coal, Oil and Gas 61
MJ/kg as % of gas C content H content

coke (m³ STP/kg) (%) (%)
coke 8.6 100 1.7 87.5 0.2
coal 6.7 78 2.1 80.0 5.0
natural gas 2.3 26 4.1 73.0 24.0
oil 6.5 76 2.8 86.6 11.6
Table 5.1 Heat of incomplete combustion to CO and H₂ and raceway gas volume
by gasifying 1 kg injectant
Coal generates much more heat: when burning coal with pure cold oxygen, it
generates a Flame Temperature of around 2000 °C, while doing the same with
natural gas generates a Flame Temperature of around 850 °C.
Tflame (°C) H2 in gas (%) CO in gas (%)
coal ~2200 25 75
natural gas 850 66 33
Table 5.2 Flame temperature and gas composition when pure, cold oxygen gasifies
coal and gas to CO and H₂
The thermal and gas volume effects of incomplete combustion of different

injectants differ from each other. A typical example is shown in Table 5.3.
The table is based on the amount of injectant needed to replace 10 kg of coke.
It shows the larger effect of natural gas on flame temperature. Precise results
depend on composition of the injectants as well as process conditions.
coal nat. gas oil

required to replace 10 kg coke (kg) 11.4 9.7 9.0
Tflame effect (°C) –30 –70 –46
composition
C content (%) 80.0 73.0 86.6
H content (%) 5.0 24.0 11.0
O content (%) 8.0 0.6
ash content (%) 5.0
Table 5.3 Replacement ratio of 10 kg coke with different injectants; furnace

operating at 10,000 tHM/d at 26% O₂ in hot blast
The consequence is that the lowest coke rates can be reached with coal. Table
5.4 on the next page shows the worldwide experiences with different injectants,
based on about 70 % of the maximum reached. Good, but not excellent
levels of injection are around 170 kg/tHM for coal, around 90 kg/tHM for
oil and around 80 kg/tHM for gas. Another effect is that when using natural
gas, higher oxygen enrichment of the hot blast is required to keep the flame
temperature within the required working area.
62 Chapter 5
Base scenarios Coal HV Fuel Oil Natural Gas

Coke rate (87,5 % C) kg/tHM 324 379 408
Coal kg/tHM 170 0 0
Oil kg/tHM 0 90 0
Natural Gas kg/tHM 0 0 80
Oxygen m³ STP/tHM 92 60 85
BF Gas Export MJ/tHM 3695 3384 3976
BF Gas Calorific Value MJ/m³ STP 3920 3609 3966
Table 5.4 Typical average coke rates using coal, oil and gas injection.
5.2 Coal injection
5.2.1 Coal injection: equipment

The basic design of a coal injection installation is indicated in Figure 5.2.
Figure 5.2 Example of PCI installation
These installations require the following functions to be carried out:

– Grinding of the coal. Coal has to be ground to very small sizes. Most
commonly used is pulverized coal: around 60 % of the coal is under 75 μm
(like powder). Granular coal is somewhat coarser with sizes up to 1 to 2 mm
(like beach sand).
– Drying of the coal. Coal contains substantial amounts of moisture, from 8

to more than 10 %. Since injection of moisture increases the reductant rate,
moisture should be removed as much as possible.
– Transportation of the coal through the pipelines. If the coal is too small or
contains moisture, the pneumatic transport will be hampered. It may result in
formation of minor deposits on the transportation pipe walls and also lead to
coal leakage from the transportation pipes.
– Injection of the pulverized coal. Coal has to be injected in equal amounts
through all the tuyeres. Particularly at low coke rates and high productivities,
the circumferential symmetry of the injection should be maintained.
There are various suppliers available for pulverized coal injection (PCI)
systems, which undertake the functions mentioned above in a specific way. The
reliability of the equipment is of utmost importance, since a blast furnace has to
be stopped within one hour if the coal injection stops, since coal injection can
be from 20 to 45 % of the total fuel.
5.2.2 Coal specification for PCI
5.2.2.1 Coke replacement

Coal types are discriminated according to their volatile matter content. The
volatile matter is determined by weighing coal before and after heating for
three minutes at 900 °C. Coals that have between 6 and 12 % volatile matter
are classified as low volatile, between 12 and 30 % is mid volatile and anything
over 30 % high volatile. All types of coal have successfully been used. The most
important property of the injection coal is the replacement ratio (RR) of coke.
The composition and moisture content of the coals determine the amount of
coke replaced by a certain type of coal. The replacement ratio of coal can be
calculated with a mass and heat balance of the furnace.
The chemical composition of the coal (i.e. carbon percentage, hydrogen

percentage, oxygen content and ash content), the remaining moisture and
the heat required to crack the coal chemical structure (especially the carbon–
hydrogen bonds) have to be taken into account. Young coals have relatively high
oxygen percentages, which means that the heating value of the coal is lower,
since the carbon–oxygen bonds have already been formed in the coal structure.
A simplified formula for the replacement ratio (RR, compared with coke with
87.5% carbon) is:
RR = 2 x C%(coal) + 2.5 x H%(coal) – 2 x moisture%(coal) – 86 + 0.9 x ash%(coal)
This formula shows, that the coke replacement depends on carbon and
hydrogen content of the coal. Any remaining moisture in the coal consumes
energy introduced with the coal. The positive factor of the ash content comes
from a correction for heat balance effects.
64 Chapter 5
5.2.2.2 Coal quality

Besides the carbon and hydrogen content, the most important parameters for
coal quality to be injected are the following:
– Composition. High sulphur and high phosphorus are likely to increase costs
in the steel plant. These elements should be evaluated prior to the purchase of a
certain type of coal. Young coals (high oxygen content) are known to be more
susceptible to self–heating and ignition in atmospheres containing oxygen.
This is also an important factor that must be considered with regard to the
limitations of the ground coal handling system.
– Volatile matter. High volatile coals are easily gasified in the raceway, but have a
lower replacement ratio in the process.
– Hardness. The hardness of the coal, characterised by the Hardgrove
Grindability Index (HGI) must correspond with the specifications of the
grinding equipment. The resulting size of the ground coal is also strongly
dependent on this parameter and must correspond with the limits of the coal
handling and injection system.
– Moisture content. The moisture content of the raw coal as well as the surface
moisture in the ground coal must be considered. Surface moisture in the
ground coal will lead to sticking and handling problems.
– Chloride content. The chloride content of coal can cause corrosion of the steel
in the blast furnace gas cleaning system. Many blast furnaces using coal coat
the inside the the gas scrubber with a corrosion resistant paint or epoxy coating.
– Alkali (K₂O and Na₂O) content. The alkali in the coal for injection should be
considered in the total alkali loading into the blast furnace, which is known to
attack the refractory lining.
Potential injection coals can be evaluated on the basis of value–in–use, where

all effects on cost are taken into account. It is often possible to use blends of
multiple types of coal to dilute unfavorable properties (section 5.2.2.4).
5.2.2.3 Coal types

There are many different types of coal. Among others, coals are characterized
by the ash content and volatile matter content: the longer coals are left at high
temperatures in the earth crust, the more volatiles escape. The special aspect
in a blast furnace is, that the most valuable heat is generated by the incomplete
combustion of coal to carbon monoxide (and hydrogen), while in a power plant
the coal is combusted completely to carbon dioxide and water (H₂O). The
carbon monoxide and hydrogen are used to reduce the oxygen content of the
iron ore and are called reductants.
Since in the lower part of the furnace we need heat (enthalpy) at a high
temperature, the most appropriate coals are the coals, that have lower ash
content as well as lower oxygen content in the structure. This is because the less
oxygen bonds with carbon that are present, the more heat is generated when
forming carbon monoxide. From the point of view of heat generation, the better
coals are low volatile, low ash coals.
Table 5.5 shows a typical example of the replacement ratios of LV (low volatile)
and HV (high volatile) coals. The calculation has been done to show the effect
of coal type on oxygen enrichment and productivity. To this end, the effect
is shown in a 14 meter furnace, adjusting the production rate to a maximum
Δp (1.7 bar) and adjusting the top temperature to a minimum of 110 °C by
adjusting oxygen enrichment at a constant coke rate of 300 kg/tHM. The results
show, that based on the low volatile and high volatile coals below, the process:
– Requires less coal when using LV coal (–16 %)
– Requires less oxygen (–30 %) with LV coal and
– Can get a slightly higher productivity (+1 %) with HV coal.
HV LV HV LV
coal coal coal coal
production t/d 11,450 11,360 volatile % 36.7 16.0
coke rate kg/tHM 300 300 C % 79.9 86.7
coal rate kg/tHM 207 174 H % 5.3 4.1

O2 in blast % 32.8 28.6 O % 8 2
O2 from ASU m³ STP/tHM 117 81 N % 1.3 1.1
Top temperature °C 110 110 S % 0.7 0.7
Tflame °C 2222 2302 Ash % 4.7 5.4
Δp bar 1.7 1.7 Qdecomp GJ/t 1.1 –0.3
Moisture % 1 1
Table 5.5 Productivity effect of LV and HV coals on process results (at identical Δp
and top temperatures)
ASU = Air Separation Unit
It has also been shown, that high volatile coals are easier to gasify in the
raceway. For this reason, for many years, high volatile coals were the preferred
coals, especially in Europe and the USA. Although the experience in China
shows that LV coals can be used very efficiently.
5.2.2.4 Coal blending

Most companies use coal blends for injection. Blending allows for (financial)
optimization of coal purchases. E.g. a company with a grinding mill for hard
coals can use a considerable percentage of softer coals by blending it into hard
coals. In doing so, an optimized value can be obtained. Blending dilutes the
disadvantages of some coal types. Every material has disadvantages like high
moisture content, sulphur of phosphorus level, a relatively poor replacement
ratio and so on. The blending can be done rather crudely. Depositing materials
in the raw coal bin by alternating truck loads will be sufficient. Proper control
of coal logistics and analysis of coal blend have to be put in place. In some blast
furnaces, further cost reductions have been realized by blending lignite (brown
coal), charcoal powder, petroleum coke powder or anthracite powder with the
normal coal blends.
66 Chapter 5
5.2.3 Coal injection in the tuyeres

Coals are injected via lances into the tuyeres, then gasified and ignited in
the raceway. The coal is in the raceway area only for a very short time (5 ms),
so the characteristics of the gasification reaction are very important for the
effectiveness of a PCI system. Coal gasification consists of several steps, as
outlined in Figure 5.3. First, the coal is heated and the moisture evaporates.
Gasification of the volatile components then occurs after further heating. The
volatile components are gasified and ignited, which causes an increase in the
temperature. All of these steps occur sequentially with some overlap.
Ignition/Oxidation of Char
Ignition/Oxidation of Volatiles
Temperature
Gasification of Volatiles
Heating of Coal
Evaporation of Moisture
t=0 t = ~ 10 ms
Time (ms)
Figure 5.3 Coal gasification after injection
The effects of lance design, extra oxygen and coal type on the coal combustion
have been analyzed. Originally, the coal lances were straight stainless steel
lances that were positioned at or close to the tuyere/blowpipe interface as
indicated in Figure 5.4.
Figure 5.4 Coal injection in the tuyeres and lance positioning
Occasionally, very fine carbon soot formed from gas is detected at the furnace
top. To avoid this problem, especially at high injection rates, companies have
installed different types of injection systems at the tuyeres, such as:
– Co–axial lances with oxygen flow in an outer co–centric pipe and coal flow in
an inner co–centric pipe.
– Specially designed lances with a special tip to cause more turbulence at the tip.
– Use of two lances per tuyere at different entry positions or angles to cause more
turbulence.
– Bent lance tips positioned more inwards in the tuyere (closer to the tuyere nose).
When using PCI, deposits of coal ash are occasionally found at the lance tip or
within the tuyere. The deposits can be removed by periodic purging of the lance
by switching off the coal while maintaining air (or nitrogen) flow. The rate of
gasification increases as:
– The volatility of the coals increases.
– The size of the coal particles decreases.
– The blast and coal are mixed better.
The gasification of coal also depends on the percentage of volatile matter

(VM). If low volatile coals are used, a relatively high percentage of the coal is
not gasified in the raceway and is transported with the gas to the active coke
zone. This “char” will normally be used in the process, but might affect the gas
distribution. High volatile (HV, over 30 % VM) and ultra high volatile (over 40
% VM) coal produce a large quantity of gas in the raceway and a small quantity
of char. If the gas combustion is not complete, soot can be formed. Blending a
variety of injection coals, especially high volatile and low volatile coals, gives the
advantage of being able to control these effects. It has been found that the coke
at the border between raceway and dead man contains more coke fines when
working at (high) injection rates. This packed coke region has been termed the
“bird’s nest” (see Figure 5.4).
5.2.4 Oxygen and PCI

At high levels of pulverized coal injection, about 40 % of the reductant is
injected via the tuyeres. Therefore, it is important to control the amount of coal
per tonne hot metal as accurately as the coke rate is controlled. The feed tanks
of the coal injection system are weighed continuously and the flow rate of the
coal is controlled. This can be done with nitrogen pressure in the feed tanks or
a screw or rotating valve dosing system. In order to calculate a proper flow rate
of coal (in kg/min), the hot metal production has to be known. There are several
ways to calculate the production. The production rate can be derived from the
amount of material charged into the furnace. Short–term corrections can be
made by calculating the oxygen consumption per tonne hot metal from the
blast parameters in a stable period and then calculating the actual production
from blast data. Systematic errors and/or the requirement for extra coal can be
put in a process control model.
The heat requirement of the lower furnace is a special topic when using PCI.
Coal is not only used for producing the reduction gases, but use of coal has an
effect on the heat balance in the lower furnace. The heat of the bosh gas has to
be sufficient to melt the burden; define the “melting heat” as the heat needed
to melt the burden. The heat requirement of the burden is determined by the
“pre–reduction degree”, or how much oxygen still has to be removed from the
68 Chapter 5
burden when melting. The removal of this oxygen requires a lot of energy. The
“melting capacity” of the gas is defined as the heat available with the bosh gas at
a temperature over 1500 °C. The melting capacity of the gas depends on:
– The quantity of tuyere gas available per tonne hot metal. Especially when using
high volatile coal, there is a high amount of H₂ in the bosh gas.
– The flame temperature in the raceway.
The flame temperature in itself is determined by coal rate, coal type, blast
temperature, blast moisture and oxygen enrichment.
From the above, the oxygen percentage in the blast can be used to balance the
heat requirements of the upper and lower furnace. The balance is dependent on
the local situation. It depends on burden and coke quality and coal type used.
For the balance there are some technical and technological limitations, which
are presented as an example in Figure 5.5.
Figure 5.5 Working area showing limiting factors affecting raceway conditions with
Pulverized Coal Injection
(RAFT = Raceway Adiabatic Flame Temperature)
For higher injection rates, more oxygen is required. The limitations are given by:
– Minimum top gas temperature. If top gas temperature becomes too low, it
takes too long for the burden to dry and the effective height of the blast furnace
decreases. Deposits of wet dust particles in the first stage of gas cleaning (dust
catcher or cyclone) can result in plugging of the dump valves.
– Maximum flame temperature. If the flame temperature becomes too high,
burden descent can become erratic.
– Minimum flame temperature. Low flame temperatures will hamper coal
gasification and melting of the ore burden. In Figure 5.5, 2050 °C is the
minimum Flame Temperature.
– Technical limitations to the allowed or available oxygen enrichment in the steel
plant oxygen production facility or pipeline size or pressure.
The higher the oxygen injection, the higher the productivity of the furnace can
be, as shown in Figure 5.5, which is an example based on the mass and heat
balance of an operating furnace. The highest productivity is reached with a
maximum oxygen level, while keeping the top gas temperature at a minimum.
This minimum is the level, where all water of the coke, burden and process is
eliminated from the furnace, i.e. slightly above 100 °C. From a technological
perspective, it can be said that the heat balances over the lower part (i.e. from
900 °C to tuyere level) and upper part (i.e. from top to the 900 °C isotherm) of
the furnace are in balance (Section 8.5). In operational practice, the availability
of oxygen in a plant often is the limiting factor.
5.2.5 Effect of additional PCI

The effect of the use of extra coal injection for recovery of a cooling furnace is
two–fold. By putting extra coal on the furnace, the production rate decreases.
Simultaneously, the flame temperature drops. If the chilling furnace has
insufficient melting capacity of the gas, extra PCI may worsen the situation. In
such a situation, the efficiency of the process must be improved, i.e. by a lower
production rate and lower blast volume. This is illustrated in Table 5.6.
Starting Situation
Operating parameters
Coke rate 300 kg/tHM
Coal injection rate 200 kg/tHM
Replacement ratio 0.85 kg coal/kg coke
Flame temperature 2200 °C
Coke and coal consumption in normal operation (as kg standard coke/tHM)
Coke introduced 300
Coal introduced 170
Total coke and coal 470
Consumption to be subtracted to determine burn rates:
Carbon in hot metal –50
Direct reduction –120
Result: total burn rate in front of tuyeres 300
of which coal 170
and thus coke 130
Changed situation if an additional 10 kg/tHM of coal is injected
Total burn rate remains 300
of which coal 178.5
and thus coke 121.5
Production rate decrease (fully determined by coke burn rate) 6.5 %
Flame temperature drop 32 °C
Gas melting capacity drop (heat > 1,500 °C) 4.6 %
Table 5.6 Effect of additional coal injection

70 Chapter 5
The table shows that additional coal injection slows down the production rate,
because the coke burning rate decreases. It is a typical example; the precise
effect depends on coke rate and coal type used. A furnace recovers from a cold
condition by increasing PCI, because it slows down the production rate. If,
however, the flame temperature is relatively low, the effect of the drop in flame
temperature can be as large as the effect of the decreased production rate.
5.3 Natural gas injection
Natural gas typically consists of methane with some minor quantities of other
hydrocarbons and nitrogen. Most frequently, natural gas injection is applied
in the range of 60 to 90 kg/tHM, although higher levels up to 150 kg/tHM
(Agarwall et al, 1999) or on other furnaces more than 100 kg/tHM (see e.g.
Lingiardi et al, 2001) have been reached. The replacement ratio of natural gas is
typically 1–1,05 kg coke/kg natural gas and this replacement ratio is non–linear,
so decreases as the natural gas rate increases.
5.3.1 Injection systems for natural gas

Natural gas is mostly injected into the tuyeres with one lance per tuyere, but
it can also be injected through a port in the tuyere copper casting sidewall.
Natural gas is injected into the tuyeres at ambient temperatures and is gasified
in the tuyeres. The residence time of the gas in an oxidizing atmosphere of
the raceway is very short: 4–7 ms. Some companies apply pre–mixing of gas
and oxygen and injecting with gas–oxygen mix lances aimed at complete
combustion in the raceway.
In order to keep the natural gas rate constant on the basis of kg/tHM, the
production level of the furnace has to be monitored and calculated constantly,
so that the total flow control can be adjusted in real time. The control system of
natural gas normally has a flow measurement and control valve for injection in
each tuyere.
In contrast to PCI, an injection system for natural gas is relatively simple and
requires limited investments.
5.3.2 Process control with natural gas
5.3.2.1 Oxygen enrichment and natural gas

As in Figure 5.5 for coal injection, the working area for natural gas–oxygen
enrichment is shown in Figure 5.6. When applying natural gas, the point where
the minimum Tflame (for example 2050 °C) and minimum oxygen temperature
cross each other, will be the point with highest possible productivity and lowest
coke rate. The exact position of the crossing point depends on local conditions
(like moisture input with burden and coke) and on the minimum possible flame
temperature. Fortunately, because of the hydrogen effect described further on,

the minimum Tflame with gas injection is lower than with coal injection; this is
shown with the line indicating a flame temperature of 2000 °C in Figure 5.6,
resulting in a potentially higher gas injection rate of about 20 kg/tHM.
Figure 5.6 Working area for a furnace on natural gas injection.
5.3.2.2 Thermal control

The usability of coal injection for thermal control is based on the fact that
as soon as coal injection rate is increased, the production slows down, which
compensates the effect of the lower flame temperature. Natural gas works
much slower in the furnace: the immediate effect of an increase in natural
gas injection is that the flame temperature drops, while the production rate
decreases slower than with PCI. Natural gas works more indirectly by changing
the reduction reactions. Additional coal injection works immediately and is
visible in the casthouse after 2–3 hours For additional gas injection, the effect of
for example 10 kg/tHM is smaller and the reaction is visible after 4–6 hours.
5.3.3 Flame temperature, hydrogen and total energy approach

The adiabatic flame temperature reflects the heat that is used to melt and heat
up the hot metal and slag, as well as the heat used in the final reduction of
oxides. As shown before, the flame temperature effect of natural gas is much
larger than that of coal, oil or tar. However, the decrease in direct reduction
reaction means that less heat is required for the final melting and heating and
furnaces operating with natural gas can operate on lower flame temperatures.
Furnaces operating with coal injection are typically operating with a flame
temperature between 2050 and 2200 °C, while furnaces with natural gas can
operate at flame temperatures well below 1900 °C.
72 Chapter 5
The effect is caused by the relatively large percentage of hydrogen in natural gas.
It is discussed here, but equally well applicable for hydrogen coming from other
sources (coal, oil and moisture in hot blast).
The hydrogen is generated by the incomplete combustion of natural gas and

partly replaces the carbon monoxide. Hydrogen is very efficient for reduction
in the lower part of the furnace. The presence of hydrogen in the bosh gas
lowers the direct reduction and gas reduction in the shaft increases. So a
higher hydrogen in the bosh gas lowers the heat requirement of the lower part
of the furnace. This approach has been quantified by Charles River associates
(Agarwall et al, 1991). The basis of their approach is that the hydrogen effect is
recalculated to a lower heat requirement for the lower furnace.
The total energy is the thermal energy plus the “chemical” energy. The thermal
energy is the amount of heat generated in the raceway above a reference
temperature of 1482 °C. So it is the gas quantity (m³ STP/tHM) times
(Tflame –1482) times the heat capacity of the gas (kJ/m³ STP).
The chemical energy is the equivalent energy of the bosh gas hydrogen and
the hydrogen utilization, taking into account that additional gas reduction by
hydrogen gives an energy advantage of 62 MJ/mol FeO. This is based on the
following reaction equations:
FeO + C Ⱥ Fe + CO ΔH = 78,5 MJ/mol FeO

FeO + H₂ Ⱥ Fe + H₂O ΔH = 16,5 MJ/mol FeO
The difference is 62 MJ/mol FeO. The total energy is the sum of thermal and
chemical energy.
Analysis of an operating blast furnace at varying gas rates has shown that the
total energy required in the lower furnace is constant (Lingiardi et al, 2001).
This means that at higher gas injection rates and thus higher hydrogen input
per ton, the chemical energy increases allowing the thermal energy (TFlame) to
decrease.
But hydrogen has additional effects on the process. Firstly, since hydrogen
is a very light molecule, the density of the blast furnace gas decreases with
increasing hydrogen content and more wind can be blown for the same Δp. This
can be quantified as follows. The Ergun equation is Δp/L= KƱV², where Δp/L
is the pressure difference per unit height (and is related to burden properties,
permeability index K), the gas density (Ʊ) and the gas speed (V). For 5 % more
hydrogen in the bosh gas, the density decreases with 4.3 % and the blast volume
can increase with 2.3 % for the same Δp.
Secondly, since part of the reduction process is done with hydrogen, the
requirement for carbon monoxide decreases. The amount of carbon – the
carbon footprint – required per tonne hot metal decreases. The difference is that
the carbon requirement for a furnace on natural gas is 10–15 kg lower than for a
furnace with coal injection, when we neglect any coke effects.
Thirdly, standard deviation of hot metal silicon and sulfur decrease with
increasing injection levels. This is ascribed to the observation, that the
variability in direct reduction is largely responsible for the variability of the
thermal state of the blast furnace.
It should be noted that even though the higher hydrogen produced by high
natural gas injection (over 100 kg/tHM) improves the process, as described
above, the top gas hydrogen can be between 10 and 14 %, which is highly
flammable. Therefore, the furnace top and charging equipment must be
maintained to be free from leakage or a top fire could be the result when mixed
with oxygen in outside air.
5.4 Coal–gas co–injection
Depending on the local situation, operators choose to co–inject coal and gas
simultaneously. Since in the raceway, the gas and coal are (nearly) completely
converted to CO and hydrogen, the effects of both injectants are additive. Coal
still generates the most heat, while gas generates hydrogen, which is efficient in
the lower part of the furnace.
The figure below shows the mass and heat balance results for a furnace,
operating with natural gas, coal and coal with an additional 50 kg/tHM natural
gas. The presence of some natural gas allows the operator to reach the same low
coke rates as with only coal injection.
20
oxygen enrichment
15 coa
in hot blast (%)
l+5
0 kg
/tHM
gas
10 ga
s
coa
5 l
0
250 300 350 400 450
coke rate (kg/tHM)
Figure 5.7 Typical example of coal–gas co–injection
But there are more differences. An operator will use the lowest coke rate possible
under the given conditions. Applying coal–gas co–injection means that coal
and gas are exchanged. If coal injection is partially replaced by gas injection, the
effects are as follows (typical example in Table 5.7):
74 Chapter 5
– Sulfur input in the furnace becomes lower.

– Less coal ash, allowing the operator to work with a lower basicity in the cohesive
zone, which is favourable for burden descent. It also results in a lower slag rate
and the furnace can be operated at a lower basicity for the same hot metal
sulfur.
– More gas reduction by hydrogen, which results in a lower carbon footprint and
an improved hot metal quality variation.
– Because the hydrogen molecule is less dense, the operator can put more wind on
the furnace for the same Δp.
– Higher oxygen requirement per ton hot metal.
gas injection kg/tHM +50

coal injection kg/tHM –45
oxygen enrichment % in hot blast +3.5

oxygen enrichment m³ STP/tHM +34
slag volume kg/tHM –6.4*
sulphur input % of total –8
CO2 footprint kg/tHM –27
Table 5.7 Typical effects of 50 kg/tHM gas injection in a blast furnace operated
with coal injection
* has additional fuel rate effect of 0.4 kg/tHM coal
Another positive feature of having both natural gas and coal injection available
is that there is a back–up injectant in case of failure of one of the injection
systems. However, the economic optimum is depending on local conditions:
– prices
– burden quality
– operator skills
– the minimum coke rate given the local coke quality
As stated earlier, furnaces operating with coal injection are typically operating
with a flame temperature between 2050 and 2200 °C, while furnaces with
natural gas can operate at flame temperatures well below 1900 °C (Lingiardi et
al, 2001). The lower flame temperature for natural gas injection is caused by the
relatively large percentage of hydrogen in natural gas.
For thermal control in day–to–day operations and for stopping a cooling

trend of the furnace, coal injection can still be used when using co–injection.
However, at low flame temperatures, the simultaneous decrease of gas injection
(with for example 20 kg/tHM) and increase of coal injection with the same
amount has to be preferred since it increases the heat available per tonne hot
metal.
5.5 Complete combustion of injectants

Gasification of coal and natural gas are a concern for many operators. There are
many methods applied to improve the gasification of injectants. For example,
the use of pre–mixed oxygen and natural gas as mentioned earlier.
Coal is not completely gasified in the raceway. Some material leaves the raceway
as char. The observation of “unburned char” at the top has led to numerous
investigations with respect to coal gasification. With respect to the presence
of “unburned coal” in the top gas, we have the following observations from
operational experience:
– Occasionally, unburned material can be found, but it coincides with poor
burden descent. Our explanation is that in these situations, channelling of the
gas flow from tuyere to top takes place.
– The presence of unburned char in the top gas coincides with high top gas
temperatures. High top gas temperatures always cause high dust emissions
from blast furnaces, as we have found from correlation calculations for furnaces
measuring their dust load (kg/tHM).
– High coal injection requires a central coke chimney and results in high top gas
temperatures in the center of the furnace. We like to suggest that the unburned
char found at the top is Boudouard carbon formed when this gas cools down.
More specifically, hot gas coming to the top through the center of the furnace
contains high levels of CO at a high temperature. This gas mixes with the gas
that went through the iron–bearing materials and is much colder. Mixing of
two gases causes rapid cooling of the center–originating gas, leading to the
formation of Boudouard carbon and CO₂. The mechanism is illustrated in
Figure 5.8. The formation of the Boudouard carbon can possibly be prevented
by spraying water in the hot, central top gas from an above burden probe.
900 100
80
Temperature (°C)
CO2/(CO+CO2)
600
60
40
300
20
0 0
wall center 100 300 500 700 900 1100
Temperature (°C)
Figure 5.8 Formation of Boudouard carbon from hot (700–900 °C) top gas with
high CO content (ETA CO below 20 %). The central top gas cools down
to top temperature in approximately 1 second, passing the equilibrium
line 2 CO Ⱥ CO₂ + C, as indicated with the red arrow.
VI Burden Calculation and
Mass Balances
6.1 Introduction
The blast furnace is charged with pellets, sinter, lump ore and coke, while
additional reductant might be injected through the tuyeres. The steel plant
requires a defined quality of hot metal and the slag chemistry has to be
designed for optimum properties with respect to liquidus temperature, fluidity,
desulfurizing capacity and so on. Therefore, the blast furnace operator has to
make calculations to select the blast furnace burden. The present chapter first
indicates the conditions for a burden calculation, which is then illustrated with
a practical example. Later in the chapter, the burden calculation is taken a step
further to indicate the process results. To this end, a simple one–stage mass
balance is used.
6.2 Burden calculation: starting points
Starting points for burden calculations are the hot metal and slag quality.
– Hot metal quality. Silicon is typically 0.4 to 0.5 %. Low sulfur (under 0.03 %)
and defined phosphorus levels, which vary due to variation in burden materials
from 0.05 to 0.13 %.
– Slag quality. Generally, the lower the slag volume the better. Typically, the four
major constituents of slag contain about 96 % of the total volume: Al₂O₃ (8 to
20 %), MgO (6 to 12 %), SiO₂ (28 to 38 %) and CaO (34 to 42 %). For slag
design, see Chapter IX.
The burden has to fulfill requirements with respect to the highest allowable
input of:
– Phosphorus, since phosphorus leaves the furnace with the iron.
– Alkali input. Especially potassium, which can attack the refractory and affect
the process. Typically a limit of 1 to 3 kg/tHM is used.
– Zinc, which can condense in the furnace and, similar to alkali, lead to a zinc
cycle.
Typically, limits for zinc input are 100–150 g/tHM. With high central gas
temperatures, zinc and alkali are partly removed as vapor with the top gas.
78 Chapter VI
6.3 An example of a burden calculation

The burden calculation uses the chemical composition (on a dry basis) and
the weights of the various materials in a charge as input parameters. A charge
consists of a layer of burden material and coke with its auxiliary reductants
as injected through the tuyeres. In order to be able to do the calculation,
the yield losses when charging the furnace are also taken into account. The
present example is restricted to the components required to calculate the
slag composition. The four main components (SiO₂, CaO, MgO and Al₂O₃)
represent 96 % of the total slag volume. The other 4 % consist of MnO, S, K₂O,
P₂O₅ and many more. The losses from the materials charged through the top
into the blast furnace are taken into account and are normally based on samples
of material from the dust catcher and gas scrubber systems. The calculation is
presented in Table 6.1.
Chemical analysis (%)

Ash Moisture Loss C Fe SiO2 CaO MgO Al2O3
Coke 5.0 2 87.5 0.5 5.0 3.0
Coal 1.0 0 80.0 0.2 3.0 1.5
Sinter 1.0 1 58.0 4.0 8.3 1.4 0.6
Pellets 1.0 1 64.8 3.5 1.3 0.8
Lump 3.0 1 61.0 4.0 1.0
Burden
Weight, Weight, after losses Input
dry kg/tHM kg/tHM kg/tHM
Fe SiO2 CaO MgO Al2O3
Coke 300 294 1 15 0 0 9
Coal 200 200 0 6 0 0 3
Sinter 1000 990 574 40 82 14 6
Pellets 500 495 321 17 0 6 4
Lump 80 79 48 3 0 0 1
Total Burden 1580 945 81 82 20 23
HM silicon 0.46 % uses –10
In slag 71 82 20 23
Results
Slag volume *) kg/tHM 204 SiO2 CaO MgO Al2O3
Slag composition (%) 35 40 10 11
Basicity B2 – CaO/SiO2 1.16
B3 – (CaO+MgO)/SiO2 1.45
B4 – (CaO+MgO)/(SiO2+Al2O3) 1.10
*) (SiO2+CaO+MgO+Al2O3)/0.96
Table 6.1 Example of Burden Calculation

Burden Calculation and Mass Balances 79
6.4 Process calculations: a simplified mass balance

The calculations of the previous section can be extended to include the blast
into the furnace. In doing so, the output of the furnace can be calculated:
not only the hot metal and slag composition and the reductant rate, but the
composition of the top gas as well. Calculation of the top gas composition
is done in a stepwise manner, in which the balances of the gas components
(nitrogen, hydrogen, oxygen, CO and CO₂) and iron and carbon are made. For
the calculations, the example of a 10,000 tHM/d furnace is used. The stepwise
approach is indicated in Table 6.2.
Input Nitrogen Hydrogen (H2) Iron (Fe) Carbon (C) Oxygen (O2)
Element (N2)
Main Blast Injection Burden Coke Burden (52 %)
Sources Blast Moisture Injection Blast (48 %)
What to N2 % in H % in %Fe ore %C in coke % O2 wind
know blast reductant burden and injectant
Main Top gas Top gas Hot metal Top gas (85%) Top Gas
output via Hot metal – CO (32 %)
(15%) – CO2 (64 %)
– H2O (4 %)
What to N2 % in top H2 efficiency Hot metal Rates per
know gas composition tonne
Composition
Calculation Top gas H2 % in top Oxygen Top gas
of volume gas input via composition
burden CO & CO2 %
Table 6.2 Stepwise approach for a simplified mass balance
The approach is as follows:

Step 1 Nitrogen balance: from the nitrogen balance, the total top gas volume is
estimated.
Step 2 Hydrogen balance: the top gas hydrogen can be estimated from the hydrogen
input and a hydrogen utilization of 40 %. In practice, hydrogen utilizations of
38–42 % are found.
Step 3 Iron and carbon balance: the carbon use per tonne is known from the hot metal
chemical composition and coke and coal use per tonne.
Step 4 Oxygen balance: the burden composition gives the amount of oxygen per tonne
hot metal input at the top, while also the amount of oxygen with the blast per
tonne hot metal is known.
Step 5 The balances can be combined to calculate the top gas composition.
The calculations are based on basic chemical calculations. Starting points for
the calculations are that:
– 12 kg of carbon is a number of carbon atoms defined as a kmol.
– Every mole of an element or compound has a certain weight defined in the
periodic table of the elements.
– 1 kmol of a gas at atmospheric pressure and 0 °C occupies 22.4 m³ STP. The
80 Chapter VI
properties of the various components used for the calculations are indicated in
Table 6.3. The present balance is used for educational purposes where figures
and compositions are rounded numbers. Effects of moisture in pulverized coal
and the argon in the blast are neglected.
Molecular Molecular
weights weights
N2 28 kg/kmol CO 28 kg/kmol
O2 32 kg/kmol CO2 44 kg/kmol
H2 2 kg/kmol H2O 18 kg/mol
C 12 kg/kmol
Fe 55.85 kg/kmol
O 16 kg/kmol
Chemical composition TAN
C% H% O% N%
Coal 80 5.00 8 1.30
Coke 87 0.20 0 1.30
Burden O/Fe 1/480 Atomic Basis
Fe % C% Si %
Hot metal 94.5 4.50 0.46
1 kmol corresponds with 22.4 m³ STP
Hydrogen utilization 40 %
Table 6.3 Properties of materials used for mass balance calculations
6.4.1 The nitrogen balance

Nitrogen does not react in the blast furnace, so it escapes unchanged via the top
gas. At steady state, the input equals the output and the top gas volume can be
calculated with a nitrogen balance given the nitrogen input and the nitrogen
concentration in the top gas. The input data for a simplified model are shown in
Table 6.4 and the top gas volume is calculated in Table 6.5.
Inputs Measured results (top gas)

wind m³ STP/min 6500 CO content 25 %
oxygen in wind % 26 CO2 content 22.5 %
production tHM/d 10,000 H2 content 5.2 %
production tHM/min 6.9 N2 content 47.3 %
coal rate kg/tHM 200
coke rate kt/tHM 300
Table 6.4 Mass balance input

m³ STP/tHM kmol/tHM
Blast volume 936
Nitrogen balance from hot blast 693 30.9
Nitrogen balance from coal/coke 6 0.3
Total nitrogen 698 31.2
N2 in top gas 47.3 %
Top gas volume 1476
Table 6.5 The nitrogen balance and top gas volume
6.4.2 The hydrogen balance

Moisture in the blast and coal reacts to H₂ and CO according to:
H₂O + C Ⱥ H₂ + CO
All hydrogen in coal and coke is converted to H₂ in the furnace. In the furnace,
the H₂ is removing oxygen from the burden and forms H₂O again; part of the
hydrogen is utilized again. Since the top gas volume is known, as well as the
hydrogen input, the top gas hydrogen can be calculated if a utilization of 40 %
is assumed. There are ways to check the hydrogen utilization, but this is beyond
the scope of the present exercise. Table 6.6 shows the input and calculates the
top gas hydrogen.
m³ STP/tHM kmol/tHM
Hydrogen input (moisture in wind) 12 0.5
Hydrogen input (coal) 112 5.0
Hydrogen input (coke) 7 0.3
Total Input 130 5.8
Utilization (40 %) –52 –2.3
In top gas 78 3.5
H2 in top gas 5.3 %
Oxygen eliminated with hydrogen 2,3 kat O/tHM
Table 6.6 The hydrogen balance
6.4.3 The carbon balance

Hot metal contains 945 kg Fe per tonne with the balance consisting of carbon
(45 kg), silicon, manganese, sulfur, phosphorus, titanium and so on. The precise
Fe content of hot metal depends slightly on the thermal state of the furnace and
quality of the input. For the balance, we use 945 kg Fe/tHM. This amounts to
16.9 kmol Fe (945/55.85).
The carbon balance is more complicated. The carbon is consumed in front of

the tuyeres and is used during the direct reduction reaction (see section 8.2.1).
82 Chapter VI
The carbon leaves the furnace via the top gas and with the iron. The carbon
balance is made per tonne hot metal. Table 6.7 shows the results. The carbon via
the top gas is also given in katom C per tonne hot metal.
kg/tHM katom/tHM
Carbon from coke 261 21.8
Carbon from coal 160 13.3
Total input 421 35.1
Carbon in hot metal –45 –3.8
Carbon in top gas 376 31.3
Table 6.7 The carbon balance
6.4.4 The oxygen balance

The oxygen balance is even more complicated. Oxygen is brought into the
furnace with the blast, with PCI, with moisture and with the burden. It leaves
the furnace through the top. The burden with sinter contains not only Fe₂O₃
(O/Fe ratio 1.5) but some Fe₃O₄ (O/Fe ratio 1.33) as well. The O/Fe ratio used
here is 1.48, which means that for every atom of Fe there is 1.48 atom O. On a
weight basis it means, that for every tonne hot metal, which contains 945 kg Fe
atoms there is 401 kg O atoms. All this oxygen leaves the furnace with the top
gas. The balance is given in Table 6.8.
m³ STP/tHM kg/tHM katom/tHM

Oxygen in wind 243.4 347.7 21.7
Oxygen from coal 16.0 1.0
Oxygen from moisture 8.3 0.5
Input at tuyeres 372.0 23.2
From burden 400.7 25.0
Total input 772.7 48.3
Table 6.8 The oxygen balance
6.4.5 Calculation of top gas analysis

The oxygen in the top gas is leaving the furnace in three different states:
– Bound to the hydrogen. The quantity is known since we know how much
hydrogen has been converted to H₂O.
– Bound to carbon as CO.
– Bound to carbon as CO₂.
From the combination of the carbon balance and the oxygen balance, we can
now derive the top gas utilization, as shown in Table 6.9.
kat/tHM calculated measured

Oxygen via top gas 48.3
Oxygen eliminated as water –2.3
Oxygen as CO and CO2 46.0
Carbon via top gas 31.3
As CO2 14.6 22.2 % 22.5 %
As CO 16.7 25.3 % 25.0 %
H2 5.3 % 5.2 %
Gas utilization 46.7 % 46.7 % 47.4 %
Table 6.9 Calculation of top gas utilization
The calculations can be used to check the correct input data. More advanced
models are available, which take into account the heat balance of the chemical
reactions as well (Rist diagram, Annex 8, see also Rist and Meysson, 1966).
The models are useful for analysis, especially questions like “are we producing
efficiently?” and for predictions like “what if PCI is increased?”, “what if hot
blast temperature is increased?” and so on. On the other hand, analysis of
practical data allows us to monitor the process in real time, since the gas passes
the furnace in seconds. The top gas composition gives an insight into the real
condition in the furnace much more quickly, as shown in the section below.
6.5 Estimation of direct reduction
The oxygen, which is not removed by gas in the upper part of the furnace, is
removed by direct reduction (details in section 8.3.3). The top gas CO and
CO₂ are coming from coke that is gasified. Most of it arises at the raceway by
reaction of oxygen (and oxygen containing material like moisture and coal).
Some additional CO is generated by reaction inside the furnace. This is of
special importance, since the direct reduction reactions are the major “heat
sink” in the whole process (these reactions consume substantial amounts of
energy). When we are able to follow the direct reduction amount from the gas
analysis, we have a powerful tool for timely reaction on a cooling trend in the
process (Figure 6.1).
The carbon used for direct reduction is the difference between the carbon that
leaves the top of the furnace and the carbon that is gasified in the raceway.
In our example, direct reduction can be estimated as follows (Table 6.10 on
the next page). In our example, the direct reduction gasifies 97 kg carbon,
corresponding with 111 kg of coke.
84 Chapter VI
Oxygen input in the raceway 372 kg O/tHM Table 6.8

Which gasifies 279 kg C/tHM
Top gas volume 1476 m³ STP/tHM Table 6.4
As CO and CO2 are eliminated 701 m³ STP/tHM CO+CO2 % = 47.5 %
this corresponds with 376 kg C/tHM
Thus direct reduction gasifies 97 kg C/tHM
Corresponding with 111 kg coke/tHM
Table 6.10 Calculation of amount of carbon and coke used for direct reduction
The variability of direct reduction is often the most important factor affecting
process stability. The trend in direct reduction can be monitored in real time
in the control room. It gives the operator an early warning signal for a cooling
trend of the production process, because the direct reduction reaction consumes
extra coke. In case of a cooling trend, the operator has the burden descent rate
as a check. Increased direct reduction and increased burden descent rate are far
quicker indications than hot metal temperature or hot metal silicon measured
in the casthouse. Such a cooling trend can be stopped by additional reductant
injection.
An example of increased direct reduction and burden descent rate is given in

Figure 6.1.
Figure 6.1 Example of increased direct reduction, followed by increased charging

rate and decreasing hot metal silicon
(yellow=charges per hour; white=direct reduction; green=hot metal Si)
VII The Process: Burden Descent
and Gas Flow Control
7.1 Burden descent: where is voidage created?
The burden descends through the blast furnace from top to bottom. Figure 7.1
shows the burden descent. It is indicated with mechanical stock rods, which
are resting on the burden surface and descending with the burden between
charging. The burden surface descends at a speed of 8 to 15 cm/min.
Zero level burden
1.30 m (Stockline)
1. Stock rod descending 1

2. Stock rod on burden 2 4
3. Stock rod descending
with burden 3
4. Stock rod ascending
for charging
6m
Figure 7.1 Stable burden descent
In order for the burden to descend, voidage has to be created somewhere in the
furnace. Where this voidage is created is illustrated in Figure 7.2.
– Firstly, coke is gasified in front of the tuyeres, thus creating voidage at the
tuyeres.
– Secondly, the hot gas ascends up the furnace and melts the burden material. So
the burden volume is disappearing into the melting zone.
– Thirdly, the dripping hot metal consumes carbon. It is used for carburization of
the iron as well as for the direct reduction reactions, so below the melting zone,
coke is consumed.
86 Chapter VII
It is possible to indicate how much each of the three mechanisms contributes

to the amount of voidage created. A large part of the voidage is created at the
melting zone. In a typical blast furnace with a high PCI rate, only about 25 %
of the voidage is created at the tuyeres.
Figure 7.2 Creation of voidage in the blast furnace
This implies that the mass flow of material is strengthened towards the ring
where the highest amount of ore is charged into the furnace. Therefore, at low
coke rates a high ore concentration at any ring in the circumference, especially
the wall area, has to be avoided.
Sometimes, the burden descent of a blast furnace is erratic. What is the

mechanism? Ore burden materials and coke flow rather easily through bins,
as can be observed in the stock house of a blast furnace. Hence, in the area in
the blast furnace where the material is solid, the ore burden and coke flow with
similar ease to the void areas. Nevertheless, blast furnace operators are familiar
with poorly descending burden (Figure 7.3). Also the phenomena of “hanging”
(no burden descent) and “slips” (fast uncontrolled burden descent) are familiar.
From the analysis in this section it follows that, in general, the cause of poor
burden descent must be found in the configuration of the cohesive zone. The
materials “glue” together and can form internal bridges within the furnace.
Poor burden descent arises at the cohesive zone. The effect of a slip is that the
layer structure within the furnace is disrupted and the permeability for gas flow
deteriorates (Section 11.2.2).
The Process: Burden Descent and Gas Flow Control 87
Zero level burden
Hanging
Slow Descent
Slipping
6m
Figure 7.3 Irregular burden descent
7.2 Burden descent: system of vertical forces
The burden descends because the downward forces of the burden exceed
counteracting upward forces. This idea has been especially developed by Mr.
Cor van der Vliet, co–author of the first and second editions of this book.
The most important downward force is the weight of the burden; the most
important upward force is the pressure difference between the blast and top
pressure.
Figure 7.4 Pressure difference over burden

88 Chapter VII
The cohesive zone is the area with the highest resistance to gas flow, which leads
to a high pressure drop over the cohesive zone and to a large upward force. If
this pressure difference becomes too high, the burden descent can be disturbed.
This happens for instance, when a blast furnace is driven to its limits and
exceeds the maximal allowable pressure difference over the burden.
In addition to the upward force arising from the blast pressure, friction forces
from the descending burden are impacting the burden descent: the coke and
burden are pushed outward over a cone of stationary or slowly descending
central coke. Also, the wall area exerts friction forces on the burden. In case of
irregular burden descent, these friction forces can become rather large.
The coke submerged in hot metal also exerts a high upward force on the burden
due to buoyancy forces (Figure 7.5) as long as the coke is free to move upwards
and does not adhere to the bottom.
Figure 7.5 System of vertical forces in the blast furnace
Figure 7.6 Upward force from hearth liquids
In operational practice, poor burden descent is often an indicator of a poor blast

furnace process. The reasons can be:
– The upward force is too high. Experienced operators are well aware of the
maximum pressure difference over the burden that allows smooth operation.
If the maximum allowable pressure difference is exceeded (generally 1.6 to 2
bar), the process is pushed beyond its capabilities: burden descent will become
erratic, resulting in frequent hanging, slipping and chills.
– A hot furnace is also known to have poorer burden descent. This is because
the downward force decreases due to the smaller weight of burden above the
melting zone. In addition, there is more slag hold–up above the tuyeres, because
of the longer dripping distance to the hearth and the (primary) slag properties.
– Burden descent can be very sensitive to casthouse operation because of the
above–mentioned upward force on the submerged coke. A high liquid level in
the hearth creates greater buoyancy forces.
7.3 Gas flow in the blast furnace
The gas generated at the tuyeres and the melting zone has a short residence
time of 6 to 12 seconds in the blast furnace (section 2.3). During this time,
the gas cools down from the flame temperature to the top gas temperature,
from 2000 to 2200 °C down to 100 to 150 °C, while simultaneously removing
oxygen from the burden. The vertical distance between tuyeres and stockline
is approximately 22 meters. Therefore, the gas velocity in the furnace is rather
limited, in a vertical direction about 2 to 5 m/s, which is comparable with a
Beaufort 2 to 3. During these 6 to 12 seconds, the chemical reactions take
place.
How is the gas distributed through the furnace? First, consider the difference
between the coke layers and the ore burden layers. It is important to note, as
indicated in Figure 7.7, that ore burden has a higher resistance to gas flow than
coke. The resistance profile of the furnace determines how gas flows through the
furnace. The gas flow along the wall can be derived from heat losses or hot face
temperatures as the gas will heat the wall as it travels past.
Figure 7.7 Pressure drop through coke and ore
As soon as the ore burden starts to soften and melt, at about 1100 °C, the
burden layer collapses and becomes (nearly) impermeable for gas. If this
happens in the center of the furnace, the central gas flow is blocked.
90 Chapter VII
7.3.1 Observation of heat fluxes through the wall

Figure 7.8 shows the temperature at the hot face of the furnace wall. It has
been observed in many furnaces, that the temperature suddenly rises in
minutes and decreases over the next hour(s). This is often attributed to the
loss of scabs (deposits) on the furnace wall. The explanation put forward in
this book is that such temperature excursions are due to “short–circuiting” of
gas along the furnace wall. These “short–circuits” are due to the formation of
gaps along the furnace wall, creating a very permeable area where the hot gases
flow preferentially. This phenomenon is also known as “gas channeling”. This
can be observed from pressure tap measurements (see Figure 7.23). Low CO₂
concentrations in the wall area during such excursions have been observed and
confirm the “short–circuiting”. The basic premise of the present book is that
heat losses through the wall are caused by gas flow along the walls. The gas is
more or less directly coming from the raceway.
Figure 7.8 Temperatures at hot face
Why does the gas flow along the wall? Gas takes the route with the lowest
resistance and, therefore, highest permeability. The resistance for gas flow in a
full blast furnace is located in the ore layers, since its initial permeability is 4 to
5 times less than that of coke layers. There are two areas that have the highest
permeability: the center of the furnace if it contains sufficient coke and the wall
area. At the wall, there can be gaps between the descending burden and the
wall. In the center of the furnace, there can be a high percentage of coke and
there can be relatively coarse ore burden due to segregation.
7.3.2 Two basic types of cohesive zone

The efficiency of the furnace is determined by the amount of energy used in the
process. Heat losses to the wall and excess top gas temperatures are examples
of energy losses. The top gas contains CO and H₂, which have a high calorific
value. Therefore, the efficiency of a blast furnace is determined by the progress
of the chemical reactions and thus by the gas flow through the furnace.
Two basic types of gas distribution can be discriminated: the “central working”
furnace and the “wall–working” furnace. The typology has been developed to
explain differences in operation. Intermediate patterns can also be observed.
In the “central working” furnace, the gas flow is directed towards the center.
In this case, the center of the furnace contains only coke and coarse burden
materials and is the most permeable area in the furnace. The cohesive zone takes
on an “inverted V shape”. In a “wall–working” furnace, the gas flow through the
center is impeded, e.g. by softening and melting burden material. The gas flows
preferentially through the zone with highest permeability, i.e. the wall zone. In
this case, the cohesive zone takes the form of “W shape”. Figure 7.9 shows both
types.
Both types of gas flow can be used to operate a blast furnace, but have their
own drawbacks. The gas flow control is achieved with burden distribution.
Figure 7.9 Two types of melting zone, central working (left) and wall–working
(right)
7.3.3 Central working furnace

The two types of gas flow through a furnace can be achieved with the help of
the burden distribution. In Figure 7.10 on the next page, the ore to coke ratio
over the radius is shown for a central working furnace. In the figure, the center
of the furnace only contains coke. Therefore, in the center of the furnace, no
melting zone can be formed and the gas is distributed via the coke slits from
the center towards outside radius of the furnace. The melting zone gets an
inverted “V” or even “U” shape. The central coke column not only serves as a
gas distributor, but also as a type of pressure relief valve: it functions to stabilize
the blast pressure.
92 Chapter VII
Burden distribution at throat level

100
Coke volume (%)

Ore
50
Coke
0
Wall Centre
Figure 7.10 Central working furnace
It depends on the type of burden distribution equipment how the coke can be
brought to the center. With a bell–less top, the most inward positions or lowest
angles of the rotating chute can be used. With a double bell system, the coke
has to be brought to the centre by “coke push” (see further on) and by choosing
the right ore layer thickness in order to prevent the flooding of the center with
ore burden materials. In the central working furnace, there is a relatively small
amount of hot gas at the furnace wall and hence, low heat losses. As a result,
the melting of the burden in the wall area takes place close to the tuyeres, so the
root of the melting zone is low in the furnace. The risk of this type of process
is that ore burden may not be melted completely before it passes the tuyeres.
This could lead to the observation of lumps of softened ore burden through the
tuyere peep sites. This can lead from slight chilling of the furnace (by increased
direct reduction) and irregular hot metal quality to severe chills and damage of
the tuyeres.
Limiting the risk of a low cohesive zone root can be done with gas and burden
distribution. Operational measures include the following.
– Maintain a sufficiently high coke percentage at the wall. Using nut coke in the
wall area can also do this. Note that an ore layer of 55 cm at the throat needs
about 20 to 22 cm of coke for the carburisation and direct reduction. So if the
coke percentage at the wall is under 27 %, a continuous ore burden column can
be made at the wall (see section 7.6.1).
– Ensure a minimum gas flow along the wall in bosh and belly, which can be
monitored from heat loss measurements and/or temperature readings. If the gas
flow along the wall becomes too small, it can be increased by means of burden
distribution (more coke to the wall or less central gas flow) or by increasing the
gas volume per tonne hot metal (by decreasing oxygen).
– Control the central gas flow. Note that the gas flow through the center leaves
the furnace at a high percentage of CO and H₂ and a high temperature. The
energy content of the central gas is not efficiently used in the process and thus
the central gas flow should be kept within reasonable limits.
The central working furnace can give very good, stable process results with
respect to productivity, hot metal quality and reductant rate. It also leads
to long campaign lengths for the furnace above the tuyeres. However, the
process is very sensitive for deviations in burden materials, especially the size
distribution.
7.3.4 Wall–working furnace

In Figure 7.11, the wall–working furnace is presented. Melting ore burden
blocks the center of the furnace and the gas flow is directed towards the wall
area.
Burden distribution at throat level

100
Coke volume (%) Ore
50
Coke
0
Wall Centre
Figure 7.11 Wall–working furnace
The gas flow causes high heat losses in the area of the furnace where a gap
can be formed between burden and wall, i.e. in the lower and middle shaft.
The melting zone gets a “W” shape or even the shape of a horizontal disk. In
this situation, the root of the melting zone is higher above the tuyeres, which
makes the process less sensitive for inconsistencies. The process can be rather
efficient. However, due to the high heat losses, the wear of the refractory or
damage to cooling staves or plates in the shaft is much more pronounced
than with the central working furnace. The gas passing along the wall can
also cool down rapidly and in doing so lose its reduction capabilities. As a
consequence, the fuel rate is high. Moreover, the fluctuations in the pressure
difference over the burden are more pronounced, which leads to limitations in
productivity.
94 Chapter VII
7.3.5 Gas distribution to ore layers

Gas produced in the raceway is distributed through the coke layers or “coke
slits” in the cohesive zone and into the granular coke and ore layers, as shown in
Figure 7.12.
Figure 7.12 Schematic presentation of gas distribution through coke layers
The ore burden layers account initially for about 80 % of the resistance to gas
flow. The reduction process takes place within these layers.
What determines the contact between the gas and the ore burden layers? The
most important factor determining the permeability to gas flow is the voidage
between particles. As mentioned in section 3.3.1, the voidage between particles
depends heavily on the ratio of coarse to small particles. The wider the size
distribution, the lower the voidage. Moreover, the finer the materials, the lower
the permeability (Chapter III). In practical operations, the permeability of ore
burden material is determined by the amount of fines (percentage under 5 mm).
Fines are very unevenly distributed over the radius of the furnace, as is indicated
by the typical example shown in Figure 7.13. Fines are concentrated along the
wall, especially under the point of impact of the new charge with the stockline.
If a bell–less top is used, the points of impact can be distributed over the radius.
With a double bell charging system, the fines are concentrated in a narrow ring
at the burden surface and close to the wall. When the burden is descending,
the coarser materials in the burden follow the wall, while the fines fill the voids
between the larger particles and do not follow the wall to the same extent as
the coarser particles. Therefore, upon descent, the fines in the burden tend to
concentrate even more.
Moreover, sinter and lump ore can break down during the first reduction step
(due to swelling during the chemical reaction from hematite to magnetite).
This effect is stronger if the material is heated more slowly. Thus, the slower the
material is heated, the more fines are generated. The extra fines impede the gas
flow even more, giving rise to even slower heating.
100%
Pellets over 10 mm
Sinter over 10 mm 50%
Sinter and pellets

under 10 mm
Sinter and pellets

under 5 mm
0
Wall Centre
Figure 7.13 Distribution of fines over the radius, double bell simulation
(after Geerdes et al, 1991)
In summary, the permeability of the ore burden is determined by the amount of

fines. The amount of fines is determined by:
– The screening efficiency in the stock house.
– The physical degradation during transport and charging.
– The method of burden distribution used.
– The low temperature degradation properties of the burden.
These effects cause a ring of burden material with poor permeability in many
operating blast furnaces. This ring of material in particular is often difficult
to reduce and melt down. Sometimes, unmolten ore burden materials are
visible as scabs through the peepsites of the tuyeres. The unmolten material
can cause operational upsets like chilling the furnace or tuyere failures. It is a
misunderstanding to think that these scabs consist of accretions fallen from the
wall.
96 Chapter VII
7.4 Fluidization and channelling

The average gas speed above the burden is rather low, as shown in Chapter II.
However, in a central working furnace the gas speed might locally reach 10 m/s
or more especially in the center of the furnace. This is well above theoretical gas
velocities, at which fluidization can be observed (Figure 7.14). Coke fluidizes
much more easily than ore burden because of its lower density. It is believed,
that the ore burden secures the coke particles in the centre. Nevertheless, if
local gas speeds become too high, fluidization or lifting of coke may occur.
Fluidization of coke has been observed in operating furnaces as well as models
of the furnace. It leads to a relatively open structure of coke. It has even been
observed, that pellets on the border of fluidizing coke “dive” into the coke
layers.
15 Conditions in
furnace center
Gas velocity (m/s)
10
Coke
5
4
3
10 20 30 40 60
Particle diameter (mm)
Figure 7.14 Gas velocities for fluidization of ore burden and coke. Shaded areas
indicate critical empty tube gas velocities for fluidization at 800 °C and
300 °C and 1 atmosphere pressure (after Biswas, 1981)
If the fluidization stretches itself into the lower furnace, channelling can
take place, short–circuiting the lower furnace (or even the raceway) with the
top. These are open gas channels without coke or ore burden. Channelling is
observed as a consequence of operational problems, for example, delayed casts
can create higher local gas speeds, resulting in channelling. During channelling,
the gas might escape through the top with a high temperature and low
utilization, since the gas was not in good contact with the burden. The limit of
channeling is where the furnace slips.
7.5 Burden distribution
Burden distribution can be used to control the blast furnace gas flow. The
conceptual framework of the use of burden distribution is rather complex, since
the burden distribution is the consequence of the interaction of properties of the
burden materials with the charging equipment.
7.5.1 Properties of burden materials

Figure 7.15 shows the angles of repose of the various materials used in a blast
furnace. Coke has the steepest angle of repose, pellets have the lowest angle of
repose and sinter is in between. Hence, in a pellet–charged furnace, the pellets
have the tendency to roll to the centre.
Figure 7.15 Segregation and angles of repose
Fines concentrate at the point of impact and the coarse particles flow
“downhill” while the fine particles remain below the point of impact. This
mechanism, known as segregation, is also illustrated in Figure 7.15. The result is
fine material at the center and coarse material at the foot of the conical pile.
Figure 7.16 Coke push effect with gas flow
When burden is charged into the furnace, it pushes the coarse coke particles on
the top of the coke layer towards the centre. This effect is called “coke push” and
is more pronounced when the furnace is on blast. It is illustrated in Figure 7.16.
98 Chapter VII
7.5.2 The charging equipment

The type of charging mechanism used has a major impact on the distribution
of fines. Figure 7.17 shows the bell–less top and double bell with movable armor
systems.
Figure 7.17 Bell–less top charging (left) and double bell charging (right): comparison
of the segregation of fines on the stockline
In a bell–less top, the possibility exists to distribute the fines in the burden over
various points of impact by moving the chute to different vertical positions.
Coke can be brought to the center by programming of the charging cycle.
With a double bell charging system, there is less possibility to vary the points of
impact and fines will be concentrated in narrower rings. Modern blast furnaces
with a double bell charging system are mostly equipped with movable armor,
which give certain flexibility with respect to distribution of fines and the ore
to coke ratio over the diameter, especially at the wall. However, its flexibility is
inferior to the more versatile bell–less system.
7.5.3 Mixed layer formation

The model of thinking applied up to here takes clean ore and coke layers as a
starting point. However, since the average diameter of coke (45 to 55 mm) is
much larger than that of pellets and sinter (typically under 15 mm and 25 mm
respectively), burden components dumped on a coke layer will tend to form a
“mixed layer” (Figure 7.18). This mixed layer will have permeability comparable
with the ore layer. The formation of mixed layers is also produced by protruding
or recessed parts of the wall: such as protruding cooling plates, missing armour
plates, wear of refractory at the throat and so on. The mixed layers have a
different permeability and can give rise to circumferential process asymmetry.
The smoother the burden descent, the less mixed layer formation.
7.5.4 Gas flow control

The optimized gas flow in a modern furnace operated at high productivity and
low coke rate has the inverted “V” shaped melting zone type as described above.
However, the gas escaping through the (ore–free) center leaves the furnace with
a low utilisation (high CO and low CO₂). This loss of “unused” gas should be
minimized. If the central gas flow is too high, there is a too little gas flow along
the wall for heating, reduction and melting of the ore burden and consequently
the root of the melting zone comes close to the tuyeres. In this situation, the
reductant rate will be high and there is a high chance of tuyere damage. It is
essential that the gas flowing though the center distributes itself through the
coke slits to the burden layers. Therefore, the permeability of the central coke
column must not be too high, which means that the diameter of the central
coke column must not be too wide. If the central gas flow is (partially) blocked,
a relatively large part of the gas escapes along the wall and is cooled down low
in the furnace. The reduction reactions slow down. In this situation, the central
gas flow is small and heat losses to the cooling system are high. Experience has
shown that wall gas flow and central gas flow are strongly correlated. Gas flow
control is based on keeping the balance between central and wall gas flow to the
optimum.
The gas flow is closely monitored in order to control it. Instrumentation of the
blast furnace is described in the next section. The most important parameters to
define the actual gas flow are:
– Burden descent (stock rods, pressure taps) and pressure difference over the
burden.
– The wall heat losses or temperatures at the wall.
– Stockline gas composition and temperature profile.
Gas flow control and optimised burden distribution are found on a trial–and–
error or empirical basis, and have to be developed for every furnace individually.
Some general remarks can be made:
1. Gas flow is mainly controlled with coke to ore (C/O) ratio or ore to coke (O/C)
over the radius. An example of a calculated burden distribution is shown in
Figure 7.18 further on. Note the ore free center.
2. The centre of the furnace should be permeable and no or minimal (coarse) ore
burden should be present.
3. The coke percentage at the wall should not be too low. Note that 70 cm of ore
in the throat consumes about 25 cm of coke for direct reduction (Figure 7.19). A
continuous vertical column of burden material should be prevented. A coke slit
should be maintained between all ore layers.
4. Concentration of fines near the wall should be prevented.
5. The central gas flow is governed by the amount of ore burden reaching the
center. The amount of ore reaching the center heavily depends on the ore layer
thickness and the amount of coarse coke lumps. To reach a stable gas flow, the
central gas flow should be kept as consistent as possible and consequently, when
changes in ore to coke ratio are required, the ore layer should be kept constant.
100 Chapter VII
This is especially important when changing the coal injection level as this will
result in big changes in the relative layer thickness of ore and coke are made.
6. The coke layer thickness at the throat is typically in the range of 45 to 55 cm.
In our example in section 2.3, it is 46 cm. The diameter of the belly is 1.4 to
1.5 times bigger than the diameter of the throat. Hence, the surface more than
doubles during burden descent and the layer thickness is reduced to less than
half the layer thickness at the throat. Japanese rules–of–thumb indicate that
the layer thickness at the belly should not be less than 18 cm. The authors have,
however, successfully worked with a layer thicknesses of coke at the belly of 14
cm.
In the practical situation, small changes in ore layer thickness can strongly
influence central gas flow. This effect is generally stronger in double bell–
movable armor furnaces than in furnaces equipped with a bell–less top. An
example for a burden distribution control scheme is given in Table 7.1. If more
central gas flow is required, then Coke 3 replaces schedule Coke 2. Replacing
Coke 2 with Coke 1 reduces central gas flow.
Position 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
Wall Centre
Coke 1 Less central – 14 % 14 % 16 % 14 % 14 % 14 % – 6% – 8%
Coke 2 Normal – 14 % 14 % 14 % 14 % 14 % 14 % – 6% – 10 %
Coke 3 More – 14 % 14 % 12 % 14 % 14 % 14 % – 6% – 12 %
central
Ore 16 % 16 % 16 % 12 % 10 % 10 % 10 % 10 %
Table 7.1 Bell–less top charging schedules with varying central gas flow
Similar schedules can be developed for a double bell charging system. With
a double bell system, the use of ore layer thickness can also be applied: a
smaller ore layer gives higher central gas flow and vice versa. If a major change
in coke rate is required, the operator has the choice either to change the ore
base and keep the coke base constant, or change the coke base and keep the
ore base constant. Both philosophies have been successfully applied. The
operators keeping the coke base constant point to the essential role of coke for
maintaining blast furnace permeability, especially the coke slits. The authors,
however, favour a system in which the ore base is kept constant. The gas
distribution is governed by the resistance pattern of the ore burden layers and—
as mentioned above—by the amount of ore burden that reaches the center.
The latter can change substantially when changing the ore base, especially in
furnaces equipped with double bell charging. An illustrative example showing
a change in coke rate from 350 kg/tHM to 300 kg/tHM is presented in Table
7.2. The ore base is kept constant and coke base reduced. Experience has
shown that relatively minor changes in burden distribution will be required
for optimization of the central gas flow (i.e. coke distribution). The burden
distribution adjustments can be applied as a second step if required.
Old situation New Situation

Coke rate 350 kg/tHM 300 kg/tHM
Coke base 21 t 18 t
Ore base 90 t 90 t
Burden distribution No change until required
Table 7.2 Coke base change when PCI rate changes
Burden distribution changes should be based on an analysis of the causes

of changes in gas flow. The gas flow can also be influenced by operational
problems, such as a low burden level or problems in the casthouse. In this
situation, adjustments in the burden distribution will not give satisfactory
results. Heat losses through the wall are very closely related to burden descent.
Therefore, the cause of high heat loads should be analysed together with other
process data. An example of a burden distribution is shown in Figure 7.18.
Figure 7.18 Example of burden distribution with an ore–free center and ore burden
penetration in coke layer
7.6 Coke layer
7.6.1 Coke percentage at wall

For optimum gas distribution through the coke layers, it is desirable to have an
ore–free chimney in the center of the furnace. This then requires a large amount
of coke to be present in the center, but still some coke is required at the wall.
This section deals with the question as to how much coke is required at the wall
area.
A 70 cm thick ore layer at the wall contains about 1.5 tonnes ore burden in one
square meter and therefore about 1 tonne hot metal. As shown in Section 8.2.1
dealing with direct reduction, the ore burden consumes coke, at a rate of about
120 kg coke per tonne. This amount of coke corresponds to a layer thickness of
102 Chapter VII
24 cm, so the minimum coke amount at the wall is about 25 % of the volume,
(see Figure 7.19), assuming that the coke is used only for direct reduction.
Figure 7.19 Coke required for direct reduction
If the amount of coke at the wall is less than the 25 % of the volume, then the
ore layers will make contact between the sequential layers upon melting. This
will form a column of unmolten ore that descends down the furnace to the
tuyeres. This will lead to disturbed gas flow, but also there is a risk that this
unmolten material will rest on the tuyere nose and cause the tuyere to tip. This
can be observed through the peepsight where an oval opening of the tuyere is
seen rather than a round one, and has been caused by the tuyere being tipped
into the furnace by the heavy weight of the ore layer pushing down upon it.
The coke requirement at the wall can also be met using nut coke blended into
the ore layer. In this case, the nut coke is preferentially available for direct
reduction and will preserve the larger, metallurgical coke in the layer structure.
Note also that the direct reduction percentage in the wall area can be higher
than estimated above, so that even more coke is required at the wall.
7.6.2 Coke layer thickness

When reaching higher and higher coal injection levels, the question arises as
to whether a minimum coke layer thickness exists, and what would it be? The
gas ascending the furnace from the tuyeres to the top is distributed through the
coke layers, so the coke layers must be present at all elevations of the furnace
for this to continue. As the layers are made up of discrete coke particles, the
theoretical minimum coke layer thickness translates into a number of coke
particles. To produce a path for the gas, it is considered that the minimum
number of coke particles that should be present in the height of one layer is
three. The minimum thickness is therefore three times the mean size of coke
in the belly of the blast furnace. Taking for example an average coke size of 50
mm, it would therefore be reasonable to expect that the minimum coke layer
thickness in the belly is 15 cm. As the effective ratio of the surfaces of belly to
throat is generally around two, the minimum coke layer thickness at the throat
should have a minimum of about 30 cm. In operational practice of furnaces
operating at high coal injection levels, the coke layer at the throat has reached
values as low as 32 cm and in the belly 14 cm.
The minimum “metallurgical” coke rate (this is the coke rate excluding nut
coke) as a monthly average for operating blast furnaces has reached levels of
210–220 kg/tHM in the best months and 230–240 kg/tHM as a longer term
average for very well operated blast furnaces.
7.7 Ore layer thickness
What is the effect of ore layer thickness on the process? If thicker ore layers are
charged, less ore layers are present in the operating furnace and less coke slits
are available to distribute the gas. But, especially in conveyor belt–fed furnaces,
the thicker the ore layer, the more charging capacity is available. For reduction
and melting, two effects must be considered, those being the reduction in the
granular zone of the furnace and the melting of the layers in the cohesive zone.
7.7.1 Reduction in granular zone

The reduction capacity of gas entering thicker ore layers will be depleted faster,
and as a consequence, the reduction of ore burden in the granular zone will be
poorer.
7.7.2 Softening and melting

As soon as an ore layer starts to soften and melt, it becomes impermeable for
gas. This means that ore layers are heated up at the contact surface between
the coke and ore layer. The thicker the ore layer, the longer it will take to melt
down completely. Moreover, the melting of the ore layer slows down because
there is more oxygen in the ore layer, because of lower rate of pre–reduction (see
preceding section). So the thicker the ore layer, the more difficult the melting of
the layer (Figure 7.20).
Figure 7.20 Melting of thin and thick ore layers compared

104 Chapter VII
7.7.3 Optimizing ore and coke layer thickness

So, the blast furnace operator wants good permeable coke layers (i.e. thick
layers) and good melting ore layers i.e. thin layers. As is often the case in blast
furnace operations, the best operational results can only be reached with a
compromise between these two factors. Generally speaking, from operational
observation, the ore layers should not exceed 70–80 cm in the throat of a blast
furnace and coke layers should not be smaller than 32 cm. The operational
optimization depends on local situations.
Experience has shown that:

– Permeable ore layers can be maintained even when the layers have become quite
thick, provided a permeable ore burden is used. For pellet burdens, this would
require screening of the pellets, and for sinter it would have to be sized to a
relatively large diameter (more than 5 mm).
– The minimum coke layer thickness experienced was 14 cm metallurgical coke in
the belly.
Conveyor belt–fed furnaces tend to work with thicker ore layers. This is caused
by the fact that in a conveyor–fed furnace, the charging capacity increases with
increasing layer thickness. In skip–fed furnaces, the optimum charging capacity
is reached with full skips of coke. In the past, the volume of coke was normally
the determining factor, so furnaces tended to work with full skips of coke. At
high coal injection rates the skip weight is normally the determining factor and
thus furnaces now work with full skips of ore.
Another aspect of the optimization of the coke layer thickness has to do with
the gas permeability of the coke layer. The coarser the coke is screened in the
blast furnace stockhouse, the more permeable the layer is. There are, however,
two drawbacks of the coarse (35 mm or more) screening of coke.
Consequence 1: The coarser the coke is screened, the more nut coke or small
coke is produced. The nut coke is added to the ore burden layer, increasing the
thickness of the ore burden layer and decreasing the size of the coke layer.
Consequence 2: The coarser the coke is screened at the stockhouse, the thicker
the formation of a mixed layer at the coke–burden interface.
Optimization depends on local conditions, but high productivity has been

reached with a coke screen size in the stockhouse of 25 mm and a nut coke
quantity of 25 kg/tHM.
When using coal injection, the lowest metallurgical coke rates that have been
reached by operating furnaces are around 225 kg/tHM metallurgical coke, to
which the nut coke has to be added to reach the total coke rate.
7.7.4 “Ideal” burden distribution

The ideal burden distribution for high productivity and high PCI rates is—
according to the authors—as follows (Figure 7.21):
– An ore–free center.
– Nearly horizontal layers of coke and ore burden.
– Some nut coke in the ore burden in the wall area.
– Coarse coke in the center.
Figure 7.21 “Ideal” burden distribution (left) and operational practice as measured
with profile measurements of close to ideal burden distribution (right)
Ore–free center
The ore–free center allows the gas to distribute itself through the coke layers
from the center to the wall. We can consider the coke layers as layers with
equal pressure. If the total internal pressure difference is 1.2 bar, the pressure
difference over each of the 40 ore layers is about 0.03 bar. The ore free center
typically has a diameter of 1.5 to 2 meters. The ore–free center can be made
in a furnace with a bell–less top by discharging 10–15 % of the coke on a very
inward chute position. In furnaces with a double bell top, formation of an ore
free center is more difficult.
Nearly horizontal layers

Using nearly horizontal layers of coke and ore minimizes the effect of natural
deviations of parameters important for the formation of the layers. E.g. wet
pellets have a different angle of repose as compared with dry pellets. This does
not affect burden distribution if nearly horizontal layers are used. Care should
be taken, that there is no inversion of the profile, i.e. a pile in the centre of the
furnace. This can be monitored with e.g. a profilemeter.
Nut coke
The gas in the wall area is cooled by the heat losses to the wall. Moreover, a
relatively large percentage of fine ore burden material is located at the wall and
reduction–disintegration is highest at the wall (because of slower heating and
reduction). For these reactions, reduction and melting of the ore burden in the
wall area is most difficult. Nut coke in the wall area helps to lower reduction gas
and heat requirements in the wall area. The nut coke has a lower heat capacity
than the ore burden. Moreover, when the ore burden in the wall area starts
melting, the nut coke is immediately available for direct reduction. In doing so,
it prevents the direct reduction attack on the metallurgical coke.
106 Chapter VII
Coarse coke in the center

The coke charged in the center is the least attacked by the solution loss reaction
and has the smallest chance to be burnt in front of the tuyeres. Therefore, it is
thought that the coke charged in the center finally constitutes the coke in the
hearth. Good permeability of the hearth helps to improve casting and prevents
preferential flow of iron along the wall, thus increasing hearth campaign life.
7.8 Blast furnace instrumentation
An overview of blast furnace instrumentation as discussed in various parts of

the text is given in Figure 7.22.
Figure 7.22 Overview of blast furnace instrumentation
7.9 Blast furnace daily operational control
In this section, the blast furnace daily operational control is discussed. The
better the consistency of the blast furnace input, the lower the need for
adjustments in the process. Ideally, a good consistency of the input allows
the operator to “wait and see”. The need for daily operational control is a
consequence of the variability of the input and – sometimes – the equipment.
The process must be controlled continuously, which may require changes to be

made on a daily or even shift basis. The changes are aimed towards:
– Correct iron and slag composition. The burden and coke are adjusted to get the
correct chemical composition of the iron and slag. For the latter, especially the
basicity of the slag is important because of its effect on hot metal sulfur. Correct
iron and slag composition also implies control of thermal level, since the hot
metal silicon is correlated with the hot metal temperature. So, there are daily
requirements for burden calculations with updated chemical analysis of the
burden components and actual burden, and frequent adjustments of the thermal
level of the furnace. Adjusting the coke rate or the auxiliary reductant injected
through the tuyeres can achieve the latter.
– Stable process control. Burden descent (as measured by the stock rods, Figure
7.1, or pressure taps, Figure 7.23), blast furnace productivity and efficiency
are evaluated on the basis of hourly data. Raceway conditions (e.g. flame
temperature) are monitored or calculated. The total process overview gives
an indication whether or not adjustments are required. Pressure taps indicate
whether or not “short–circuiting” of gas flow along the wall takes place. In
stable periods, the layers of coke and ore can be followed when passing the
pressure taps.
Figure 7.23 Pressure taps indicating the stability of the process, 24 hour graphs. The
example shows stable (left) and unstable (right) operation, with short–
circuiting of gas flow encircled in red.
– Gas flow control. The subject of gas flow control is discussed in more detail
below. Measurements and data required for daily gas flow control are shown in
Figure 7.24. The gas flow through the furnace can be monitored with the help
of global top gas composition, top gas composition across the radius, heat losses
at the wall and gas flow along the wall. The latter can be measured with the
short in–burden probes: the probes measure the temperature about three meters
below the burden level up to 50 cm into the burden. If temperatures are low
(under 100 °C), the burden is not yet dry and more gas flow in the wall area is
required to increase the drying capacity at the wall.
If the furnace seems in need of an adjustment of the gas flow, a change to the
burden distribution can be considered. However, a thorough analysis of the
actual situation has to be made. For example, consider the situation whereby
high central temperatures are observed. If these high central temperatures are
observed together with low heat losses and low gas utilization, then the central
gas flow can be considered to be too high. The appropriate action in this case
would be to consider changes to the burden distribution to decrease the central
gas flow. If, on the other hand, the high central temperatures are combined with
a good gas utilization and good wall gas flow, then there is no need to change
the layers of ore and coke. The appropriate action in this scenario would be to
consider working with lower gas volume per tonne hot metal, i.e. with higher
oxygen enrichment.
Note also, that the heat losses are very sensitive to the burden descent. Irregular
burden descent leads to gaps at the wall and high heat losses. So, if a furnace is
108 Chapter VII
showing high heat losses, again, the cause should be investigated in detail before
adjusting burden distribution. For example, if a blast furnace is pushed to its
production limits and burden descent suffers due to the high pressure difference
over the burden, the solution of the high heat losses is to reduce production level
(or gas volume) and not to adjust burden distribution.
Figure 7.24 Presentation of process data in an operational furnace. The weekly graph
gives an overview of the stability and development of the process. From
the top downwards: Tope = CO utilization (%), skin flow temperature
(°C) and top temperature (°C); Flujo T = Total heat loss and sum of fields
(GJ/hr); Arrabio = Hot metal temperature (°C) and silicon (%); Viento =
Blast volume (m³ STP/min) and top pressure (bar)
Figure 7.25 Example of gas flow control. The radial gas distribution is measured with
above burden probes, expressed as CO utilization (7 day graph). The
decreasing gas utilization in the center of the furnace (point 1 and 2,
yellow and dark green) shows increased central working.
VIII Blast Furnace Productivity
and Efficiency
The production rate of a blast furnace is directly related to the amount of coke
used in front of the tuyeres in a stable situation. This is due to every charge
of coke at the top of the furnace bringing with it an amount of ore burden
materials. In a stable situation, the hot metal is produced as soon as the coke is
consumed.
The coke is consumed in a furnace by three mechanisms:

– the coke is gasified by oxygen entering the furnace through the tuyeres, mainly
the wind oxygen but some oxygen comes from moisture in the wind and some
oxygen is present in coal and natural gas injectants.
– the coke is consumed directly by the oxygen, that reaches the high temperature
area of the furnace, especially the oxygen from partially reduced iron as well as
the oxygen coming available from some other elements like reduction of SiO₂
(direct reduction).
– the coke is consumed because the carbon dissolves in the hot metal.
The productivity of a blast furnace is the amount of hot metal produced per
time unit. It is often expressed as tonne hot metal produced per 24 hrs (without
delays) either per m³ working volume or per m³ inner volume or per m² hearth
surface.
The efficiency of a furnace is the amount of reductant (coal, coke, gas) that
is used per tonne hot metal. The productivity of a furnace increases as the
reductant rate decreases.
The limiting factors for the production rate can be

– the process: how much wind the furnace accepts.
– the casthouse: how much liquids can be drained.
– the equipment: charging capacity, capacity of turbo–blowers, availability of
oxygen.
In the present chapter, the basics of the process behind blast furnace
productivity, efficiency and the chemical reactions are discussed (see also Hartig
et al, 2000).
110 Chapter VIII
8.1 Productivity
The productivity of blast furnaces varies enormously and in this section, the
question of what productivity a furnace can reach, is addressed, while keeping
the same burden materials and reductants.
The first point to consider is that the furnace is a gas reactor, so the more blast
is blown into the furnace, the more it produces, since more coke is gasified.
The furnace can be driven to a maximum Δp (blast pressure minus top
pressure), but when going to a Δp above this maximum, the burden descent will
deteriorate, the furnace becomes less efficient and productivity will decrease.
Therefore the first limit is maximum Δp, or, with constant top pressure,
maximum blast pressure. The ‘allowable’ maximum Δp depends on the furnace
and the burden and is a specific value for each furnace. Large, 14 meter hearth
diameter furnaces can work up to levels of a maximum Δp of 1.95 bar or
even higher. Note that this is an instantaneous maximum. Some furnaces
have systems which automatically lower the blast volume when reaching the
maximum Δp in order to prevent hanging, slips and process upsets. Smaller
furnaces have maximum Δp of 1,5–1,8 bar.
Secondly, the more coke that is gasified at the tuyeres, the more iron is
produced. So, the more oxygen that is present in the hot blast, the more coke
that is gasified and productivity increases. The oxygen percentage in the hot
blast can be increased by adding pure oxygen to the cold blast. However,
there is a limit to the amount of oxygen enrichment that can be used, since
an increase of the oxygen percentage in the hot blast leads to a lower top gas
temperature (see section 5.2.4). As soon as the top temperature becomes too low
(below 100 °C), the furnace becomes less efficient, since it takes more time to
start the reduction reactions. Therefore, the productivity is highest if the top gas
temperature is at its minimum. The minimum we recommend is to stay above
the dewpoint, so that all moisture is driven off. This translates to a narrow band
slightly above 100 °C.
The maximum productivity in a furnace (with a given burden and injectants) is

reached when:
– Top pressure is at the maximum value.
– Blast volume is set so that the furnace is operated to the maximum Δp.
– Hot blast temperature is set at a the highest achievable value, since it lowers the
fuel rate and thus the gas flow.
– Moisture is at ambient level.
– Fuel injection (coal, gas, oil) is at the maximum the furnace accepts.
– The top gas temperature is controlled to slightly above 100 °C with oxygen
injection.
– The furnace operates circumferentially symmetric, meaning that all sections of
the furnace representing one tuyere contribute equally to the process (see section
11.4).
Blast Furnace Productivity and Efficiency 111
The quality of the burden affects the productivity by means of the reductant
rate: the lower the reductant rate per tonne hot metal, the more hot metal can
be produced with the same amount of blast. On average, for every 3–3.5 kg/
tHM decrease in reductant rate (coke, coal gas), productivity increases by 1 %.
8.2 Efficiency
The efficiency of the furnace is the amount of reductant used per tonne hot
metal. The total amount of reductant per tonne decreases when the heat input
in the furnace is larger (for example higher hot blast temperature) or the heat
requirement is smaller. The major parts of the heat requirement are
– the heat used for the direct reduction reactions.
– the heat required for bringing the materials to casting temperature.
– the heat losses through the furnace wall.
These depend on the following.
8.2.1 Burden quality

The better the reducing gas is in contact with the ferrous burden, the better the
gas reduction and the lower the direct reduction reactions and the reductant
rate. Lump ore is less accessible for gas than sinter or pellets, so lump ore has a
penalty, which varies from type to type but is typically an additional 50 kg coke
for a tonne hot metal made from lump ore.
Another aspect is the amount of fines, so the amount of materials smaller than 5
mm that is charged or generated in the furnace. This is important because more
fines block the gas flow and decrease permeability of an ore layer, especially
when the fines are concentrated in certain radial areas, for example at the wall.
8.2.2 Burden composition and metallic iron

Since metallic iron does not have to be reduced, the charge of metallic iron
units (scrap, DRI–Direct Reduced Iron, HBI–Hot Briquetted Iron) lowers the
reductant rate and increases the furnace efficiency. Details are in section 3.6.
The less slag that is made, the more efficient the furnace is, since there is less
heat required to obtain the casting temperature.
8.2.3 Burden distribution and heat losses

In section 7.7.4, we have shown “ideal” burden distribution. The burden
distribution is optimized when the ore layer between two coke layers is more
or less uniform in thickness and has the lower heat requirement along the
wall. Nevertheless, there still are two major areas of “efficiency loss”. First, the
heat losses through the wall represent a considerable amount of reductant.
Typically, heat losses are 150–300 MJ/tHM. 150 MJ/tHM corresponds with
approximately 17 kg/tHM coke. The second “efficiency loss” is coming from the
central gas flow. The central gas flow leaves the furnace with poor utilization
112 Chapter VIII
(below 20%) and high temperature (over 700 °C or even higher). So the central
gas flow is poorly used for reduction. The benefits from central gas flow come
from the decrease in heat losses, as well as from a better permeability of the coke
slits, so that thinner coke layers can be used and thus higher (coal) injection
rates.
8.2.4 Monitoring efficiency

The input into the furnace in coke, injectants and with hot blast (hot blast
temperature, moisture, oxygen percentage) determines the efficiency of the
furnace. However, it is often difficult to grasp the real, actual picture in the
control room of a blast furnace, since different parameters are used for different
reductants, for example tonne of coal or m³ of natural gas per hour and coke
rate per tonne hot metal. Operators have to be aware how to “translate” these
parameters to reductant rate (kg/tHM). Rules of thumb are in Annex 4. Online
monitoring of the efficiency is possible by close attention to the chemical
composition of the top gas. However, this is not easy either, since there are
many effects on the gas composition.
The gas composition of the top gas is often indicated as “Top Gas Efficiency”,
“Top Gas Utilization” or ETA CO expressed as ƧCO = CO₂/(CO+CO₂), which
is typically in the range of 45–50%. Increase of ƧCO means, that the oxygen
from the burden is removed with less gas thus with less coke and the furnace
becomes more efficient.
The complications with the interpretation of the gas utilization come from:
– Interference with driving rate of the furnace: the faster the burden descends, the
more oxygen is removed from the burden. If the driving rate increases, the top
temperature will go down.
– Interference with burden level: if burden level is low due to charging problems,
gas utilization will decrease, since the first reduction step from hematite to
magnetite does not take place. When filling the furnace, the gas utilization
improves above the earlier level.
– Competition between hydrogen and carbon monoxide. Part of the oxygen of
the burden is removed with hydrogen. So as soon as an operator changes the
setting for moisture, the CO gas utilization changes. The same applies for
changes in set points of injectants.
Another aspect that follows from the gas analysis is the amount of coke that is
used in direct reduction reactions. This becomes manifest from the percentage
of CO plus CO₂ in the top gas. However, this percentage also varies with the
moisture and oxygen percentage in the hot blast, so it is recommended to have
an online calculation available, which expresses the direct reduction in carbon
rate or coke rate per tonne hot metal.
8.3 Following the gas in the furnace

In the following sections, we follow the gas from the moment it is generated at
the tuyeres until the moment it reaches the burden level.
8.3.1 The raceway

In an operating blast furnace, the use of the reductants can be as presented in
Table 8.1.
Input (kg/tHM) Replacement Input, as standard

ratio coke (kg/tHM)
Coke 300 1 300
Coal 200 0.85 170
Total 470
Use, as standard
coke (kg/tHM)
Total input 470
Carburisation –50
Direct Reduction –120
Gasified in front of tuyeres 300
Gasified coal –170
Gasified coke 130
Table 8.1 Reductants in a blast furnace, typical example
The 300 kg/tHM standard coke in Table 8.1, which is gasified in front of the
tuyeres, consists of 170 kg/tHM coke equivalent injected as coal and 130 kg/
tHM coke (300–170 kg) is gasified at the tuyeres. Note the issue of efficiency:
if the same amount of oxygen is blown into the furnace, thus maintaining
the same blast volume and blast conditions, while the reductant rate is 10 kg/
tHM lower, the production rate will increase. At a 10 kg/tHM lower reductant
rate, the production will increase by 3 %! Conversely, if extra coal is put on the
furnace for thermal control, the production rate will decrease if blast conditions
are maintained. This is a simplified approach. Secondary effects, like the effect
on gas flow throughput, the effect on flame temperature and the oxygen content
of the coal, have been neglected.
Bosh gas composition

The heat of the blast and the heat generated by the reactions of coke (and coal
or auxiliary reductants) in the raceway are used to melt the burden. The heat
available to melt the burden depends on the amount of gas produced and on
the flame temperature, known as the “Raceway Adiabatic Flame Temperature”
(RAFT).
114 Chapter VIII
The amount and composition of the raceway gas can be calculated using the
following reactions that take place in the raceway:
2C + O₂ ȼ 2 CO
H₂O + C Ⱥ CO + H₂
In and directly after the raceway, all oxygen is converted to carbon monoxide
and all water is converted to hydrogen and carbon monoxide.
Consider the following example: the blast furnace in section 2.3 has a blast
volume of 6500 m³ STP/min with 26 % oxygen. Ignoring the effects of
moisture in the blast and the coal injection, what would be the raceway gas
volume and composition?
Blast into the furnace (per minute):

– Nitrogen: 4810 m³ STP/min ((1–0.26)x6500)
– Oxygen: 1690 m³ STP/min (0.26x6500)
The oxygen generates two molecules of CO for every O₂ molecule, so the gas
volume is 8190 m³ STP/min (4810+2x1690). The gas consists of 59 % nitrogen
(4836/8190) and 41 % CO (2x1664/8190).
The calculation can be extended to include the moisture in the blast and the
injection of coal (or other reductants). This is done in section 6.4.
Raceway flame temperature

The flame temperature in the raceway is the temperature that the raceway gas
reaches as soon as all carbon, oxygen and water have been converted to CO
and H₂. The flame temperature is a theoretical concept, since not all reactions
are completed in the raceway. From a theoretical point of view, it should be
calculated from a heat balance calculation over the raceway. For practical
purposes, linear formulas have been derived (see e.g. Table 8.2).
Flame temperature: temperature in raceway after all oxygen has been converted
O₂ + 2C Ⱥ 2 CO
H₂O + C Ⱥ H₂ + CO
The flame temperature is normally in the range of 1900 to 2300 °C and is

influenced by the raceway conditions. The flame temperature increases if:
– Hot blast temperature increases.
– Oxygen percentage in blast increases.
Metric Units
RAFT = 1489 + 0.82xBT – 5.705xBM + 52.778x(OE) – 18.1xCoal/WCx100 – 43.01xOil/
WCx100 – 27.9xTar/WCx100 – 50.66xNG/WCx100
Where BT Blast Temperature in °C
BM Blast Moisture in g/m³ STP dry blast
OE Oxygen enrichment (% O2 – 21)
Oil Dry oil injection rate in kg/tHM
Tar Dry tar injection rate in kg/tHM
Coal Dry coal injection rate in kg/tHM
NG Natural gas injection rate in kg/tHM
WC Wind consumption in m³/tHM
Table 8.2 RAFT Calculation (source: AIST)

RAFT = Raceway Adiabatic Flame Temperature
The flame temperature decreases, if:

– Moisture in the blast increases.
– Reductant injection rate increases, since cold reductants are gasified instead of
hot coke. The precise effect depends also on auxiliary reductant composition.
Table 8.3 gives some basic rules with respect to flame temperature effects.
Unit Change Flame temp. Top temp.

(°C) (°C)
Blast temp. °C + 100 + 51 – 9
Coal kg/tHM + 10 – 27 + 9
Gas kg/tHM + 10 – 72 + 19
Oil kg/tHM + 10 – 40 + 12
Oxygen % + 1 + 33 – 14
Moisture g/m³ STP + 10 – 42 + 8
Table 8.3 Flame temperature effects, rules–of–thumb (calculated with mass and
heat balance for our standard operating condition of Chapter II).
The top gas temperature is governed by the amount of gas needed in the
process; the less gas is used, the lower the top gas temperature and vice versa.
Less gas per tonne hot metal results in less gas for heating and drying the
burden.
8.3.2 Carbon and iron oxides

Note that in the second step, much more heat is generated than in the first step.
Therefore, it is worthwhile to convert CO to CO₂ as much as possible in the
process. The ratio CO₂/(CO+CO₂) is called the gas utilization or gas efficiency
and is used extensively in blast furnace operation.
116 Chapter VIII
In Figure 8.1, the equilibrium 2CO ȼ C + CO₂ is presented for various

temperatures. The line indicates the equilibrium of the “Boudouard” reactions.
At temperatures above 1000 °C, all CO₂ is converted to CO, if in contact with
coke. Therefore, at the high temperatures in the bosh and melting zone of the
blast furnace, only carbon monoxide is present. At temperatures below 500
°C, all CO has the tendency to decompose into C+CO₂. The carbon formed
in this way is very fine and is called “Boudouard” carbon. The formation of
carbon from CO slows down at lower temperatures and is most pronounced at
temperatures of 500–550 °C. (Biswas, p 70). In operational practice, the carbon
monoxide decomposition can be observed in refractory material, where there is
a CO containing atmosphere in the correct temperature region.
100
80
CO2 + C 2 CO
CO2/(CO+CO2)
60
Top pressure
40 2,0–2,5 bar
20 Top pressure
0,2–0,5 bar
0
100 500 900 1300
Temperature (°C)
Figure 8.1 Boudouard reaction: the drawn line indicates equilibrium at low top
pressure furnaces and high top pressure furnaces (after Biswas, page 71)
Direct reduction of iron oxides

As the hot reducing gases produced in the raceway ascend through the lower
furnace, they transfer heat to the ore burden to the extent that it becomes
molten at the lower levels of the melting zone. They also remove oxygen from
the iron oxides, i.e. they reduce the iron oxides, which contain approximately
one oxygen atom for every two iron atoms.
The CO₂ produced from the reaction immediately reacts with the carbon in the
coke to produce CO. The total reaction is known as direct reduction, because
carbon is directly consumed.
The reactions can be indicated as below:

2 FeO₀.₅ + CO Ⱥ 2 Fe + CO₂
+ CO₂ + C Ⱥ 2 C
Total 2 FeO₀.₅ + C Ⱥ 2 Fe + CO (consumes 155 kJ/kmol FeO)
The direct reduction reaction requires an enormous amount of heat, which is

provided by the heat contained in the hot raceway gas.
The direct reduction reaction is very important for understanding the process.
In a modern blast furnace, the direct reduction removes about a third of the
oxygen from the burden, leaving the remaining two–thirds to be removed
by the gas reduction reaction. The amount of oxygen to be removed at high
temperatures, as soon as the burden starts to melt, is very much dependent on
the efficiency of the reduction processes in the shaft. See section 8.2.3.
Note the following important observations:

– Direct reduction uses carbon (coke) and generates extra CO gas.
– Direct reduction costs a lot of energy.
In operational practice, the direct reduction can be monitored. In many blast

furnaces, the direct reduction rate (the percentage of the oxygen removed from
the burden by direct reduction) or the solution loss (the amount of coke used
for the reaction) are calculated online. Experienced operators are well aware
that as soon as the direct reduction rate or the solution loss increases, the blast
furnace burden starts to descend faster, the cohesive zone will come down as the
coke below it is consumed and the furnace will chill. When properly observed,
chilling can be prevented, for example by using extra coal injection.
Direct reduction of accompanying elements

In addition to the direct reduction of iron (typically from FeO₀,₅), some other
materials are also directly reduced in the high temperature area of the furnace.
The amount of coke used for these direct reduction reactions is indicated in
the table below. This can be calculated from the chemical composition and
the atomic weights, considering that the amount of oxygen removed reacts
with the carbon in the coke. The 123.3 kg coke for direct reduction (Table 8.4)
corresponds with an additional 200 m³ STP of CO gas.
Material Reduced to Typically in Coke used

hot metal (%) (kg/tHM)
FeO 0.5 Fe 94.50 116.7

SiO2 Si 0.40 3.9
MnO Mn 0.30 1.0
TiO2 Ti 0.05 0.3
P 2O 5 P 0.07 0.8
S in hot S in slag¹ 0.90 0.9
metal (in slag!)
Total coke used for direct reduction 123.3
Table 8.4 Coke consumption for direct reduction, typical example

¹ – Desulphurization reaction:
(CaO) + [C] + [S] Ⱥ (CaS) + CO
118 Chapter VIII
Gas reduction or “indirect” reduction

As the temperatures of the gas decrease, the CO₂ becomes stable and reduction
reactions can take place, such as (see Figure 8.2):
– for hematite:
6 Fe₂O₃ + 2 CO Ⱥ 4 Fe₃O₄ + 2 CO₂ (generates 53 kJ/kmol)
– for magnetite:
4 Fe₃O₄ + 4 CO Ⱥ 12 FeO + 4 CO₂ (consumes 36 kJ/kmol)
– for wustite:
6 FeO + 3 CO Ⱥ 6 FeO₀.₅ + 3 CO₂ (generates 17 kJ/kmol)
The reduction is called “gas reduction”, because the oxygen is removed from the
burden materials with CO gas. H₂ reacts in a similar way. In literature, it is also
often called “indirect” reduction, since carbon is only indirectly involved in this
reaction. The reduction of the FeO₀,₅ takes place via the direct reduction.
Following the burden descent from the stockline, the reduction from hematite
to magnetite starts around 500 °C. The reduction from magnetite to wustite
takes place in the temperature zone from 600 to 900 °C, while the reduction
from wustite to iron takes place in the temperature region between 900 to 1100
°C. At the start of melting (1100 to 1150 °C), FeO₀,₅ is normally reached. Here
FeO is used as a symbol for wustite, however the most stable composition is
Fe₀,₉₅O. The reactions are shown in Figure 8.2.
6 9
+
Carbon Monoxide Hematite (Fe2O3)
Gas
Reduction
6 8
+
Magnetite (Fe3O4)
Gas
Reduction
6 6
+
Carbon Dioxide Wustite (FeO)
Gas
Reduction
6 3
+
FeO ½
Carbon Direct
Reduction
6 0
+
Carbon Monoxide Fe
Figure 8.2 Overview of the reduction of iron oxides (black dots are carbons atoms,
blue dots are oxygen atoms and red dots are iron atoms)
The equilibrium between the various iron oxides and the gas is shown in Figure
8.3. The figure shows at what level of temperatures and gas compositions further
gas reduction of the burden is no longer possible. The reduction of wustite to
iron requires gas with a relatively high percentage of CO. Gas utilization for
reduction of wustite should be below 30 %. If the CO₂ level is higher, wustite is
no longer converted to iron.
CO2
CO+CO2
100
Fe 3O4 + CO
80 Magnetite
FeO + CO2
60
Wustite
40 FeO + CO
20 Iron Fe + CO2
0
400 600 800 1000 1200
Temperature (°C)
Figure 8.3 Schematic presentation of the relation between temperatures, CO/CO₂

gas composition and iron oxides. The drawn lines indicate equilibrium.
Reduction of hematite to magnetite is not shown.
The progress of the reduction reactions in a blast furnace can be detected in two
different ways:
– Burden: from quenched furnaces, an overview of the progress of the reduction
can be derived. An example is shown in Figure 8.4 on the next page.
– Gas: by sending gas sampling devices down into the furnace, the progress of
temperature/gas composition can be derived. Figure 8.5, also on the next page,
shows typical results from a gas sampling exercise. The data can be depicted in
the graph of the equilibrium between gas and iron oxides. The gas normally
shows a “thermal reserve zone”, that is, a zone in which the temperature does
not change rapidly, as well as, a “chemical reserve zone”, a zone in which the
chemical composition of the gas does not change. The thermal reserve zone
decreases and can disappear when the furnace is pushed to high productivities.
120 Chapter VIII
O/Fe
1.30
1.10
0.75
0.50
Figure 8.4 Reduction progress in a quenched furnace

(Hirohata, after Omori, 1987, p. 8)
1500
Temperature
Center
1000
Wall Thermal
reserve zone 100
500
80 Magnetite
0
60 60
ηCO Wustite
40 Chemical 40
ηCO reserve zone
20 20 Iron
0 0
0 100 200 300 400 600 800 1000 1200
Time Temperature (°C)
Figure 8.5 Gas composition in an operating furnace. CO, CO₂, H₂ and temperature
were measured with descending probes (Chaigneau et al, 2001). Typical
measurements from various furnaces are shaded. (After McMaster, 2002.)
8.3.3 Gas reduction and direct reduction

The direct reduction and gas reduction reactions combine to create a very
efficient process. Suppose that all oxygen is removed by direct reduction. Then,
the following reaction takes place:
Fe₂O₃ + 3 C Ⱥ 2 Fe + 3 CO
Iron contains about 945 kg/tHM Fe. Coke contains about 87.5 % carbon.
Atomic weights of Fe and C are 55.6 and 12. A tonne of iron contains 17 kmol
(945/55.6). For every iron atom, we need 1.5 carbon atoms, for a 25.5 kmol
carbon requirement (1.5x17), which equals 306 kg (25.5x12). In addition, about
45 kg carbon is dissolved in iron. In total, 351 kg carbon is used per tonne hot
metal, which corresponds to 401 kg of coke. This is a very low equivalent coke
rate and a blast furnace will not work, since too little heat is generated.
Now consider that all reduction reactions are done via the gas reduction. What
coke rate is required in this situation? It is assumed that coke combustion
generates the CO required. The reaction is:
3 FeO + 3 CO Ⱥ 3 Fe + 3 CO₂
We only consider the reduction of wustite since the resulting gas is powerful
enough to reduce magnetite and hematite. We know from the above (Figure
8.3) that for gas reduction, the maximum gas utilization is 30%. To get 30%
gas utilization, more CO is needed and the reaction becomes:
3 FeO + 10 CO Ⱥ 3 Fe + 3 CO₂ + 7 CO (gas utilization: 3/(3+7) = 30 %)
So the coke requirement is calculated as above: every tonne of iron contains

17 kmol. There is a need of 10 atoms carbon per 3 atoms of Fe. So the carbon
requirement is 57 kmol (10/3)x17, which corresponds with 684 kg carbon
(57x12). Again, the extra 45 kg carbon in iron has to be added, giving a carbon
rate of 729 kg/tHM and a coke rate of 833 kg/tHM (729/0.875). This reaction
has a poor coke rate and a high heat excess.
The conclusion of the considerations above is that the counter–current character

of the blast furnace works efficiently to reduce the reductant rate by combining
direct and gas reduction reactions. Approximately 60–70 % of the oxygen is
removed by gas and the remaining oxygen is removed by direct reduction.
8.3.4 Hydrogen
Hydrogen is formed in the raceway from moisture (H₂O) in the blast and
injectants (hydrocarbons). Hydrogen can act as a reducing agent to remove
oxygen and form water. The reaction is similar to that for carbon monoxide:
H₂ + FeO Ⱥ Fe + H₂O
122 Chapter VIII
The major differences with the reactions for hydrogen and carbon monoxide are
as follows:
– Figure 8.6 shows the equilibrium of the iron oxides and hydrogen. Hydrogen
is more effective for the reduction at temperatures above 810 °C. From
measurements in the blast furnace it has been derived that hydrogen reactions
are already nearly completed at this temperature.
– Hydrogen utilization as measured from the top gas is normally around 40 %
while CO utilization is close to 50 %. At the FeO level (900 °C), hydrogen is
utilized for 35 %, which means that it is already close to its final utilization of
40 %.
– Hydrogen is less effective a reductant at lower temperatures, because it
consumes heat when reducing iron oxides.
At high temperatures, H2O that is formed in the furnace reacts with coke:
H₂O (steam) + C ȼ H₂ + CO (consumes 124 kJ/mol)
This reaction consumes a lot of heat. At higher temperatures (over 1000 °C), the
reaction proceeds rapidly to the right hand side.
CO2 H2Oprocess
CO+CO2 (H2+H2Oprocess)
100 100
80 Fe3O4 80
60 60
FeO
40 40
20 Fe 20
0 0
400 600 800 1000 1200
Temperature (°C)
Figure 8.6 Equilibrium iron oxides with hydrogen and carbonmonoxide
At high temperatures (over 1000 °C), water vapor gasifies coke. At lower
temperatures (800–1000 °C), the water–gas shift reaction becomes important:
H₂O + CO ȼ H₂ + CO2 (generates 40.7 kJ/mol)

In this temperature range, hydrogen is more effective as a reductant than carbon

monoxide. This is shown in Figure 8.7, where the ratio H₂–utilization/CO–
utilization is higher than 1.
This water–gas shift reaction shifts to the left when the temperature decreases.
The reaction approaches equilibrium rather fast at temperatures over 800 °C,
probably catalyzed by metallic iron. But the reaction fails to reach equilibrium
at temperatures below 700 °C. In operational practice, the ratio in the top gas is
typically 0.8–0.9.
1,6
1,4
1,2
ETA H2/ETA CO
1,0
810 °C
0,8
~700 °C
0,6
0,4
0,2
0
400 600 800 1000
Temperature (°C)
Figure 8.7 Comparison of efficiency of reduction of iron oxides by H₂ and CO gas,

shown as the ratio of hydrogen utilization (ETA H₂) and CO utilization
(ETA CO). The red line indicates equilibrium, the red dotted line
indicates the range where the equilibrium is not reached. Data from
Biswas, 1981, p 85.
Note that the hydrogen utilization cannot be measured directly. The H₂O
formed in the process cannot be discriminated from the water put into the
furnace with coke and burden moisture. The hydrogen utilization of the top gas
is defined as ETA H₂ = H₂O/(H₂+H₂Oprocess). The H₂+H₂Oprocess can be derived
from the hydrogen input and the hydrogen leaving the furnace can be measured
with the gas analysis.
When working at high hydrogen input (via moisture, natural gas, coal), the
competition between the reduction reactions will lead to lower top gas CO₂
utilization. The simple reasoning is that H₂ competes with CO. All oxygen
taken by H₂ is not taken by CO and thus CO level increases and CO₂ level
decreases. 1 % extra H₂ in the top gas will lead to 0.6 % extra H₂Oprocess in the
top gas and thus to a 0.6 % lower CO₂ and a 0.6 % higher CO percentage. 1 %
extra top gas hydrogen leads to a decrease in top gas CO–utilization of 1.3 %,
e.g from 49 to 47.7 %. If a more advanced model is used and the efficiency of
the furnace is kept constant at the FeO level, a 1 % increase in top gas hydrogen
leads to a decrease of 0.8 % in top gas CO–utilization.
124 Chapter VIII
8.3.5 The temperature profile and chemical reactions

The temperature profile and the chemical reactions in a blast furnace are
closely related. It is summarised in Figure 8.8. The reduction of the oxides to
wustite takes place at temperatures between 800 and 900 °C. Thereafter, in
the temperature range of 900 to 1100 °C, the wustite can be further reduced
indirectly without interference from the Boudouard reaction. This chemical
preparation zone can take up to 50 to 60 % of the height of the furnace and has
a relatively constant temperature. This region is called the thermal reserve zone.
Figure 8.8 Progress of the reduction reactions and temperature of the burden
8.3.6 Overview of what happens with the gas in the burden

In the preceding section, the temperature profile in the blast furnace has been
shown. In this section, the gas in the furnace will be dealt with in more detail.
Step 1 Wind is blown into the tuyeres along with coal or natural gas and moisture. All
these components react to form carbon monoxide (CO), hydrogen and nitrogen.
So, the conditions at the end of the raceway are a high temperature of 2000 to
2200 °C and CO, H₂ and N₂ in gaseous form.
Step 2 The gas ascends in the furnace and cools down to 1100 °C. The direct reduction
reactions take place generating additional CO gas. When reaching 1100 °C,
the gas leaves the cohesive zone and enters into the furnace stack filled with
granular materials. At temperatures over 1100 °C, gas reduction is very limited
as the CO₂ formed by direct reduction reacts instantaneously with coke to
return to CO, a reaction which is thermodynamically equivalent to direct
reduction.
Step 3 The gas ascends further and its temperature decreases from 1100 to 900 °C.
In this temperature range, the hydrogen is very effective and about 35 % of
the hydrogen picks up oxygen from the ore burden. About 24 % of the carbon
monoxide does the same.
Step 4 The gas ascends further reaching an area of 500 to 600 °C. At this temperature,
the ore burden has the composition of magnetite, Fe₃O₄.
Step 5 The gas cools down further to the temperature at which it will leave the top (110
to 150 °C). In this area, the carbon monoxide is utilized further and removes
more oxygen from the ore burden.
Once the temperature of the gas has dropped below 1000 °C, the total gas
volume in m³ STP remains the same and only the composition changes, as
shown in Figure 8.9. It is clear that the major part of the gas travelling through
the furnace is nitrogen, which is chemically inert and only delivers its heat from
the hot blast to the burden. During its six to twelve second journey through the
furnace, it cools down from the blast temperature to the top gas temperature.
2200 °C 1400 °C 1000 °C 900 °C 500 °C 120 °C

1600
1400 CO2
1200
Gas volume (m³ STP/min)
CO
1000
O2
800
600
N2
400
200
H2
0
Input Combustion Direct Gas Gas Gas
through in raceway reduction reduction reduction reduction
tuyeres
Figure 8.9 How top gas is formed from wind
For comparison, in Figure 8.10 the effect of the gas on the burden weight is
shown as well. The graph is now in kg/tHM. The weight at the top of around
1600 kg ferrous burden and 300 kg coke decreases gradually to 1000 kg hot
metal and 200 kg slag. The balance is eliminated from the furnace with the top
gas. How hot metal and slag are formed is discussed in the next chapter.
Top gas composition Charged through top
N2 CO CO2 Fe2O3 Coke
Final gas Final gas

reduction step reduction step
N2 CO CO2 Fe3O4 Coke
Second gas Second gas

N2 CO CO2 FeO Coke
First gas First gas

N2 CO FeO½ Coke
Direct Direct
reduction reduction
N2 CO Fe
Combustion
in raceway Tapping
Input into N2 O2 Coal Fe Output

tuyeres
Figure 8.10 Blast furnace process showing counter–current gas and material flow and
the weights at varying temperatures. Note that the weight of the hot blast
is about equal to the weight of the hot metal and slag tapped.
126 Chapter VIII
Another method to describe the counter–current mass and heat exchange in

the blast furnace is with a graphical tool called the Rist diagram. This is more
advanced and shown in Annex 8.
8.3.7 Burden permeability and K–factor

The maximum pressure difference over the furnace content determines how
much hot metal can be produced. The pressure difference depends on the
amount of wind blown into the furnace, which generates hot gas, and the
permeability of the material column between tuyeres and burden level.
Blast furnace operators have tried to develop a characterization of the total

column by monitoring how much pressure is required to drive the bosh gas
through the furnace. The permeability of the column is characterized by the K–
factor:
K = [(BP + 1033)² – (TP + 1033)²] / (BGV)¹.⁷
Where BP is the blast pressure in kg/cm², TP is the top pressure in kg/cm² and
BGV is the Bosh Gas Flow in m³ STP/min. The factor 1033 has to do with
changing pressure from above 1 atmosphere to absolute pressure. Note that the
K–factor is called permeability factor, but the higher the K–value the poorer the
permeability.
Some companies use K–values over upper and lower part of the furnace. In this
situation, the results depend very much on the height where the pressure tap is
installed in the furnace. Another method in use is to monitor the simpler Δp/V,
where Δp is the pressure difference between hot blast and top pressure and V is
the blast volume.
Interpretation of the K–value is not so straightforward. There are many

influences on the blast pressure. One remark: in the blast furnace, the top
temperature can vary widely. The higher the top temperature, the more real
cubic meters of gas have to be pushed through the furnace. The K–value uses
m³ STP of gas and thus neglects this top temperature effect.
IX Hot Metal and Slag
This chapter deals with the subject of hot metal and slag formation in and
around the cohesive zone of the blast furnace and how it reaches its final
composition and properties. Typical final hot metal and slag compositions are
given in Table 9.1. Hot metal leaves the furnace with a typical temperature in
the range between 1480 and 1520 °C.
Hot metal Typical Slag Typical Range

Iron Fe 94.5 % CaO 40 % 34–42 %
Carbon C 4.5 % MgO 10 % 6–12 %
Silicon Si 0.40 % SiO2 36 % 28–38 %
Al2O3 10 % 8–20 %
Manganese Mn 0.30 %
Sulfur S 0.03 % Sum 96 %
Phosphorus P 0.07 % Sulfur 1%
Table 9.1 Typical hot metal and slag composition
9.1 Formation of hot metal and slag
9.1.1 Ferrous burden

Ferrous burden is the term used to describe the iron–containing materials that
are charged to the furnace: sinter, pellets and lump ore. The melting properties
of these materials depend on the local chemical slag composition. Lump ore
has its natural slag composition as it is found in the earth, gangue consists
of mainly acid components like SiO₂ and Al₂O₃. Pellets and sinter have an
artificial composition with components added to the natural iron ores, such
as limestone (CaCO₃), dolomite (MgCO₃.CaCO₃), olivine (2MgO, SiO₂) and
others. Sinter has a basicity (CaO/SiO₂₎ over 1.6, which may even be as high as
2.8 or higher. Pellets have a wide variety of chemical compositions, especially
acid pellets (CaO/SiO₂ below 0.2) or fluxed pellets (CaO/SiO₂ over 0.8).
The chemical composition of the materials is not only based on the design of
the optimum properties of the final slag with respect to melting temperature,
fluidity and desulphurizing properties, but also on the design of the
metallurgical properties of the sinter and the pellets. Optimal metallurgical
properties mean that the materials should have good reduction–disintegration
128 Chapter IX
properties and melting temperatures as high as possible. The reason for these
requirements is defined by the nature of the blast furnace process, being a
gas reduction process. If material falls apart into small particles, the gas flow
through the ore layer is impeded and the normal reduction process is limited.
In addition, materials that start to melt form an impermeable layer and will also
affect the reduction progress.
Note that the efficiency of a blast furnace is largely determined by the gas
reduction process, and the amount of oxygen bound to the iron, which is
removed by gas (CO and H₂).
9.1.2 Reduction from hematite to magnetite

and reduction–disintegration
The reduction process starts at temperatures of about 500 °C in the atmosphere
of a reducing gas, that is, the blast furnace top gas. The reduction of hematite
(Fe₂O₃, O/Fe = 1.5) to magnetite (Fe₃O₄, O/Fe 1.33) takes place rather
easily and generates a small amount of heat. In hematite, six atoms of iron
are bound to nine atoms of oxygen, which changes to eight atoms of oxygen
upon transition to magnetite. The ninth oxygen atom is bound to the CO gas,
forming CO₂.
The first step in the reduction process has a profound effect on the properties of
the ferrous burden. The crystal structure where six iron atoms and nine oxygen
atoms were conjoined is forced to change to six iron atoms on eight oxygen
atoms. The crystal structure changes with an associated volume increase of
about 10 % and this leads to stress within the particles and the particles can
fall apart. This is called reduction–disintegration, and is represented by the
Reduction–Disintegration Index (RDI) or, sometimes by Low Temperature
Breakdown (LTB) (Chapter III). Pellets are not very prone to reduction–
disintegration, as pellets have about 30 % voidage in the structure, which can
accommodate expansion.
Some lump ores have a very tight structure and are difficult to reduce, with
the reduction starting on the outside of the particle. These lump ores will have
reasonable RDI values, however, if a lump ore has a relatively open structure,
which is easily permeable for gas, then the RDI will be poor. Lump ores with
this characteristic are not suitable for direct use in the blast furnace.
Sinter, on a microscale, has a relatively tight structure with limited possibilities

for local expansion. Therefore, sinter has inherently poor RDI unless measures
are taken to improve it. The RDI can be improved by impeding the formation
of the secondary hematite on the sinter strand. Secondary hematite is the
material which is re–oxidized from magnetite back to hematite on the sinter
strand. This takes place when sinter is cooled with air. These secondary
hematites are very prone to reduction–disintegration in the blast furnace.
The reduction–disintegration stops when all hematite is reduced to magnetite.
Hot Metal and Slag 129
9.1.3 Gas reduction of magnetite

The magnetite (Fe₃O₄) is further reduced by gas (CO and H₂) to wustite
(FeO₁.₀₅). At around 900 °C, equilibrium is reached between the reducing
power of the gas and the composition of the iron oxides, that is the FeO
level of one atom of oxygen per atom of iron. In this area, the temperature is
relatively constant (thermal reserve zone), as is the chemical composition of
the gas (chemical reserve zone). When blast furnaces are operated at very high
productivities, this reserve zone becomes smaller and is ultimately eliminated.
At temperatures around 900 °C, the temperature of the coke is still too low
to react with the CO₂ gas. The coke reactivity reaction (CO₂ + C Ⱥ 2 CO)
starts around 1050 °C. Therefore, all reduction is taking place by means of gas
reduction (Fe₂O₃ + CO Ⱥ 2 FeO + CO₂), and in this temperature range also
for a small part by hydrogen reduction (Fe₂O₃ +H₂ Ⱥ 2 FeO + H₂O). The gas
reduction continues to a gas temperature above 1000 °C and a reduction of iron
oxide to a level of FeO₀.₅. The higher the temperature, the more H₂ contributes
to the gas reduction. The gas reduction continues to rise until the temperature
has risen to that where the coke reactivity reaction begins. If material starts to
soften and melt (around 1100 °C), the direct reduction reaction (FeO + C Ⱥ
Fe + CO) will take place. At that moment, the atomic ratio of O/Fe is slightly
below 0.5 atom oxygen per atom of iron. In case of natural gas injection it can
decrease to around 0.35 atom oxygen per atom iron.
9.1.4 Softening and melting

Softening and melting starts at local chemical compositions with the lowest
melting temperatures. This is where there are high local concentrations of
SiO₂ and FeO. Internal migration of atoms will cause larger and larger parts
of the particles to soften. The first internal ‘melts’ of material will form at
approximately 1100 °C and will consist of gangue and to a large extent FeO,
because at 1100 °C the O/Fe ratio in the ferrous burden is 0.5 or lower. In the
case of fluxed pellets the first melts will form at approximately 1150 °C. If the
basicity increases further, the starting temperature of melt formation increases
to close to 1200 °C, where even less FeO is required. However, at the basicity of
super–fluxed sinter, the formation of melts require high FeO percentages again,
up to 50–60 %. This explains why reduction melting tests of super–fluxed sinter
generally show a relatively large part of residual material that cannot be melted
even at temperatures up to 1530 °C. When gangue starts to melt, it will come
into contact with the slag components of other parts of the ore burden and the
slag composition will be averaged. This happens at high FeO concentrations.
Let us consider the composition of the “primary melt”. If we have the 220 kg of
final slag, the primary melt will contain a huge quantity of FeO. The amount
of FeO₀.₅ is 608 kg. So the FeO content of the “primary melt” is more than 70
%. (When we are using natural gas and reach FeO₀.₃₅, the FeO quantity is still
more than 400 kg and the FeO content is 65 %.)
130 Chapter IX
The basicity of the remaining materials equals the basicity of the input
materials. Figure 9.1 shows a simplification of the real situation in a blast
furnace and shows a slag phase diagram with the three main components:
CaO, SiO₂ and FeO. It shows, that slag melting starts at low temperatures, but
that the basicity of the burden affects melting. As the FeO is reduced out of
the primary melt, the slag liquidus temperature increases, but a much higher
liquidus is seen for materials with a higher basicity.
SiO2
We
aO
Slag Basicity 1.3
ig
0% e C
Tliquidusmax < 1500 °C
ht 0–10
10 tag
pe
(
)
rce 0%)
(0– rcen
nta
pe
Slag Basicity 1.7
ge
ht
Tliquidusmax
SiO
ig
We
2
20
00
18
00
16
00
CaO FeO
Weight percentage FeO

(0–100%)
Figure 9.1 Slag liquidus temperatures of CaO–SiO₂–FeO. Slag melting starts at

60–70 % FeO in the structure. The yellow line indicates ferrous burden
basicity (CaO/SiO₂) of 1.5, the white line 1.
The reduced iron, for example a sponge iron skull of a pellet, has a much higher
melting temperature than hot metal. The sponge iron does not yet contain
carbon and its melting temperature comes closer to the 1535 °C of the elemental
iron rather than the 1147 °C of iron with 4.2 % carbon content. The reduced
iron does not melt, but remains as solid particles in the melting slag–FeO mix.
In summary, the first melts that are formed in the blast furnace come from acid
slag components mixed with iron oxides, FeO₀.₅ and iron. As soon as melts
are formed, the ore bed collapses. The order of events are: first the lump ore
structure collapses due to the acidic gangue, followed by the collapse of sinter
structure and finally the collapse of the pellet structure. As soon as the layers are
collapsed, the permeability for gas decreases. It is estimated that permeability
for gas disappears more or less completely between 1200 and 1350 °C. In that
situation, the layers of cohesive material are only heated with gas flowing along
its surface. Reduction by hydrogen plays a special role in this situation. Since
hydrogen can easily diffuse into a more solid structure, the hydrogen reduction
continues after CO reduction has stopped.
When the melts are heated further and start to drip, the melt consists of a blend
of the gangue, FeO and finely dispersed iron, which has not been separated
from the melt. The first process in the “primary” melt is that the gangue loses
its FeO. As soon as the FeO is removed and the primary melt flows over coke,
the iron starts to dissolve carbon from the coke, which lowers the melting
temperature rapidly. This has the effect of making the iron much more liquid
when flowing over coke. The carbon of the coke diffuses into or is taken up by
the metallic Fe, allowing the iron droplets to separate from the primary melt.
After this process has taken place, the iron starts to increase in silicon content,
which comes from the SiO gas that was created in the raceway flame.
As long as the slag contains FeO, the silicon in the hot metal will be oxidized
back to SiO₂ and the FeO in the slag reduced to Fe. At the wall of the furnace,
the root of the cohesive zone is located a small distance above the tuyeres,
while in the center the cohesive some is located higher in the furnace. As a
consequence, the slag formed at the wall will have relatively high FeO and the
hot metal formed at the wall will have low silicon, while the hot metal formed
and dripping down in the center of the furnace will have high silicon. The final
silicon level observed during a cast is a blend of these two “hot” and “cold”
components.
The formation of the final composition of hot metal and slag is a stepwise
process, which is illustrated in Figure 9.2.
Figure 9.2 Melting of iron ore
9.1.5 Blending of burden components

The process of collapse of the burden layer followed by melting depends on local
chemical composition and reduction progress. Therefore, in order to keep the
variation within the layers as small as possible, good blending of components
is recommended. It is shown elsewhere (section 3.8), that blending improves
metallurgical and softening and melting properties. Also the use of nut coke in
a burden layer results in better permeability, since nut coke does not soften with
the burden and maintains a path for gas through the burden layer.
132 Chapter IX
9.1.6 Slag flooding

The melting of the softened burden to hot metal and slag is a process that
involves stages with very viscous liquids. The amount of those liquids that can
be drained to and from the hearth may also be a limiting factor. Figure 9.3
shows a comparison between many furnaces regarding the amount of liquids
(high FeO slag) that are processed per m² hearth surface. It shows one furnace
exceeding a liquid production level of about 22 m³ liquids/m² hearth.24 h. The
limitations are not only influenced by the amount of liquids, but also by the
area for the liquids to flow (furnace dimensions as well as coke voidage), the
amount of gas that ascends through the dripping liquids and coke voidage and
“wetting” properties of the coke for the liquids.
1200
1000 22 m³ liquids/m²HA.24h
20 m³ liquids/m²HA.24h
Slag rate (kg/tHM)
800
600
400
200
0
0 20 40 60 80 100 120
Hearth productivity (tHM/m²HA.24h)
Fig 9.3 Liquid production levels of various furnaces indicative of limiting

flooding conditions.
9.2 Hot metal as cast from the furnace
9.2.1 Hot metal composition and temperature

The final hot metal composition is the result of a complex process of iron–slag
interactions as the various elements are divided over the slag and iron phases.
The dispersion of an element over the two phases depends on the slag and hot
metal composition as well as temperature, as discussed below. As an illustration,
the typical percentages of elements entering the slag and iron phases are
indicated in Table 9.2.
The following points should be noted:

– Silicon, titanium and sulfur are concentrated in the slag.
– Manganese is concentrated in the hot metal.
– Most alkali (potassium and sodium) are eliminated with the slag, some of the
alkali is discharged as vapor with the top gas.
– Nearly all the phosphorus goes to the hot metal.
Element Input Output Iron Output Slag

kg/tHM kg/tHM % kg/tHM %
Silicon 46 5 11 % 41 89 %
Manganese 6 3.6 60 % 2.4 40 %
Titanium 3 0.7 23 % 2.3 77 %
Sulfur 3 0.6 20 % 2.4 80 %
Phosphorus 0.5 0.49 98 % 0 0%
Potassium 0.15 0 0% 0.11 73 %
Table 9.2 Typical distributions of selected elements over iron and slag
Hot metal temperature and hot metal silicon content are both used as an
indicator of the thermal state of the furnace. The hot metal temperature is
the result of the heat input in the furnace minus the heat used in the lower
part of the furnace. The major heat consumption in this area comes from the
(endothermic) chemical reactions taking place below the cohesive zone. These
are the direct reduction reactions of iron, silicon, manganese, titanium and
phosphorus oxides.
While the hot metal silicon shows the result of the actual chemical balance in
the furnace, the hot metal temperature is somewhat delayed compared to the
hot metal silicon, since there is a large heat buffer in the hearth.
Silicon, manganese, titanium and phosphorus oxides are reduced via the direct
reduction reaction. These reactions consume much heat. Most of the heat
is consumed for the SiO₂ reduction and consequently, the hot metal silicon
content reflects the thermal state of the furnace. The manganese distribution
over hot metal and slag is an even faster indicator of the thermal state because
of the smaller MnO content of slag. But for operational purposes, the silicon
reactions are of particular interest. The hot metal silicon is a sensitive indicator
of the thermal state of the furnace, and the silicon variation can be used to
analyse the consistency of the process.
9.2.2 Hot metal silicon

The silicon reduction reaction in the blast furnace is now discussed in more
detail. Reduction of silicon from silica is possible by carbon at a temperature
above 1400 °C:
SiO₂ + 2C Ⱥ Si + 2 CO – 637 MJ/kmol
Silicon transition into hot metal is promoted by reaction of iron silicide

formation:
SiO₂ + 2C + Fe Ⱥ FeSi + 2 CO – 542 MJ/kmol

134 Chapter IX
Silica reaches the high temperatures required for these reactions when coke and
coal are burned and when melting, burden materials and slag are exposed to
high temperatures. Coal and coke ash typically contain 45–50 % SiO₂. Silicon
reduction in the blast furnace takes place via two stages (Figure 9.4).
Figure 9.4 Silicon reduction
During stage 1 in the combustion zone, volatile silicon monoxide gas is formed
from silica of the coke ash and injected pulverized coal ash, (Q indicating heat
used for the chemical reaction):
SiO₂ + C Ⱥ SiO + CO – Q
SiO formation in raceway zone increases:

– when ash content in coke and PCI increases, and/or SiO₂ content in the ash
increases.
– when the flame temperature (RAFT) increases.
– when the residence time of coke in the high–temperature zone increases, which
means that smelting rate and the furnace production output are decreasing.
During stage 2, the silicon is reduced from SiO by coke in the area of the
raceway and cohesive zone. It is dissolved in hot metal droplets. The following
reactions take place:
Stage 1 – SiO + C Ⱥ Si + CO – Q
Stage 2 – SiO + C Ⱥ Si + CO – Q
SiO + C + [Fe] Ⱥ FeSi + CO – Q
Silicon reduction is accompanied by generation of CO gas. Therefore, an

increase of the pressure in the furnace impedes silicon reduction and its
transition into hot metal.
Research has shown, that reduction of silicon takes place in the high–
temperature area above the raceway: when hot metal is sampled through the
tuyeres, the hot metal has a higher silicon content than when sampled from
the cast. The higher the level of the cohesive zone, the larger the volume of this
high–temperature zone and the more time there is for contact of volatile SiO
with the carbon of the coke and hot metal. This leads to an increase of silicon
reduction and consequently higher hot metal silicon content and a higher hot
metal temperature.
The contact time of hot metal with gas and coke in the coke layer between
tuyere level and the cohesive zone also depends on the structure of the coke
bed and the size of the coke. The more coke fines, the smaller the fraction of
middle–size lumps of coke and the better the adhesive behavior for molten slag,
the more the porosity of the coke layer decreases. This increases the time for
the hot metal and slag to descend through it and thus there is more intensive
contact with the (SiO–containing) gas, which results in additional silicon
reduction. As discussed above, silicon is partially reduced by coke carbon from
the slag. Silicon reduction from slag is impeded by an increase of basicity, which
decreases the rate of silicon reduction from calcium silicates.
In summary: the silicon content in the hot metal can be decreased by:
– lowering the cohesive zone inside the furnace, which means running the furnace
on a lower thermal level.
– using alower flame temperature.
– increasing coke CSR and average size of coke lumps charged into furnace.
– reduction of ash content in coke and injection coal.
– increasing top gas pressure.
– increasing the percentages of CaO and MgO in the slag.
– increasing the oxidation potential in the hearth (see below).
– increasing production levels (melting rate) by increasing blast volume.
One thing not yet mentioned is that in the hearth, hot metal comes into contact
with slag and remains in equilibrium with it. When hot metal droplets pass
through the slag layer in the hearth, silicon may be re–oxidized by ferrous
oxide, if it is present in slag:
[Si] + 2 (FeO) + 2 [C] Ⱥ (SiO₂) + 2 [Fe] + 2 CO
(Square brackets, i.e. [Si], show that material is dissolved in the hot metal.
Round brackets, i.e. (SiO₂), show material dissolved in slag.)
FeO is observed in slag, when the furnace is very cold. Slag is very heavy
and granulated slag is black. In these situations, the furnace has a very low
silicon level. From a chemical point of view, this is called increase of oxidation
potential in the hearth. This mechanism also explains that the hot metal
sampled at tuyere level has a higher silicon percentage than hot metal coming
from the taphole.
136 Chapter IX
Finally, although we observe a uniform hot metal silicon level coming from a
taphole, in reality the hot metal is a blend of hot metal generated in the central
part of the furnace with a higher silicon content and hot metal generated in
peripheral zone with a lower silicon content.
Variability of hot metal silicon

Hot metal silicon varies from cast to cast and during a cast as well. And
basically, the changes in energy input and output become manifest in the hot
metal silicon. Very stable hot metal silicon is the result of stable operating
conditions, the most important of which being stable burden descent. If the
burden descent is not smooth, the gas reduction in the furnace varies, resulting
in variation in direct reduction in the high temperature area below the cohesive
zone. In this situation, the re–oxidation of silicon will vary more.
For operators it is well known, that the hot metal silicon increases, when the
blast volume is decreased. From the previous section it becomes clear that when
wind is reduced, the following effects will take place: the lower driving rate
of the furnace allows the hot metal silicon more time for contact with (SiO–
containing) gas, improved gas reduction by better contact between burden and
gas, sometimes improved burden descent and finally a lower top pressure. All
these effects result in higher hot metal silicon at lower blast volume.
9.2.3 Hot metal sulfur

The major source of sulfur input is fuel, i.e. coke, PCI and fuel oil, bringing
80–90 % of the sulfur to the furnace, while only 10–20 % comes with the
burden materials.
Most sulfur of the fuel (60–80 %) is organic, whereas the sulfur of burden
materials is present in the form of sulfides and sulfates. Sulfur input at modern
blast furnaces is 2.5–3.5 kg/tHM.
As soon as the coke exceeds 1000 °C, part of sulfur volatilizes. During
combustion of coke and injected fuel, all sulfur is oxidized in the form of
gaseous SO₂ and SO. In the more reducing atmosphere, sulfur oxides react to
free sulfur (S, S₂) and its compounds CS, CS₂, COS, H₂S, HS. Sulfur reacts
when ascending through the furnace with burden components, forming
calcium, iron and manganese sulfides. These sulfides descend to the hearth
again. Calcium, magnesium and manganese sulfides dissolve in slag, while iron
sulfide dissolves in hot metal.
More than half of the input sulfur is transferred to slag by the following
reaction:
[FeS] + (CaO) + C Ⱥ (CaS) + [Fe] + CO – 143 MJ/kmol
Sulfur distribution between the slag and the hot metal (Ls) is estimated as a
relation Ls = (S)/[S] and depends on the slag basicity and on the temperature of
hot metal and slag. The sulfur quantity transiting to the slag also depends on
the slag volume per tonne. The sulfur content in gas, solid and liquid phases
over the height of the furnace are shown in Figure 9.5. A relatively large part of
hot metal desulfurization takes place in the taphole, when iron and slag are cast
simultaneously: the reaction above shifts to the right when pressure decreases.
The sulfur brought into the furnace with fuel is first brought to the gas phase
before being eliminated from the furnace. As a result, at each moment a
significant quantity of sulfur is retained in the blast furnace, estimated as 4–8
tonnes for 3000–5000 m³ furnaces (at coke sulfur 0.6 %).
Figure 9.5 Sulfur content of gas, solid and liquid phases over the blast furnace height
9.3 Hot metal and the steel plant
Hot metal is used for the production of steel. In a steel plant, the hot metal is
refined so that the (chemical) composition can be adjusted to the metallurgical
requirements. The refining process is usually achieved in two steps:
– Removal of sulfur from the hot metal by means of desulfurization. In most
cases, the sulfur is removed with carbide and lime(stone) or magnesium,
according to:
2 CaO + 2 [S] + CaC₂ Ⱥ 2 (CaS) + CO (gas)
or
Mg + [S] Ⱥ (MgS)
– Removal of carbon, silicon, manganese and phosphorus. These elements react
with the oxygen blown into the converter. The “affinity” for oxygen decreases
in the sequence silicon, manganese, carbon, phosphorus, iron. In this sequence
material is refined in the converter process. At the end of the refining process,
iron can be re–oxidized, which is sometimes required to heat up the steel before
casting. Silicon, manganese, phosphorus and FeO are removed with the slag
phase, the carbon as CO or CO₂ in the gas phase.
138 Chapter IX
In comparison: in a blast furnace, the process of oxygen steelmaking is reversed.

With oxygen steelmaking, the elements removed from the hot metal by blowing
oxygen are first silicon and manganese, which are oxidized, then carbon is burnt
and finally iron starts to be re–oxidized. In the blast furnace, the opposite takes
place as is illustrated in Figure 9.6.
Basic Oxygen Steelmaking
Step 1 Step 2 Step 3
[Si]ĺSiO2
[C]ĺCO FeĺFeO
[Mn]ĺMnO
SiO2ĺ>Si]
Cĺ[C] FeOĺFe
MnO ĺ>0Q@
Step 3 Step 2 Step 1
Blast Furnace Ironmaking
Figure 9.6 The basic oxygen furnace and blast furnace as counterparts
(Rectangular brackets indicate that the element is dissolved in hot metal)
The important considerations for a steel plant are:

– Consistent quality: the control of the converter process incorporates “learning”,
which means adjustments to the process settings are necessary on the basis
of expected outcome versus the actual outcome. The more consistent the iron
quality, the better the results in the steel plant.
– Hot metal silicon, manganese, titanium and temperature are important energy
sources for the converter process and affect the slag formation.
– Hot metal phosphorus has a major influence on the steel production process. In
the blast furnace, 97 to 98 % of the phosphorus leaves the furnace with the hot
metal.
– Hot metal sulfur is a problem because sulfur is difficult to remove in the
converter process. For high grades of steel, a maximum sulfur level of 0.008 %
is required, while the blast furnace produces hot metal with a sulfur content
of 0.030 % and higher. Therefore, an external desulfurization step is often
required.
9.4 Slag
9.4.1 Slag composition and basicity

Slag is formed from the gangue material of the burden and the ash of the coke
and auxiliary reductants. During the process, primary slag develops to a final
slag. Composition ranges are presented in Table 9.4. Four major components
make up about 96 % of the slag, these being SiO₂, MgO, CaO and Al₂O₃.
The balance is made up of components such as manganese (MnO), sulfur (S),
titanium (TiO₂), potassium (K₂O), sodium (Na₂O) and phosphorus (P). These
components have a tendency to lower the liquidus temperature of the slag. The
definitions of basicity are given in Table 9.3.
B2 CaO/SiO2
B3 CaO+MgO/SiO2
B4 (CaO+MgO)/(SiO2+Al2O3)
Table 9.3 Definitions of basicity (weight percentage)
Typical Range
CaO 40 % 34–42 %
MgO 10 % 6–12 %
SiO2 36 % 28–38 %
Al2O3 10 % 8–20 %
Total 96 % 96 %
Table 9.4 Typical slag compositions
9.4.2 Slag properties

Slag has much higher melting temperatures than iron. In practice, it is more
correct to think in temperature ranges than in melting points, as composite
slags have a melting trajectory rather than a melting point. At the solidus
temperature, the ore burden starts melting. The liquidus temperature is the
temperature, at which the slag is completely molten. At temperatures below the
liquidus temperature, solid crystals are present. These solid crystals increase
the viscosity of the slag. In our experience, the behavior of slag can be well
understood on the basis of its liquidus temperature. This is due to the fact that
the viscosity of the slag is much more dependent on the temperature than on
the Al₂O₃ content, basicity or FeO content, as shown in Figure 9.7.
20 20
16 16
Viscosity (poise)
Viscosity (poise)
12 12
8 8
4 4
0 0
1350 1400 1450 1500 25 20 15 10 5 0
Temperature (°C) Al2O3 in slag (%)
Figure 9.7 Effect of temperature and Al₂O₃ on slag viscosity in poise (10–1Pa.s).
Left: Basicity 1,07(CaO/SiO₂), Al₂O₃ 15%, 5,1% MgO (Slag Atlas p 389)
Right: Basicity 1,0, MgO 10%, measured at 1500 °C (Slag Atlas p 381)
140 Chapter IX
Liquidus temperatures are presented in ternary diagrams as shown in Figure 9.8.

These diagrams have been developed for pure components and in practice, the
liquidus temperatures are somewhat lower.
Figure 9.8 Phase diagram of liquidus temperatures of a blast furnace slag system for
10 % Al₂O₃. The slag composition 40 % CaO, 10 % MgO and 36 % SiO₂
is also indicated. To this end, the components have to be recalculated
from 96 to 100 % of the slag. The area where slag liquidus temperatures
are lower than 1350 °C is indicated in yellow. (After Slag Atlas, 1981)
Since in the ternary diagrams, only three components can be indicated, one
of the major slag components is taken as fixed. i.e. Al₂O₃ content is 10 %.
Diagrams at different Al₂O₃ percentages are presented in Figure 9.9. The typical
slag composition for a blast furnace slag is also indicated (Table 9.4). Note that
the liquidus temperature is about 1400 °C and that the liquidus temperature
increases when CaO increases (i.e. when the basicity increases).
SiO2 SiO2
5% Al2O3 10% Al2O3
We
We
O
O
a
a
ig
ig
%) e C
%) e C
ht (0 –9
ht (0 –9
95 t ag
9 0 t ag
pe 5%
pe 0%
(0 – rcen
(0 – rcen
rce )
rce )
nt
nt
pe
pe
ag
ag
ht
ht
e
e
ig
ig
SiO
SiO
We
We
2
2
CaO MgO CaO MgO
Weight percentage MgO Weight percentage MgO

(0–95%) (0–90%)
SiO2 SiO2
15% Al2O3
We 20% Al2O3
We
aO
aO
ig
ig
%) e C
%) e C
ht (0 – 8
ht (0 – 8
85 t ag
8 0 t ag
pe 5%
pe 0%
(0 – rcen
(0 – rcen
rce )
rce )
nt
nt
pe
pe
ag
ag
ht
ht
e
e
ig
ig
SiO
SiO
We
We
2
2
CaO MgO CaO MgO
Weight percentage MgO Weight percentage MgO

(0–85%) (0–80%)
SiO2
25% Al2O3
< 1350 °C
We
1350–1400 °C
O
Ca
ig
ht (0 –7
1400–1500 °C
%) e
75 tag
pe 5%
(0 – rcen
> 1500 °C
rce )
nt
pe
ag
ht
e
ig
SiO
We
CaO MgO
Weight percentage MgO

(0–75%)
Figure 9.9 Phase diagrams of slag liquidus temperatures at various Al₂O₃ levels.
(After Slag Atlas, 1981)
High Al2O3 slags

The Al₂O₃ content of the final slag varies according to the raw materials in use.
Especially in India, the raw materials are rich in Al₂O₃. Operational practice
shows, that it is possible to run a blast furnace with around 18 % Al₂O₃.
142 Chapter IX
Further increase of the Al₂O₃ content to 20–22 % is done by some companies,

but even higher content is (nearly) impossible. This is shown in the small grey
area of the diagram at 25% Al₂O₃. Al₂O₃ also has an impact on the viscosity
(see the right diagram in Figure 9.4), but this effect is small as compared to that
of the liquidus temperature.
In Figure 9.10, the composition of the slag resulting from a burden of self–
fluxed sinter and pellets is indicated. The liquidus temperatures of the “pure”
components give high liquidus temperatures for the slag, well above 1500 °C.
How is it possible that the material melts in the cohesive zone?
The secret behind the melting of sinter and pellets is that the ore burden
contains a lot of FeO, which lowers the melting temperature or, as mentioned
earlier, lowers the liquidus and solidus temperatures. This is indicated in Figures
9.1 and 9.11.
SiO2 BF Slag
10% Al2O3 1 Olivine fluxed pellets
5
2 Typical basic pellets
We
O
3 Superfluxed sinter
a
ig
%) e C
h t (0 – 9
4 Fluxed sinter
9 0 t ag
1
pe 0%
Acid pellets
(0 – r c e n
5
r ce )
nt
pe
ag
ht
< 1350 °C
e
ig
Si O
4
We
2
1350–1400 °C
2
3
1400–1500 °C
> 1500 °C
CaO MgO

(0–90%)
Figure 9.10 The slag composition of typical pellets and sinter qualities.
(After Slag Atlas, 1981)
Figure 9.11 Slag formation

9.4.3 Hot metal and slag interactions at starts and stops

During special blast furnace situations like a blow–in or a very hot furnace, the
hot metal silicon can rise to very high values. Since the silicon in the hot metal
is taken from the SiO₂ in the slag, the consequence is that the basicity increases.
This leads to high slag liquidus temperature (Figure 9.12).
Slag Volume 250 kg/t 240 kg/t 230 kg/t
Al2O3 25 kg 25 kg 25 kg
MgO 25 kg 25 kg 25 kg
CaO 105 kg 105 kg 105 kg
SiO2 95 kg 85 kg 75 kg
1,38 %
Hot Metal 0,92 %
Silicon
0,46 %
Si for iron 10 kg 20 kg 30 kg
basicity (B3) 1.37 1.53 1.73
liquidus (°C) 1420 1460 1528
Figure 9.12 Slag properties if hot metal silicon increases, a typical example.
In a situation with very high basicity, the final slag no longer remains liquid in
the furnace and cannot be cast. It will remain in the furnace where it can form
a ring of solid slag, particularly in the bosh region. Burden descent and casting
will be disrupted. Therefore, for special situations where hot metal silicon
is expected to be high, the slag should be designed to handle the high hot
metal silicon. A reduced slag basicity by increasing silica content is the typical
practice. To this end, extra SiO₂ has to be brought into the furnace and the
recommended method is the use of siliceous lump ore.
Some companies use quartzite, which is suitable to correct the basicity in

normal operation. However, it is less suitable for chilled situations, since the
liquidus temperature of quartzite itself is very high (1700 °C). The effect of the
use of a siliceous ore can also be shown in the ternary diagram in Figure 9.13:
by working at a lower basicity, the liquidus temperature decreases along the
indicated line.
144 Chapter IX
SiO2
10% Al2O3
BF Slag
We
O a
ig
Low Basicity
%) e C
h t (0 – 9
Burden
9 0 t ag
pe 0%
(0 – r c e n
r ce )
nt
pe
ag
ht
< 1350 °C
e
ig
Si O
We
1350–1400 °C
2
1400–1500 °C
> 1500 °C
CaO MgO

(0–90%)
Figure 9.13 Effect of low basicity burden on slag liquidus temperatures

X Casthouse Operation
10.1 Objectives
The casthouse operation is an extremely important area for the blast furnace.
The main objectives of good casthouse operation may be summarized as follows:
– To remove liquid iron and slag from the furnace at a rate that does not allow
the process to be affected by increasing liquid levels in the hearth (example: slag
level at the raceway elevation).
– To separate and sample the iron and slag that is cast from the furnace.
– To direct the iron to the ladle and the slag to the slag pot, pit or granulator.
The extraction of liquids from the hearth is crucial for maintaining stable
process parameters, and the damaging effects of not casting the furnace will
become apparent very quickly. Therefore, it is required that a cast tracking chart
is available in the control room, giving the operator a quick overview of casting
in the last shift or day. An example of such a chart is shown in Figure 10.1.
From such a chart the slag delays, the behaviour of tapholes, problems with
drilling become clear. In this chapter, the link between casting and the blast
furnace process will be explained, and the factors that determine the ability to
cast the furnace are discussed.
3
Iron Run Time Slag Run Time
0
00:00 01:00 02:00 03:00 04:00 05:00 06:00 07:00 08:00 09:00 10:00 11:00 12:00 13:00 14:00 15:00 16:00 17:00 18:00 19:00 20:00 21:00 22:00 23:00 00:00
Figure 10.1 Cast tracking chart. 24 hour casthouse overview with alternating casts;
red means hot metal flow, green slag flow.
10.2 Liquid iron and slag in the hearth
The blast furnace process results in liquid iron and slag being produced. These
two liquids drip down into the coke–filled hearth of the blast furnace, where
they wait to be tapped, or cast, from the furnace. The densities of the two
liquids are quite different, with that of iron (7.2 t/m³) being three times that of
slag (2.3 t/m³). This difference leads to very good separation between the iron
and the slag once the material is outside the furnace, given the correct trough
146 Chapter X
dimensions, but also means that separation will occur inside the hearth before
the liquids are tapped, see Figure 10.2.
Figure 10.2 Slag and iron separation in the iron runner, or trough
The trough will still hold liquids from the preceding cast, so when the iron from
the next cast starts flowing, it will then increase the level in the runner so that
the iron already under the skimmer will also increase in height and start flowing
again over the iron dam. This iron will then flow to the tilting runner and into a
torpedo ladle. Once the ladle is full, the tilting runner will be repositioned into
a torpedo ladle which is parked parallel to the full one, so this second ladle can
also be filled. The full ladle will be removed and replaced by an empty ladle, so
that the cast is not interrupted. This alternating between ladles via the tilting
runner is done until the hearth is empty and the cast is complete.
Figure 10.3 The blast furnace hearth
The slag sits on top of the iron, so it does not flow under the skimmer as long as
the separation remains good. Once it has reached a certain level in the trough,
it will flow over the slag dam and to either a slag granulator or a slag pit or ladle.
It is very important that iron is not allowed to go down the slag dam as this can
result in explosions in the granulator, or difficulties in emptying the slag pit. For
Casthouse Operation 147
yield reasons, it is also not desirable to have slag going into the torpedo ladle.
Slag in the ladle can also result in a solid slag skull at the mouth of the ladle,
which results in difficulty in pouring the hot metal at the steel shop.
The hearth itself is a refractory vessel contained by the steel blast furnace
shell, as shown in Figure 10.3. Cooling of the steel shell is essential to avoid
overheating of the refractory and shell to the point of failure. The taphole or
tapholes are positioned such that a pool, or sump, of liquids remains in the
bottom of the hearth to protect the pad, even after casting. The lower part,
known as the salamander, is only tapped at the end of a campaign, to allow for
access to the pad for demolition and replacement.
10.3 Removal of liquids through the taphole

The regular removal of liquids from the hearth is done through the taphole, or
tapholes. The number of tapholes can range from one to five, depending on the
size and output of the furnace. The majority of modern high productivity blast
furnaces have been between two and four tapholes. In normal operation of a
furnace with two or more tapholes, the tapholes will be used alternately, with
one cast being on one taphole, and the next cast being on the other. This also
applies to furnace with up to five tapholes. The reason for the extra tapholes is
to ensure that there are always two tapholes in operation, even through times of
casthouse repair or emergency breakdown. This allows the production level to
be maintained since the two tapholes can drain the hearth.
The tapholes are openings in the blast furnace shell with special refractory
constructions built into the hearth sidewall. The tapholes are opened by either
drilling through the refractory or by placing a bar in the refractory that is later
removed. The holes are closed by forcing a plug of malleable refractory clay into
the hole, which quickly hardens to securely seal the hole. In normal operation,
this taphole clay will extend into the hearth, forming a taphole mushroom that
will protect the original refractory construction (Figure 10.4).
Figure 10.4 Over the taphole campaign, the original lining will gradually be worn
away and replaced by taphole clay
148 Chapter X
The tapholes are perhaps the most vulnerable areas of the blast furnace due to
the constant wear and tear and reliance on consumable materials, equipment
and manual intervention. If any of these factors are performing less than
optimally, then deterioration in the taphole performance is the likely result.
The common taphole degradation causes are listed below;

– Improper (e.g. not central) drill positioning when opening the taphole.
– Manual oxygen lancing to open the taphole.
– Clay leakage out of the taphole on closing the hole.
– Water leakage from inside the furnace.
– Gas leakage through refractory surrounding the taphole itself.
– Slag and iron attack – both chemical and physical.
The liquid iron and slag flow from the taphole are determined partially by the
flow to the taphole on the inside of the hearth, but also by the characteristics of
the taphole itself, such as:
– The length of the taphole, which is affected by the plugging practice and the
clay quality.
– The diameter of the taphole, both the diameter of the drill with which it was
opened, but more the wear or erosion of the taphole over the time of the cast.
– The roughness of the surface of the taphole.
– The pressure inside the furnace, consisting of the furnace blast pressure and the
liquid hydrostatic pressure.
As the taphole will wear through the cast, especially when slag starts to flow, the
rates of iron and slag flow are not constant throughout the cast. Even with good
casting regimes there will be some variation in the hearth liquid level, with the
desired situation being as little variation as possible. The taphole clay quality
determines the resistance to slag attack, and therefore the choice of clay quality
is very important. This is often determined by availability of local supply, and so
is not discussed in detail here.
The length of the taphole is determined by the amount of clay injected, and
so more clay is always injected than is needed to just close the taphole. The
excess clay is pushed beyond the end of the taphole and forms a ‘mushroom’ at
the opening of the taphole into the hearth itself. This mushroom protects the
taphole block itself from wear. The larger the furnace, the bigger the mushroom
inside the hearth, so the longer the taphole. An 11 meter furnace can expect to
have a taphole length of 2.5 meters minimum, and at 14 meter hearth diameter
this increases to 3 meters.
10.4 Typical casting regimes
A blast furnace will be cast between 8 and 14 times per day. These casts may last
between 90 and 180 minutes, with the end of the cast indicated by a spraying of
the liquids caused by gas from the raceway escaping out of the taphole. In this
time, the furnace processes a considerable part of its working volume. As shown
in Chapter II, the residence time of the burden is approximately six hours.
Therefore a two hour cast represents a third of the content of the blast furnace
being transformed from burden material to molten iron and slag.
Figure 10.5 shows an example of regular tapping sequence using two tapholes.
Most two, three and four taphole furnaces will operate in this way, with the
extra tapholes being either a spare or out for maintenance.
slag
Taphole 1 iron
Taphole 2
Taphole 3
Taphole 4
8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 0 2
Time of day (hrs)
Figure 10.5 Typical casting regimes with a two taphole furnace, showing iron run
times with slag above them
When the tapholes are closed, or one is open but the stream of liquid exiting has
a low flow rate, then the liquid level in the hearth will increase. That is to say,
the production rate is higher than the tapping rate. If this continues for long
enough, then the increased liquid level in the hearth can affect the blast furnace
process in the following ways:
1. The upward force on the submerged coke deadman is increased by the increased
liquid level. This increase in the upward force will slow down the burden
descent and increase the blast pressure.
2. If the slag level is so high that it reaches the tuyeres, then the gas flow will be
severely affected, with increased gas flow up the wall. This can result in poor
reduction of the burden and therefore a chilling furnace.
3. The slag can be blown high up in the active coke zone, impeding normal gas
distribution.
4. If the hot metal level is so high that it reached the tuyeres, then it is possible a
cut tuyere will be the result, causing water leakage into the furnace. In the worst
case scenario, the tuyere will burn severely or a blow–pipe will fail. This will
then lead to a blow–out of coke and a very critical emergency stop.
In order to avoid any of these effects, the hearth liquid level should be kept
under control and preferably at a low level, as per the example given in
Figure 10.6 on the next page. In a modern, high productivity blast furnace,
measurement of hot metal and slag quantities should be registered real time, so
that the casthouse crew can take timely actions.
150 Chapter X
slag
iron
(m above taphole) 3
hearth liquid level
0
0 60 120 180 240 300 360
minutes
Figure 10.6 Casting and hearth liquid level
10.5 Taphole drill and clay gun
These two pieces of equipment are two of the most critical items on the blast
furnace. The maintenance of these items must be of a very high standard as
the availability of them on an active taphole can not be any less than 100%.
Cleaning of the gun nozzle after every plug is essential for ensuring that the clay
can be pushed at the next cast, which in turn will prevent the gun nozzle being
burned.
It is important to keep the taphole face clean and to clean down the sides of the
trough regularly so that the mud gun can swing into place without obstruction
and the nozzle gets a good seal on the taphole face.
The clay quality and method of plugging the taphole with the clay are very
important for both the length of the taphole and the flow rates of iron and slag.
Plugging has to be done at the same position as the drill has opened the hole to
avoid clay leakage.
The speed of the clay gun piston and the pressure used to force the clay into
the taphole has a strong influence on the ability of the clay to plug the taphole
effectively. If the clay can only partially fill the taphole, then the next time the
cast is opened, the drill will have more difficulty in opening the taphole as it
is also trying to cut through iron particles. This is one of the reasons why the
production rate of the furnace can be limited by the taphole equipment, and
so serious consideration should always be given to upgrading the clay gun and
taphole drill whenever significantly higher production rates are targeted.
To preserve gas tightness of the taphole, the post–pressing technique can be

applied. This technique involves pressurizing the clay with the clay gun after it
has filled the hole, to try and close any small cracks or fissures in the taphole.
Ensuring that the taphole drill is in the center of the taphole each and every
time is also very important as otherwise the gun will not be able to plug the
taphole as well as it should, leading to less clay going in the hole and so a
shortening of the taphole and potentially burning the gun. A selection of drill
bit diameters can be used, although the aim diameter should be kept relatively
constant when aiming for consistent tapping practices. The range of drill
diameters is then useful for special situations, when the tapping is irregular, or
changes to the production rate requires changes to casthouse practice.
As an alternative to the drill, a soaking bar may be used. This is a bar of solid
steel that is hammered through the clay immediately after it has been pushed
into the taphole, while it is still soft. The clay is then allowed to harden and
the bar is pulled out. This results in a very smooth taphole of equal diameter
throughout, although the hammering of the bar in and out of the taphole can
increase the stresses on the taphole refractory block construction itself and
introduce gas leakages.
10.6 Hearth liquid level
The level of liquids in the hearth should always be kept as low as possible. This
means that the hearth should never be used as a “buffer” for the containment
of produced liquids. The reason for this is that the liquid level, above a certain
level, has a direct impact on the process. As shown earlier in section 7.2, the
liquids in the hearth act as an upward force in the blast furnace, along with
the blast pressure. Should this force be allowed to increase, it will impact on
both the blast pressure and the descending burden. It is shown schematically in
Figure 10.7 what happens in the furnace when the liquid level increases too far.
Figure 10.7 Increased liquid level (arrows indicate burden descent rate)
152 Chapter X
As shown, the high liquid level causes the blast to be deflected more towards
the wall, rather than through the center of the furnace. This is because the coke
in front of the tuyeres has been infiltrated with slag, and so is much less able to
accept the flow of the gases produced at the raceway.
In this instance, the bosh is subject to much higher heat loads than normal, and
the root of the cohesive zone will ascend. However, at the same time the center
of the furnace the cohesive zone will drop due to the reduction in gas passing
through the centre. The increase of gas flow on the walls could also result in the
removal of skulls that have formed on the bosh walls and result in cold, solid
material falling in front of the raceways interfering with injectants and cold
material falling into the hearth, which could cause a hearth chill.
The blast pressure will also be higher as the resistance in front of the tuyeres is
higher, and the burden descent will slow considerably. The furnace may even
begin to hang, with the danger of slag filling the tuyeres should the furnace
then slip, where material will quickly drop into the full bath of liquids.
The wall temperatures all the way up the stack will also increase, as the gas
continues to preferentially travel against the furnace wall. This then subjects
the cooling elements to a higher heat load than they will usually encounter.
This increase in heat losses, coupled with the loss in furnace efficiency can lead
to cooling of the furnace. In this scenario, the furnace should be cast without
delay, and actions taken to restore the process stability.
Figure 10.8 shows the effect on stockline level in the case where high residual
liquid level is affecting the burden descent. The burden descent slows when the
taphole is closed, and then speeds up significantly towards the end of cast, to
the extent that the charging system is unable to keep up and a lowered stockline
is the result.
Descending so fast that
the charging system can’t
keep up—stockline lost
Charging speed slows as Increased speed of burden

furnace hearth fills descent as liquids are tapped
Figure 10.8 High residual liquid levels and burden descent

10.7 Delayed casting

In most plants, the casting regime will have been calculated and observed to
arrive at an optimum length of time in between casts. This is referred to as
the gap time or intercast time, defined by the time between stopping liquid
flow by closing one taphole and starting liquid flow by opening another, or in
the case of single taphole furnaces, reopening the same taphole. This will be
determined by the production rate, number of tapholes, and casting rate. In the
majority of cases, this casting regime will be adhered to, that is to say, the gap
time will be met. However, where there are problems in meeting this schedule,
remedial actions may be required.
When casting the furnace, it is required to have a good, controlled liquid flow
rate from the furnace. Where a taphole is open but is not casting well, the flow
should be improved by, for example, re–drilling the hole or re–drilling with a
larger drill bit. If the slow flow is allowed to continue, then it is quite possible
that the furnace will be producing liquids at a higher rate than they are being
cast, which will lead to problems inside the furnace.
Whether the casting is delayed, or indeed the casting speed is slower than the
production speed, one of the factors that affects the filling rate of the hearth
in terms of height, is that of the coke bed voidage. The coke bed voidage is an
unknown value. Studies have shown that it can vary between 20 and 30 %,
but as yet there is no direct method of measuring it. It is also quite likely that
the voidage of the coke bed will vary between the center and the periphery,
and from the bottom to the top, so the assumed overall voidage is not directly
applicable to every area in the coke bed. The coke quality will have a strong
impact on the voidage, as the breakdown of the coke higher up in the furnace
will generate fines, and a wider size distribution of particles will create a more
densely packed coke bed.
By way of an illustration of filling speed, take for example an 14 meter hearth

diameter blast furnace, with a taphole to tuyere distance of 4 meters producing
10.000 tonnes per day with a slag rate of 220 kg/tHM. By calculating the
volume of space between the taphole and tuyeres, assuming a coke bed
voidage of 20 %, the length of time until the liquid level is at the tuyere can be
calculated. In this case it is 76 minutes. If the coke bed voidage is 25 %, then
this increases to 95 minutes. We therefore have the situation whereby in one
instance the furnace has 90 minutes of full production before the hearth liquids
are at tuyere level, and another instance when it has only 76 minutes.
Once the liquid level is at the tuyeres, it is already expected that problems with
blast pressure will have been experienced, so actions may already have been
taken to reduce the blast volume. However, if the problems that caused the
delayed casting are not resolved when the furnace has already reached this stage,
then it will become impossible to take the furnace off blast without slag, and
even iron flowing into the blowpipes.
154 Chapter X
For these reasons, it is considered to be good practice to take remedial actions

immediately when it is known that the casting will be delayed, regardless of the
reason. Estimates may be given for the completion of work, or the restoration of
services, but as far as the blast furnace is considered it will continue to produce
iron regardless, and if the original estimates are found to be wrong, it will often
be too late to do anything but extreme reactions to try to protect the blast
furnace. If the iron, and more importantly the slag, is not removed from the
furnace in a timely manner, then the process will suffer very quickly, with the
extreme case being a frozen hearth.
In the case where the operator is faced with a casting delay, different actions
may be taken depending on the current condition of the blast furnace. If it is
still casting the previous cast, and it is safe to continue to do so, then the oxygen
and then wind rate may be reduced prior to closing the hole, reducing the
production rate and so giving a much longer safe gap time.
In this situation, the action to reduce production rate should be aimed at

safe operation continuing. For example, wind rate should be reduced to the
minimum at which injection remains on the furnace. Oxygen should be
decreased to the minimum, determined by a simple formula, such as for every
30 kg/tHM injection over a limit of 70 kg/tHM, the oxygen enrichment should
be increased by 1 %.
Due to the uncertainty in the available voidage for hot metal and slag, it is
prudent to make conservative estimates when determining the control actions
to be taken.
10.8 No slag casting
As the iron is below the liquid slag, and the taphole elevation will always be at
the depth of the iron pool at the start of cast, then iron will be cast before the
slag. As the liquid level drops, then a mixture of slag and iron will begin to flow.
At the end of the cast, the majority of liquid is slag, with iron flowing at the
production rate. Sometimes, however, the furnace will cast iron without casting
slag, or at least not as much as should be cast.
Although the iron is the focus of the blast furnace, the iron cannot be made
without the slag, and due to the nature of it, the slag proves to be the more
difficult liquid to cast. Basic slags have a higher melting temperature than acid
slags, but the basic slags are more desirable for the desulfurization properties,
so for hot metal quality it is required to use a more basic slag. In time of
difficulties, however, one of the first actions to ensure that the furnace will be
able to cast well is to reduce the slag basicity, which typically lowers the slag
liquidus temperature and viscosity. This will give the operator the best chance of
being able to get the slag out of the taphole.
If events in the furnace cause a change to either the temperature or the

composition of the slag, then it can become much more viscous than the iron,
and drainage through the coke bed becomes increasingly difficult. The iron will
flow much more easily, and so it can occur that casting will continue with little
or no slag being cast. The slag is still being produced, however, and so it is very
important to make sure it comes out of the furnace before it interferes with the
process.
The problem may be seen to be developing at an earlier stage by monitoring the

following parameters:
– Amount of slag cast, measured by the number of slag pots filled or by indirect
methods such as the speed at which the slag granulator drum rotates, or
temperature pick–up in the granulator outlet water.
– Percent slag time – this is the number of minutes that slag has been cast divided
by the number of minutes in the cast, expressed as a percentage. Ideally this
number should be fairly constant and representative of the slag volume that
the furnace is producing, however it is only accurate when the flow of slag is
constant between casts.
– Slag over time – this is the point in time when the slag first flows over the slag
dam. Slag will have started exiting the taphole before this point, but not in large
enough quantity to give a good indication.
– Slag gap – this is the number of minutes from when the liquids stopped being
cast at the end of the previous cast to the slag over time of the current cast.
When it is clear that the slag is not draining from the furnace as well as it
should be, efforts should be made to improve the slag drainage. This may be
done by a variety of methods, and it is likely that procedures already exist for it.
Using a larger diameter drill bit on the next cast will increase the flow, and may
improve the situation. If the taphole is already short, however, and a short cast
caused the lack of slag, it may be better to increase the length of the hole so that
a longer cast is the result. The problem may only be at one taphole, so changing
to the other taphole will already improve the situation inside the furnace.
Opening the second taphole, so two tapholes are open at the same time (overlap
casting), should be done after a defined period of no slag casting, as specified in
the standard operating procedures for the plant.
If the furnace is on a cooling trend, combined with difficulties tapping slag,

increasing the fuel injectant to warm up the fresh iron and slag may temporarily
improve the situation, but a coke rate increase will also be required.
Shortening the gap time may also be advisable, especially when it is suspected
that liquids remain in the furnace.
156 Chapter X
10.9 One–side casting

Furnaces with only one taphole are of course optimized for tapping single
sided, as are some blast furnaces that follow a routine of having one taphole in
operation and one as standby. The majority of two and more taphole furnaces
operate on an alternating taphole basis using two tapholes. This will mean
tapping through one taphole, closing it, and then either opening the second
taphole immediately or waiting the designated gap time.
The single most important effect of single taphole casting compared to

alternate casting is that of the gap time. During the gap time, the furnace is
still producing liquids but not casting them. Ideally, the gap time is calculated
as the optimum to allow enough liquid accumulation in the hearth to allow a
smooth cast for the desired period of time, with good iron and slag removal, but
without increasing the hearth liquid level enough to affect the blast pressure.
However, the gap time can also be affected by external factors such as how long
it takes to change torpedo ladles, clay cure time, maintaining and cleaning the
runner system, etc. Where this is the case, it is very important to remember that
the furnace is still producing liquids at the same rate, unless a change is made to
slow down the production, see Figure 10.9.
slag
iron
3
(m above taphole)
hearth liquid level
0 60 120 180 240 300 360

minutes
Figure 10.9 Effect of single taphole casting on hearth liquid levels
In single taphole furnaces, the minimum gap time is often dictated by the
curing time for the clay. If the taphole is opened before the clay has hardened,
much of it will easily wash away, which will quickly erode the taphole
mushroom and expose the taphole refractory block itself. With alternating
casting this is not a problem as the clay has the time that the other taphole is in
use to harden. Therefore, many single taphole furnace use resin–bonded type
clay that harden quickly.
The gap time has major impact on hearth liquid level and thus on the process
results. In Figure 10.10, the effect of the gap time on hearth liquid level is
simulated: it is clear from the figure, that in this calculation the highest hearth
liquid level rises from 2.5 meters above taphole to 3.8 meters above taphole
when gap time is increased from 30 to 60 minutes.
m above taphole
3
1
30 min gap time
0
m above taphole
3
1
45 min gap time
0
4
m above taphole
1
60 min gap time
0
0 60 120 180 240 300 360
minutes
Figure 10.10 Effect of gap time on hearth liquid level, single taphole operation.
If a furnace must switch from alternate to single sided casting, the area to look
at firstly is the difference in gap time between the two practices. If alternate
casting requires a gap time shorter than the time it takes for the clay to harden,
then single sided casting will require a change in practice. If different clay is
available, then this may be applied, but caution should be used during the
transition as the clay already in the hole may not combine well with the new
clay.
If there is a significant difference in the gap time, then it may be advisable to

reduce the production rate to minimize the fluctuation in hearth liquid levels.
Experience has shown that an 11 meter hearth diameter blast furnace can
produce 5500 to 6000 tHM/d with one taphole, and a 14 meter heath diameter
furnace can produce around 8000 tHM/d. This is often a significant reduction
compared with what the furnace is usually producing.
10.10 Not dry casts
A cast that has ended before all the liquids have been drained from the hearth
is described as a not dry cast. This is reported whenever the taphole has to be
stopped during a cast, such as when the torpedos are full, or there has been
a problem in the casthouse that required the flow of liquids to be stopped.
Other causes can be a very short taphole or a crack in the taphole mushroom.
It is good practice to record the suspected reason for a not–dry cast so that
improvement plans for the worst offenders can be made.
A not dry cast may also be reported when the taphole is showing signs of end
of cast, when it can be reasonably suspected that the furnace is not empty. This
could be when the slag is not yet over the dam, or it has only been casting for a
158 Chapter X
very short time, or not enough liquid volume has come out of the furnace.
A third example of a not dry cast is more difficult to determine, and can easily
be missed as the signs are less obvious and may only be picked up in the control
room, rather than on the casthouse floor. In the case of a series of casts where
the casting has appeared to be normal, it is still possible that some slag has been
retained in the furnace after each cast. This will not be noticed after one or two,
or depending on the amount, perhaps even more casts, but after successive casts
where a small amount of slag has been retained in the furnace, it will build up
to a large amount. At that point, the blast pressure can begin to be affected.
Many casthouse now are equipped with a large digital display so the casthouse
operators can see the blast pressure and the gap time, so they see the impact of a
casting delay or slow running taphole.
This will be more noticeable when the furnace is closed as the blast pressure
may increase, and continue to increase until the taphole is opened again. It
may not decrease again until the slag begins to tap at a reasonable rate, and so
lowering the level in the furnace. As the signs with blast pressure are not always
a precise match with the casting times it can sometimes be dismissed as the
cause. On these occasions, it is useful to look to the slag time percentage, as well
as the slag run durations themselves.
Depending on the cause of the not dry cast, slightly different reactions may
be appropriate. Where the not dry cast is known and the taphole is closed for
operational reasons, the second taphole should be opened immediately. Where
this is not possible, the oxygen and then wind rate should be reduced and the
original taphole is re–opened as soon as possible. Where this is not possible,
the decision to close the taphole should be delayed as much as possible, with
wind rate being reduced as far as liquid levels as seen at the tuyeres will allow.
At this point it is a balance between how much damage is being caused outside
the furnace due to, for example, molten metal spill, compared to the danger of
flooding tuyeres with slag and iron.
In the case where the taphole has shown signs of the hearth being empty, but
it is thought that it is not from the casting times and amount of slag cast, then
there are a few different actions that may be considered. If there is a second
taphole available, then it may be opened prior to the first taphole being closed.
Once this is safely open, the first one may then be closed, known as overlap
casting. Alternatively, the normal gap time between casts may be reduced to
zero, so the second taphole is opened immediately after the first is closed. It is
important to ensure that both tapholes do not finish casting at the same time
as that will introduce a gap time when there are two clayguns in the taphole
waiting for the clay to harden. So once slag appears, one taphole should be
closed to allow the other to cast normally. This technique of when to open and
when to close a second taphole should be included in the standard operating
procedure for casting to ensure that the best sequence, proven in practice, is
followed by all operators.
In either case, a larger drill bit may be used to open the original taphole again,
when it is due to cast. This may help in removing the liquids from this side,
assuming that a short taphole length is not the cause of the problem.
Where only one taphole is available, the taphole may be closed for either a
much reduced gap time, for example 10 minutes rather than 30 minutes, with a
shorter clay stop. It is also possible to stop the taphole without clay for a minute
or so, but it should first be checked whether the clay gun is sufficiently protected
to do this. This practice should not be repeated on the same taphole as it will
allow the taphole mushroom to erode too quickly, causing further problems.
These same actions may also be taken if the blast pressure is being affected by
a possible build–up of slag in the furnace. At the same time, however, other
causes of increasing blast pressure should also be investigated.
10.11 Defining a dry hearth
Witnessing a blow at the taphole is often considered to be the definitive criteria

for whether the furnace is dry or not dry. Although a good indicator, and
should never be taken for granted, a blow at the taphole only indicates that the
liquids in the vicinity of the taphole are drained, and does not say anything
about liquids in other areas of the hearth. When the drainage to the taphole
is poor from areas far from the taphole, then it is possible for liquid levels in
the area of the taphole to drop sufficiently low for a blow at the taphole to
appear while there are still a lot of liquids left in the furnace. In this scenario,
the taphole should still be plugged, but the cast is to be considered to be a not
dry cast. Unfortunately, these are not always possible to determine from the
casthouse.
The indicators of a dry hearth can be summarized as the following;

1. Casting until a blow at the taphole is witnessed.
2. Enough slag and iron has been removed from the furnace to correspond with
the known production rate.
3. The process parameters show no sign of the hearth holding liquids – blast
pressure normal, charging rate normal.
4. The furnace can be shut down at any time, without concern that slag or iron
will flow into the tuyeres.
It is the last of these criteria that is often the defining one, where the decision
to take the furnace off for a short stop is delayed until after the next cast. This
in itself indicates that the operator is not confident that the hearth has been
drained sufficiently to avoid any residual liquid threatening to enter the tuyeres
when the blast pressure is reduced. An operator who can confidently take the
furnace off blast at the end of the current cast is one who has confidence that
the furnace is draining well during the cast.
160 Chapter X
10.12 Oxygen lancing

On occasion it is unavoidable to open the taphole using oxygen lancing. This
practice should be considered a last resort as it is extremely damaging to the
taphole refractory. Where the frequency of oxygen lancing is increasing, the
situation should be investigated very closely to identify the root cause.
Where the use of oxygen lances is unavoidable, they should only ever be used
by experienced casthouse workers, following the pre–drilled hole to ensure that
the lance is burning in a straight line down the center of the taphole. If more
than one lance is required, the interval between the two should be as short as
possible, with the practice continuing until the taphole is opened. Where this is
causing a long delay to the cast, alternative or additional actions such as opening
a second taphole or reducing wind rate should be considered at an early stage.
Repeated use of oxygen lances to open the taphole is likely to cause irreparable
damage to the taphole area, and may even pre–empt a taphole break–out or
necessitate an extensive taphole repair to avoid such a break–out. There is a very
large risk associated with using oxygen lances as it is very difficult to ensure
that the lance is burning in a straight line. Damage to the taphole block or to
taphole staves are the biggest concern.
10.13 Cast data recording
For good analysis of taphole condition and casting performance, it is important

to keep very good cast records. Some of the data that should be recorded on a
cast basis is as follows:
– Cast number.
– Time start drilling.
– Number of drills or oxygen lances used to open hole.
– Time liquid start flowing.
– Drill diameter used to open hole.
– Taphole length.
– Time slag over.
– Time end cast.
– Amount of clay used to close taphole.
– Clay type used.
– Blow at the taphole.
– Tap–to–tap time.
The cast end times, drill start times, iron run and slag over times can be plotted
very easily to allow quick and easy interpretation of the casting. This method
is often much more illustrative and quicker to interpret than the lists of times
that are often meticulously recorded. Having the times plotted on a block chart
that is updated constantly allows problems to be identified very quickly and so
solutions applied at an earlier stage than may otherwise have been the case.
XI Operational Practices
and Challenges
11.1 The burden
11.1.1 Fines in the ore burden

For the blast furnace operator, one of the main concerns about the raw materials
is that of the fines loading. This is the proportion of undersize material in
the furnace. The direct effect of a high fines loading is that it will affect the
permeability of the furnace. The permeability of the ore layer is determined
by the amount of fines (below 5 mm) in that layer. Unfortunately, when bulk
material is handled, fines are generated. Therefore, coke and ore burden are
normally screened before being charged into the furnace. But, for example,
when emptying a pellet stockpile or using sinter from the stockyard, high fine
loadings cannot be avoided. Especially if the material is wet, proper screening is
difficult or even impossible.
Fines tend to segregate. When material is put into the stockpile, the fine
material remains on the point of impact and the coarser material rolls outwards,
known as size segregation. This effect is known wherever granular material is
handled. So, when reclaiming material from stock, it is important to avoid high
amounts of fines being reclaimed and sent to the furnace without screening.
Similar segregation can take place while charging the furnace, and can impact
the furnace process. Fines in general are undesirable due to the blocking of
the spaces between the larger particles, but due to the flow characteristics of
fines, they can also deposit preferentially in certain areas. The impact of this
is particularly noticeable with bell–charged furnaces, where the fine particles
will drop directly down onto the stockline, and the large particles will flow a
little more outward and deposit closer to the wall (see Figure 11.1 on the next
page). If material hits the wall before it reaches the burden level, the fines will
accumulate close to the wall and the coarser material will flow more inwards.
This segregation effect also takes place when filling a bunker. Be it in the
stockhouse or on the bell–less top, segregation will always take place. When
material is required from a bunker, it starts to deliver the material that has been
charged in the center: those being the fine materials, while later the coarser
materials from the sides of the hopper begin to flow.
162 Chapter XI
Figure 11.1 Segregation of fines during charging with bell–less and bell–based tops
A concentration of fines close to the wall can have a negative effect on the
reduction and melting of the ore as it forms a blockage for the passage of hot
reducing gasses. When the fines reach the cohesive zone and are melting, the
remaining oxygen is removed by direct reduction. This results in a higher fuel
rate or cooling of the furnace. If the material does not melt in due time before
the tuyere zone is reached, the “non–molten” material is observable as scabs
through the peepsights.
Figure 11.2 Fines charged at wall migrating through the furnace and appearing as
“scabs” in front of tuyeres
Note that there is a difference between the paths travelled by the coarse
materials and the fines. When the burden descends through the furnace, the
fines fill the holes as soon as they are formed, while coarse materials follow
Operational Practices and Challenges 163
the wall. Fines travel more vertically and faster towards the cohesive zone (see
Figure 11.2). With a bell–based top arrangement, it is possible to deflect the
fines by using the furnace movable armor as a deflector, and with a bell–less top
by charging from the outer position to the inner position.
An additional source of fines that can be avoided through slight modification

in stockhouse practices is that of bin management. The bin fill levels may drop
if there has been an interruption in the supply of materials. The bin level may
have dropped so low as to require a stop of the blast furnace, or supply may
have resumed in time for the blast furnace to remain in operation. In either
case, the refilling of the bins should be managed to avoid excessive breakdown
of the material as it falls a longer distance. It may be tempting to try to increase
the bin levels at all of the bins by filling them all up gradually. However, this
method will result in more material falling from a greater height as the bins will
continue to be emptied as they are being refilled.
It is preferable to work with fewer bins, so that the levels can be increased more
quickly, even though they are being emptied at the same time. Once the bin
levels are up at 80 to 90 %, the excess feed material can be diverted to a low
level bin, which remains out of service. The fuller bins are then topped off when
they drop to their usual aim level of 65 to 70 %, giving some headroom for the
supply to be diverted to the less full bins (Figure 11.3).
Figure 11.3 Effect of staggering restart on stockhouse bins. Red layers indicate raw
materials containing more fines generated by impact.
164 Chapter XI
Refilling the bins by this method will reduce the amount of material that
has to drop from a greater height, as there will be less transfer time and more
filling time, and the bins that are not being used while they are being filled will
fill more quickly. Once all bins are back to normal fill levels, they should be
brought into operation. This will result in each bin coming back into operation
one at a time. This staggering of the restart of the bins will avoid the material
that has been dropped the furthest distance in all bins being charged to the
blast furnace at the same time.
11.1.2 Moisture in coke and burden
11.1.2.1 Moisture input

The moisture charged into the furnace with the coke and ore burden must be
removed before the process can start. This takes place in the upper part of the
furnace. The amount of water with the charge at 1 % burden moisture and 5 %
coke moisture is about 33 kg of water. The center dries very quickly, but in the
wall area it can take much longer, about 40 minutes (Figure 11.4).
1500
Temperature
Centre
1000
Wall
500
0
0 100 200 300
Time
Figure 11.4 Temperature in furnace
If the moisture input increases, then it will take longer for the material to dry
and the isotherm where the reduction process will start will descend. If the
chemical reserve zone is shortened too much, the reduction process will become
less efficient as a consequence. More oxygen will remain bound to iron and this
oxygen has to be removed by direct reduction in the lower part of the furnace.
This consumes energy and cools the furnace.
Most companies have moisture gauges for coke bins, so that variation of the
moisture input in coke is compensated for with an additional weight of coke.
Note that this is only a minimum correction to maintain the current thermal
state. If the furnace is already operating with a low top temperature (below
100 °C), the compensation with coke moisture gauges will not be sufficient to
compensate for the decreased efficiency of the reduction process.
Where moisture is added in place of coke, the furnace cools and the normal
thermal control procedures will be activated, usually calling for additional fuel.
If the moisture level then reduces again, the furnace will warm up, triggering
another set of actions. If this is allowed to continue, the furnace will enter a
thermal cycle that will in turn consume more fuel than required. Extreme
coke moisture variation typically occurs when the coke supply is switched from
wharf coke to stockpiled coke that has absorbed more moisture due to rain or
the storage field that is not well–drained. If coke moisture readings are not
correct, it can cause large swings in the thermal state of the furnace.
This effect is just as important with pellet moisture, especially where pellets
have been shipped or stored under damp conditions. They can contain up to
6 % water. When a batch of these pellets is charged to the furnace, the top
temperature will decrease with the additional moisture, but the furnace will
start to warm up since a lower amount of iron is being charged with the higher
moisture pellets. Coke rate changes will normally be made to correct for this
warm up. However, once this batch of wet pellets has been consumed, it is very
important to realize that the furnace will then cool down due to the additional
iron that is being charged with low moisture pellets. This can cool down the
furnace very quickly, so it is better to anticipate this change by increasing coke
rate when it is known that the wet pellets have been consumed and dry pellets
are soon to arrive. Some of the larger blast furnaces also have pellet moisture
measurement instruments installed on the stockhouse bins.
Ideally, coke and pellet moisture gauges can be installed to monitor and correct
for any changes on–line. These moisture gauges take regular readings of the as–
charged moisture levels for coke and pellets and will make corrections for the
weight, so that the required quantity of the material is charged.
The recommended approach is that the top temperature is not allowed to

fall below dew point temperature for a prolonged period (8–16 hours). Some
companies are able to run the top gas temperature at low average levels,
well below 100 °C. In these situations, it is recommended to monitor the
temperatures in the wall area (3–5 m below the burden level) to determine
whether or not the burden is dry ‘on time’.
11.1.2.2 Moisture condensation and recirculation

Since burden materials are charged well below the dew point of the moisture in
the furnace gas, the moisture in the gas will condense on the colder particles.
This does not only apply to the moisture which is charged (30–40 kg/tHM
typically), but also to the moisture which is generated in the process. There
is more water generated when there is more hydrogen produced from the
injectants at the tuyeres. At a coal injection level of 200 kg/tHM and 5 %
hydrogen in the coal, about 36 kg of water per tonne hot metal comes from the
coal and has to be eliminated with the top gas. The amount of water generated
from natural gas is even higher: at an injection level of 80 kg/tHM, about 65 kg
of water comes from the natural gas. All the water has to be eliminated with the
top gas.
166 Chapter XI
If not all the water is eliminated, a condensation–evaporation cycle will start.

Evaporation will take place more towards the center and more down in the
furnace, while condensation takes place closer to the wall, as shown in Figure
11.5. In the process of this cycle, the isotherms where the reduction process
starts will go lower and lower in the wall area of the furnace, making the
efficiency of the process poor and creating a risk of tuyere failure and upsets.
Figure 11.5 Effect of evaporation–condensation cycle of moisture, coming from

charged materials and generated in the process. The gas flows from inside
out reaching lower temperatures and water will condense. The 100 °C
isotherm is indicated in white. The mechanism proceeds as follows:
Phase 1 – Normal operation
Phase 2 – When the water input is high, vapor condenses where the gas
temperature is below 80 °C; this ccurs in the wall area, especially on the
freshly charged raw materials. The 100 °C isotherm is driven downwards.
Phase 3 – As the evaporation–condensation cycle continues, the 100 °C
isotherm is driven further and further downwards. The metallurgically
active area near the furnace wall becomes smaller and smaller, impeding
gas reduction in the periphery. Direct reduction levels increase, the
furnace becomes inefficient with low ETACO.
11.2 Burden descent
11.2.1 Variability of charging and production rate

Most operators observe the charging rate in a furnace as defined by the amount
of charges put in the furnace per hour. If the charging rate increases, while
tuyere conditions are unaltered, the furnace will fall short of heat. Simply put,
with the same amount of heat and gas produced at the tuyeres, more hot metal
is made, so the furnace will chill. The reasons for this happening can be various.
– fuel shortage as a consequence of increase of direct reduction.
– too low coke input, for instance by incorrect compensation.
– too much input of ferrous material (e.g. when changing from “wet” pellets to
dry pellets).
– changed process conditions.
Here we refer to increased direct reduction. In some situations, the gas

reduction of the burden does not progress sufficiently. This can have a number
of causes.
– too much water input, lowering the isotherms within the furnace and
shortening the process height of the furnace, especially at the wall.
– large amount of fines charged into the furnace resulting in poorer pre–reduction
and increased direct reduction.
– irregular burden descent, causing mixed layers.
– high liquid residual level affecting the normal gas flow through the burden.
– charging delays causing the newly charged material to see shorter process height
and altering burden distribution.
The resultant material with insufficient pre–reduction will in any case continue
to descend to the high temperature region above the tuyeres. When this
material starts melting, all oxygen will participate in direct reduction. This
consumes coke and since coke consumption drives the production rate, the
production rate will increase further. This is a self–propagating effect, and will
chill the furnace within hours.
Experienced operators equipped with the right tools can observe the increased
direct reduction long before the casthouse gives warning of low hot metal
temperature. The method to correct the incident is by slowing down the
production rate, with extra fuel injection and/or a lower blast volume, and by
maximizing heat input into the furnace (maximum hot blast temperature and
no blast moisture).
An example of the use of direct reduction as an early warning signal for a

cooling trend in the furnace is shown in Figure 6.1. The earliest signal of a
cooling trend comes from the increase of direct reduction followed some time
later by an increase in charging rate. The hot metal silicon reacts a few hours
later, because the colder material has to percolate through the hearth.
11.2.2 Hanging and slipping

The burden descent sometimes becomes erratic (see Figure 7.3). What happens
in the furnace if it hangs and slips? The mechanism of hanging and slipping is
illustrated in Figures 11.6 through 11.8 on the following pages.
First, the furnace may hang when near the cohesive zone, bridges of melting ore
burden are formed. “Bridge formation” is the phenomenon where solid materials
can be piled upon each other and will not collapse into a hole, see Figure 11.6
for a bridge formed from marbles.
168 Chapter XI
Figure 11.6 Bridge formation illustrated by a theoretical experiment with marbles
Second, while the furnace hangs, the process continues: coke is consumed and
ore burden melts. Therefore, voidage arises in the active coke zone, which is
below the cohesive zone.
Figure 11.7 Creation of voidage below bridges and consequential collapse
Third, when this voidage becomes too big, it collapses: the furnace burden
slips (Figure 11.7). The layer structure is completely disrupted and the gas flow
through these layers is impeded. This in turn leads to areas in the furnace where
ore burden is insufficiently reduced and remains in a cohesive state for too long.
These areas will form the bridges for a next hanging incident. The problem can
only be solved by re–establishing the layer structure within the furnace, which
means that the complete content of the furnace has to be refreshed: the furnace
has to be operated on reduced blast volume for five to ten hours to prevent a
continuous cycle of hanging and slipping.
Figure 11.8 Disrupted layer structure and impeded gas flow
11.3 Recirculation of alkali and zinc

Potassium, sodium and zinc tend to re–circulate within the blast furnace.
They form gaseous compounds, which condense on colder parts of the burden.
These elements can have a negative impact on the refractory condition. Alkalis
will affect the coke reactivity (Chapter III) and in doing so will increase direct
reduction reactions.
In furnaces operated with a central gas flow, the top gas temperatures in the
center increase to such a level that part of the alkali and all the zinc leaves the
furnace as a vapor with the top gas. If top gas temperatures are low, the alkalis
and zinc may accumulate in the furnace. The zinc normally condenses on the
refractory.
Alkali build–up is manifest by observing the potassium content in the slag,

especially when the slag is acid and/or the furnace is cold. Alkali leaves the
furnace easier with a low basicity (B2 below 0.9) slag and at low hot metal
temperatures. One rule of thumb is that as long as the K₂O content in a lean or
cold cast is below 1 %, there is no significant accumulation. It is also observed
how fast the potassium in the slag returns to a normal level, when slag is lean,
such as when preparing for a stop.
11.3.1 Alkali in the blast furnace

Alkali, which are sodium and potassium, enter the blast furnace with the
ferrous burden and coke and coal. The alkali takes part in a cycle of reduction–
oxidation as well as vaporization–condensation. The alkali input in a blast
furnace is typically below 1,5–5 kg per tonne hot metal. In local situations,
where companies have access to local ores with relatively high alkali, the input
170 Chapter XI
can reach higher levels. In this situation, high productivity is normally no

longer possible, but the competitive edge is gained from the cost advantages of
the use of cheap, local ore. From measurements of chilled blast furnaces it has
been observed, that the amount of recirculation is about 3–10 times the input.
The alkalis in the blast furnace have various effects on operation. From a
chemical point of view, alkali acts as a catalyst for the solution loss reaction
(C + CO₂ Ⱥ 2 CO). It means that at high alkali input, the fuel rate is slightly
higher. This effect is generally rather small, reported values are 6–11 kg coke per
kg alkali in the burden. The additional fuel can be added by increased PCI and
leads to more top gas energy from the furnace.
A second effect is, that degradation of coke and ferrous materials is promoted,
which leads to a poorer permeability and can affect productivity at high
production rates.
Moreover, alkali can cause the formation of scaffolds in the furnace: solid
material adhered to the wall in the stack of the furnace. The effect of the
formation of scaffolds is that the burden descent deteriorates, in extreme cases
leading to hanging and slipping. Also in scabs, formed from cohesive material
in the bosh/belly area, high levels of alkali have been observed.
Finally, the refractory materials, especially carbon–based refractories, can

be attacked by alkali, affecting campaign length. Therefore, alkali control in
the furnace and prevention of scaffold formation require the attention of the
blast furnace operator. The blast furnaces operators should monitor alkali and
zinc loading and removal to have an idea of recirculation of these undesirable
elements inside the furnace or calculate removal percentages.
Sodium and potassium

The two types of alkali, sodium and potassium, behave differently. Sodium
is more easily removed from the furnace with slag as well as via the top gas.
Moreover, in most furnaces the potassium input is higher than the sodium
input. Therefore, for our purposes it is sufficient to observe the potassium
balance. Only in situations where the sodium input is higher than the
potassium input, both have to be observed. The alkali mainly leave the furnace
via the slag. Some of the alkali leaves the furnace via the top gas and top gas
dust.
The recirculation of alkali in the blast furnace is shown in Figure 11.9. Alkali
enters the furnace as silicates, are first dissolved in the primary “melt” formed
in the cohesive zone. This melt has a very high level of FeO. As soon as the
iron oxides have been reduced out of the primary slag, the final slag is being
formed. As indicated below, the alkali can be reduced to elemental sodium
and potassium, which do not dissolve in the hot metal nor in the slag. Sodium
and potassium are gaseous and ascend with the gas in the furnace. In the high
temperature area (around 1300 °C), cyanides are formed, which bind with the
alkali and ascend with the gas. As soon as the oxygen potential becomes higher,
the cyanides are no longer stable and disintegrate to alkali oxide and alkali
carbonate (around 1100 °C). The material is absorbed into the solid material
(coke and ore burden) and starts descending again with the melting ore burden
and carbonates will dissociate in CO₂ and alkali oxide again. The alkalis re–
circulate in the area from where the ore starts melting (around 1100 °C ) to
where the slag is free of FeO (around 1400–1450 °C).
Figure 11.9 Recirculation of potassium inside the furnace. A similar cycle applies to
sodium. Temperatures are author’s estimates.
The retention of alkali by slag is influenced by the slag basicity, slag composition
and the temperature of hot metal and slag. The lower the basicity, the more
easily the basic K₂O and Na₂O are removed. The lower the temperature, the
less the FeO is removed from the slag phase and the less alkali are reduced. In
operational practice, this has interesting consequences.
If a blast furnace is stopped, the slag basicity is normally decreased with

10 to 20 % in order to restart the furnace with a slag with lower liquidus
temperatures. After the restart of a furnace, the slag basicity is often low and
the temperature is low. So, through analyzing the K₂O in slag before and after a
stop, the operator can get an impression whether or not a high amount of alkalis
is circulating in the furnace. The slag composition, especially the MgO content
and MnO content, also affects alkali removal capacity.
172 Chapter XI
Some alkali is removed with top gas. The top gas temperature varies over the
diameter of the furnace throat. Furnaces operating with a central gas flow have
high temperatures in the centre (average over 600 °C). The alkali is removed
with the central gas flow. It has been generally accepted that operation at high
productivity and low coke rate (high PCI rate) requires a central gas flow. This
facilitates elimination of alkali.
11.3.2 Zinc
Zinc comes to the blast furnace via the sinter, mainly through recycling of blast
furnace top dust, blast furnace sludge and dust from the secondary dedusting.
Interestingly, a relatively large part of the final zinc input comes indirectly from
the type of scrap the steel plant is using. Especially, scrap from galvanized steel.
Zinc enters the furnace as an oxide, silicate or ferrite. It is reduced in the lower
part of the furnace to elemental zinc and since it has low melting (419 °C)
and boiling points (907 °C), it ascends through the furnace as a vapor and is
then reoxidized, condenses to burden and coke and participates in a similar
recirculation pattern as potassium. Zinc is eliminated from the furnace with the
dust from the top gas, especially from the gas at the furnace centre. Then zinc
adheres to the surface of particles. As a consequence, the finer the particles, the
higher the zinc percentage. Therefore, zinc can be recaptured by segregating
the fine fractions in the wet sludge. The fines can be upgraded to higher zinc
concentrations in a specialized blast furnace.
Zinc–oxide can condense on the furnace walls and on/in the coke lumps. Zinc
can form scaffolds in the furnace, thus leading to deteriorating operational
results. Occasionally, the scaffolds are melting when a tuyere is changed and
liquid metal (zinc) drops from above. When zinc is deposited in the pores of the
ferrous materials, it can impede the gas reduction, leading to higher reductant
rates. Zinc also deposits in carbon–based refractories, causing them to become
brittle and crack, which reduces lining life. Zinc control is mostly done by
controlling input levels. Typically 150–400 g/tHM is used, but higher values
for specialized operations are also known.
11.4 Circumferential symmetry
For high performance of the furnace, all tuyeres have to contribute equally to
the process. We can consider a tuyere as representing a section of the furnace
as shown in Fig 11.10. If one part of the furnace does not produce the same
amount as other parts, the total will suffer. Operators can observe asymmetry in
the process from various parameters. For instance from:
– the burden level – one stock rod at the top gives a different burden level from
another.
– differences in gas temperatures in the uptakes.
– asymmetry in the heat losses.
– differences in hot metal temperature between two tapholes.
11.4.1 Circumferential symmetry of injection

and wind distribution
If every tuyere in a blast furnace is considered as part of the blast furnace “pie”
and is responsible for the process to the stockline, it is self–evident that the
circumferential symmetry of the process has to be assured to reach a good, high
performance. This means: symmetric wind distribution and symmetric injection
of coal and gas. The various systems in use for PCI have different methods to
ensure a good distribution.
Normal Operation One Tuyere Off
PCI at all tuyeres PCI at one tuyere off

t Coke Rate 300 kg/t t Burns at tuyeres 3000 kg/hr
t PCI 200 (RR =0,85) 170 kg/t t All coke
t Total 470 kg/t
t Production 10 t/hr Production increase at this tuyere without
t Carbon balance: PCI of 3000/1300 = 230 %!
t Coke 3000 kg/hr
t Coal (in SRE) 1700 kg/hr
t Total 4700 kg/hr
t Iron carbonization –500 kg/hr
t To direct reduction –1200 kg/hr
t Burns at tuyeres 3000 kg/hr
t Of which Coal 1700 kg/hr
t and Coke 1300 kg/hr
Figure 11.10 Schematic presentation of the effect of no PCI on one tuyere.
However, the largest deviation from circumferential symmetry occurs when

no coal is injected in a particular tuyere. If no injection is applied, the
production rate at that particular tuyere increases substantially (Figure 11.10).
Consequently, the blast furnace operator has to take care that all tuyeres are
injecting coal. In particular, where two tuyeres next to each other are not
injecting coal, the equalizing effects between the tuyeres are challenged.
Especially if the furnace is operating at high PCI rates, the situation is rather
serious and short–term actions have to be taken to correct the situation.
The wind distribution is equally important. Operators tend to work with

smaller tuyeres above the tapholes, since a lower production rate above the
tapholes stabilizes the taphole mushroom and taphole length. When applying
smaller tuyeres, the injectants should be maintained on the tuyeres, otherwise
174 Chapter XI
the production increases, even with smaller tuyeres. When replacing a 145 mm
tuyere with a 125 mm tuyere, the wind volume decreases to 74 %. A similar way
of reasoning applies when a tuyere is partially blocked, by slag or ash deposits.
11.4.2 Circumferential symmetry and direct reduction.

A furnace can be divided into sectors in which every tuyere forms one sector. If
all sectors do not contribute equally to the process, asymmetry in the cohesive
zone will arise, as shown in Figure 11.12. Local heat shortages will drive the
melting zone downwards in certain sectors and upwards in other sectors. This
can result in an increase in direct reduction in some sectors. Increasing the
thermal level of the entire furnace, affecting its overall efficiency can only
compensate for the effect and not resolve it.
Figure 11.11 Asymmetric cohesive zone
Asymmetry in the process can arise from various sources:

– Asymmetry of the charging. With a bell–less top, this can be prevented by
alternating the coke and ore top bins and by changing the rotational direction
of the chute. With a double bell system, it is possible to alternate the last skip
in a dump. Note that the changes have to be made on a time scale smaller than
that of the blast furnace process i.e. more frequent than every six hours.
– Blast distribution. Blast distribution is effected by plugged tuyeres (above a
taphole or refractory hot spots) and slag deposits in the tuyere. Asymmetry is
also the result of too low blast speeds (below 100 m/s): tuyeres will not function
as blast distributors efficiently. This can be observed especially at the tuyeres
opposite the inlet between hot blast main and bustle main.
– Worn refractory or throat armor plates at the top of the furnace.

– Uneven coal injection. Especially tuyeres without PCI.
– Deviation of furnace center line from vertical line. This is especially a concern
in older furnaces.
Measures to correct for deviations of circumferential symmetry are available,

such as removing PCI injection from specific tuyeres. However, it is preferred to
eliminate the causes of the circumferential asymmetry instead of correcting for
it.
Asymmetry in the gas flow can be derived from the radial heat loss distribution.
In the figure below, the heat losses are measured in eight segments of the
furnace over four vertical sections. Extended asymmetry can be investigated
with the help of this type of data and graphs.
Figure 11.12 24 hours heat loss distribution (blue). Note a slight process asymmetry.
One day graph of eight sections, four levels.
With coal injection, it is very important that the tuyeres are clear and open,
allowing the coal plume to flow into the raceway to optimize combustion. If the
tuyere should become blocked, or a blockage in front of the tuyere appears, then
the coal must be removed immediately. If it is not, then the coal will be forced
backwards into the tuyere stock and can ignite further up in the connection
with the bustle pipe (see Figure 11.13 on the next page). This can cause serious
damage or even explosions. It happens especially within an hour after restart of
a furnace, since unmolten material blocks the tuyere gas flow. The phenomenon
has also been observed with natural gas injection. In many cases, this has been
a cause of a chilled hearth since the furnace is shut down in an unprepared state
for extended periods to replace tuyere stock or repair the bustle main.
176 Chapter XI
Figure 11.13 Coal backing up into the bustle pipe, caused by scab in front of tuyere,
leading to possibility for explosion.
To prevent this, a light sensor may be fitted in front of the peepsight to detect
a blockage at the end of the tuyere, or the pressure drop over the tuyere can be
measured to detect when flow has stopped, indicating that a blockage is present.
The coal to that tuyere is automatically switched off and restarted only once an
operator has checked to see if the tuyere can accept coal. Many furnaces using
natural gas injection rates over 90 kg/tHM are also installing the Δp blocked
tuyere detection to shut off the natural gas to prevent back–ups.
11.5 Tuyeres
The tuyeres are a critical part of furnace equipment, but what can be observed
when walking around the tuyere platform? What can happen to the tuyeres?
There are two types of tuyeres – single and double chamber. The single chamber
tuyeres have one cooling channel, whereas the double chamber tuyeres have a
separate nose cooling pipe and a body cooling pipe. The advantage of the double
chamber tuyeres is that the body can continue to be cooled after the nose has
been burnt, and changing the tuyere can wait until the next planned furnace
stop. If a body cooling circuit in a two chamber tuyere or the water circuit in a
single chamber tuyere is burned, then a furnace stop is required immediately to
change the tuyere to prevent large quantities of water from entering the furnace
hearth, resulting in furnace cooling. In order to learn about the condition of
the furnace by looking through the peepsights, the guidance of an experienced
furnace operator is needed.
11.5.1 Water discipline

A duller light in front of the tuyere can be an indication that water is present
at or around the tuyere. This water could be coming from the tuyere itself, the
tuyere next to it, or a cooler in the region above the tuyere.
Other signs to look out for when water is suspected are:

– Water visible under tuyeres, at grouting nipples or at thermocouple sockets.
– Top gas hydrogen increase. However, when hydrogen in the top gas indicates
water leakage, there is a very large water flow going into the furnace.
– Smell of ammonia.
– Unusual thermocouple activity.
– Increase of make–up water frequency in closed cooling systems.
– CO gas detected at outlet of open water system.
– Cooling furnace trend, less reaction to additional fuel than expected.
– Water flame at taphole.
– Short or spitting tapholes.
When water is suspected, it is very important to locate and isolate the source as
quickly as possible to limit the quantity of water that is entering the furnace.
Depending on the location of the leak, a furnace stop may be required to find
and isolate the leak.
Water inside the furnace is extremely damaging to both the process and the
equipment and the consequences of allowing leakage to continue are extremely
serious for both. The major consequences are:
– Attack of refractories in the hearth and/or the taphole.
– Local heat shortage in the process leading to inefficient process, scabs, more
burnt tuyeres and an increased requirement for reductant/fuel.
11.5.2 Burnt tuyeres

The ideal scenario is to change tuyeres because the working lifetime is reached,
or will be passed before the next furnace stop. This preventative changing of
tuyeres is usually done with an aim lifetime of two years for double chambered
tuyeres. However, many companies are required to change their tuyeres much
more frequently than this, with a tuyere lifetime of less than six months
considered to be poor. Other than preventative changing, the most frequent
reason for changing tuyeres is due to burning (Figure 11.14). As the tuyere
coolers are made of copper, which has a melting temperature of 1083 °C, the
178 Chapter XI
water cooling is absolutely essential in protecting the tuyeres, and even then
they may not be protected against a direct ‘strike’ with hot iron. It is therefore
generally accepted that the tuyeres must also be protected by a protective
coating of slag on the upper surface during operation.
Burnt tuyeres may occur due to a number of different mechanisms, these being:
– Hot metal attack by a low position of the root of the cohesive zone. In order
to prevent this, sometimes a protective layer is made on the upper part of the
tuyere.
– High hearth liquid levels.
– Tuyere condition: inadequate cooling or casting defects during production of
the tuyeres.
Sometimes, tuyeres are damaged and start leaking if the coal lance is not
maintained in the center of the blast flow and coal is allowed to cause erosion of
the copper all the way through to the cooling channel.
Figure 11.14 Tuyere failure examples
11.5.3 Tipped tuyeres

Tipped or dipped tuyeres are identifiable by looking in the peepsight to see an
oval shape rather than a round orifice. There may also be gas blowing from the
tuyere to cooler seat. In the more extreme cases, the outlet of the tuyere will
be completely obscured. This is thought to occur when impact from material
above has impacted on the tuyere, forcing it downwards (Figure 11.15). It is also
an indication of little support being in place below the tuyere to prevent the
downward movement. This can either be due to the design or wear in the tuyere
band.
The major cause of tipping is that there is a big scab of solid burden material
resting on the tuyere, which is normally caused by a too low coke percentage at
the wall in the throat.
Figure 11.15 Tuyere tipping
11.5.4 Scabs in front of tuyeres

It is sometimes reported by the blast furnace operator that scabs are seen
dropping in front of tuyeres. This has long been accounted for as scabs peeling
off from further up the furnace, which may well have been true in the days of
high alkali input, but this explanation is less acceptable now that burden quality
has improved. A more likely explanation is that it is non–molten burden, which
was charged a few hours earlier. There can be several reasons why the burden
did not melt in time: late warming up (caused by low burden level at the time
of charging, or by poor gas permeability caused by high amounts of fines or by
high moisture content), a very cold furnace (low root of cohesive zone, leading
to a position of the cohesive zone almost on top of the tuyeres), too fast coke
usage (when a tuyere has no injectant).
11.5.5 Blowpipe failures

With coal injection, it is very important that the tuyeres are clear and open,
allowing the coal plume to flow into the raceway. If the tuyere should become
blocked, or a blockage in front of the tuyere appears, then the coal must be
removed immediately. If it is not, then the coal will be forced backwards into
the tuyere stock and can ignite further up in the connection with the bustle
pipe (see Figure 11.12). This can cause serious damage (Figure 11.16 on the next
page).
The blowpipe can also fail as soon as liquid iron enters it or when the coal lance
breaks. The damage is caused by the hot gas and coke escaping through a hole
in the blowpipe mantle. These types of situations may cause extreme collateral
damage outside the furnace on the tuyere platform such as melting wiring,
piping and instrumentation.
180 Chapter XI
Figure 11.16 Failed blowpipe
11.6 Stops and starts
11.6.1 Internal state of furnace

When a blast furnace in full operation is stopped, some of the processes
continue. While the blast is stopped, the direct reduction reactions within
the furnace continue as well as heat losses to the wall. The consequence is
that the temperature of the material in the melting zone is reduced to around
1000 °C, which is the start of the carbon solution loss reaction. The decreasing
temperature re–solidifies the melting materials. Therefore, after a stop it takes
some time for the burden to start descending. The burden descent restarts as
soon as the “old” melting zone is once again molten (Figure 11.17).
Figure 11.17 Solidified cohesive zone as consequence of a stop

The heat shortage for a stop of a furnace operating with PCI is even worse:
during the stop procedure, the coal injection is switched off from the furnace
and during the start–up it takes time to restart the PCI. An additional
reductant/fuel shortage results.
In addition, after a stop the hot metal silicon sometimes rises to very high
values, especially if during the stop/start procedure the furnace is operated
at a low blast volume. As shown in Figure 9.12, the basicity of the slag will
be affected by the high hot metal silicon and might even solidify within the
furnace. This results in disturbed burden descent. Heating up the slag is the
only solution, which can be achieved by charging extra coke into the furnace 6
to 8 hours prior to the stop.
So, in order to compensate for the heat losses during a stop and the risk for high
hot metal silicon, the following measures have to be applied:
– Extra reductant into the furnace. Coke, as well as auxiliary reductants, are
possible to compensate for these heat losses. Additional reductant is needed for a
period that the furnace is not operated on PCI.
– Design slag composition for low basicity at high hot metal silicon. Use of a
siliceous lump ore is recommended to reduce the slag basicity.
Even if a stop is unplanned, taking these measures after the stop is worthwhile,
since the cohesive zone will be lifted as the extra coke is being processed.
For a blow–in or start–up after a stop, major pitfalls are:

– Too fast blow–in. The solidified melting zone will take time to melt during the
start–up. If allowed time is insufficient, the pressure difference over the burden
can increase too much, leading to gas escaping along the wall (high heat losses)
and poor burden descent.
– Too fast restart of the PCI. Since the melting zone is solidified, there is a risk
that solid agglomerates will block the hot blast through the tuyere. If this
happens, the coal will still be blown into the blowpipe where it can cause
blowpipe failure. It is recommended to restart coal injection only when the
burden starts descending.
– Too high slag basicity.
11.6.2 Stopping a blast furnace

Stopping a blast furnace means that the hot blast is removed from the furnace.
Since the furnace is connected in a gas flow from stoves via the furnace to
the gas cleaning system, a stepwise approach is required. The objective of the
stepwise approach is that there is no chance that an explosive gas–air mixture is
formed nor that slag enters into the tuyeres. To this end, the blast furnace has to
be kept on slight overpressure during the stopping procedure.
Step 1: Furnace stopping procedure starts when the furnace hearth is empty. Then blast
volume is reduced, a check may be carried out and the blast pressure is reduced
to a low level of 30 kPa.
182 Chapter XI
Step 2: Top gas bleeders are opened and the furnace is disconnected from the gas
cleaning system via a goggle valve or water seal. In this situation, all blast
furnace gas goes to the atmosphere. The furnace still has at least one taphole
open.
Step 3: Blast volume is reduced to zero, and the backdraft stack is opened in order to
burn gas from the furnace. The tuyeres may be clayed in order to prevent air
ingress and consequential coke burning during the stop. Some backdoors or
peepsites are open to allow for some air ingress into the bustle main.
5500
Reduce blast to min. blower volume at 100 (m³ STP/min)/min
5000 Stop tuyere injectants

Stop charging and check furnace, when furnace empty
4500
Reduce blast to 30 kPa(g) with snort at 150 (m³ STP/min)/min

4000
blast volume (m³ STP/min)
3500
3000
2500
At blast pressure 30 kPa(g) open bleeders
and isolate gas cleaning system
2000
1500 Remove all blast air
1000
Open back draft
500
Open peep sights and back doors
0
0 20 40 60 80 100 120
time (min)
Figure 11.18 Guideline shutdown procedure
11.6.3 Start with all tuyeres

After a stop of generally shorter than 5 to 7 days, the blast furnace can start
with all tuyeres. During a blow–in the reverse process takes place.
Step 1: Furnace is put on low blast pressure.
Step 2: Furnace is connected to gas grid and bleeders are closed.
Step 3: Hot blast volume and pressure go through stepwise increase.
Note that it takes time for the burden to start descending after a stop and that
coal injection should only be restarted after descent has begun.
5500
During start–up, Δp is kept below
maximum (under 1.2–1.3, to be Increase blast volume at
5000 confirmed during operation) 2.5 (m³ STP/min)/min until
100% of target blast volume
4500 Increase blast volume at 5 (m³ STP/min)/min
until 90% of target blast volume
4000 Increase blast volume at 200 (m³ STP/min)/min
until 80% of target blast volume
blast volume (m³ STP/min)
3500 When burden descends, start PCI and oxygen
At 60% or target wait for burden descent. Start tapping
3000
Increase blast volume at 100 (m³ STP/min)/min until 60% of target blast volume.
2500
2000
Connnect gas cleaning plant and close bleeders and start charging
1500
Put blast on furnace and increase to 30 kPa(g)
1000
500 Prepare casthouse equipment (first casts with diameter +10 mm),
open tuyeres and insert PCI lances
0
0 60 120 180 240 300 360
time (min)
Figure 11.19 Guideline for blow–in with all tuyeres
11.6.4 Blow–down
Blowing down a blast furnace requires operating the furnace without
simultaneous charging of the furnace. Therefore, all material charged into the
furnace is exposed to the same temperatures and reduction processes as if the
furnace was fully charged.
However, since the heat of the shaft gas is not transferred to the cold charge,
the off–gas temperature increases and the gas composition changes. Since the
equipment has not been designed to withstand the high top gas temperatures,
these temperatures are kept under control by spraying water. The water sprayed
above the burden should be prevented from reaching the burden surface,
either directly via descent on top of the burden or indirectly via the wall.
Special water atomizing nozzles are required and the success of the blow–down
heavily depends on proper spraying. The progress of the blow–down process
can be measured from the burden level as well as from the analysis of the top
gas composition. Since less and less oxygen is removed from the ore, the CO2
percentage decreases and CO percentage increases (Figure 11.20, next page).
Moreover, H2 content generally increases as a consequence of the (unavoidable)

contact of spraying water with the hot coke. At the end of the blow–down,
when the level of the coke is coming close to the tuyeres, the CO2 formed at
the tuyeres has insufficient opportunity to be transformed to CO and the CO2
percentage in the top gas increases. As soon as half of the oxygen is in CO2 (i.e.
when the CO2 percentage equals half the CO percentage), the furnace should
be isolated from the gas system.
184 Chapter XI
-4
-8
Stack
-12
-16
Bosh
-20
Tuyere level
-24
40 0.8
35 0.7
CO
30 0.6
25 0.5
20 0.4
15 H2 0.3
10 CO2 0.2
5 0.1
O2
0 0
0 60 120 180 240 300 360 420 480 540 600 660 720 780 840
Figure 11.20 Typical progress of a blow–down
Normally, a blow–down takes 10 to 12 hours, after a preparatory stop, to reach

the tuyere level.
Prior to the blow–down, the furnace contains coke in the active coke zone
and deadman, and alternating layers of coke and ore in the melting zone and
stack zone. Since during the blow–down, the coke of the active coke zone and
deadman will be gasified, there is coke excess in the blast furnace. During the
latter stages of the blow–down, reduction reactions have largely stopped, so
any auxiliary reductant injection can be stopped during the early stages of the
blow–down. The moment is indicated by the gas analysis: as soon as the CO2
percentage starts to decrease to below 10 %, then there is little iron oxide left to
reduce.
The burden level in the furnace is difficult to measure with standard stock rods.
Mechanical stock rods have to be equipped with chain or cable extensions and
recalibrated for the purpose. The stock rods should be used only at intervals,
since the high temperatures above the burden may cause chain breakage. Radar
level indicators can be used if reliable. Indications from the level of the burden
can also be obtained from:
– pressure taps.
– casthouse operation i.e. the quantity of iron cast.
– calculation of the amount of coke consumed in front of the tuyeres.
Another indication that the blow–down is complete is the collapse of the

raceway (no more coke rotating) and detection of oxygen in the top gas, which
is caused by some of the blast going directly to the furnace top since there is no
longer a full quantity of coke in front of the tuyeres.
The required condition of the furnace after the blow–down depends on the
purpose of the blow–down and consequent repair. Generally, the walls have to
be clean. Cleaning of the hearth is another important topic. If solid skulls and
scabs are expected in the hearth and have to be removed prior to the blow–
down, the furnace can be operated for a prolonged period on a high thermal
level, relatively low PCI rate, increasing hot metal manganese, increase of
central coke charging and a burden without titanium addition. The full effect of
these measures is uncertain, but hearth bottom thermocouples can indicate that
there is more activity and less of a skull in the hearth.
11.6.5 Blow–in from new or after reline

Blowing in a furnace from new can be considered in two phases:
Phase 1: Heating up the hearth.
Phase 2: Starting the reduction reactions and iron production.
The two phases are discussed separately below.
Heating up the hearth

Heat is generated by the reaction of coke carbon to CO. Coke generates 111
kJ per gmol of carbon, when reacting to CO, which corresponds to 8.1 GJ/t
(Peacey & Davenport, p. 32).
The heat requirement in the early stages of the blow–in is for the following:
– Heat coke in the hearth, deadman and active coke zone to 1500 °C.
– Heat required for evaporation of moisture from the coke.
– Heat required to compensate for moisture in blast dissociating into hydrogen
gas (H2O + C Ⱥ CO + H2).
– Heat to compensate for loss of heat through the furnace wall.
A detailed analysis of the heat requirement to fill the hearth, deadman and
active coke zone with coke of 1500 °C indicates the following:
– Moisture in the coke can be neglected.
– The heat required for filling the hearth, deadman and active coke zone with hot
coke of 1500 °C requires an amount of coke gasified to CO of about two–thirds
of the estimated volume of the hearth/deadman/active coke zone.
– Additional heat requirement arises from the water dissociation reaction and the
heat losses through the wall. For example, if 300 tonne coke is required to fill
hearth, deadman and active coke zone with coke, a coke blank is required with
a total weight of 600 tonne: 300 tonne to fill hearth, deadman and active coke
zone with coke and 300 tonne for the generation of heat to bring the coke to
1500 °C. Many operators have learned from past experience that a coke blank
ranging from 50 to 65 % of the working volume or the coke blank elevation of
11 meters above the tuyere fulfils these heat requirements.
– In the early stages of a blow–in, the blast temperature should be maximized and
blast moisture minimised.
– Heating up the hearth requires some 7 to 8 hours after the blow–in. Heat is
generated from coke used at the tuyeres.
186 Chapter XI
Starting the reduction processes

During the early stages of the blow–in, while the hearth is heating up, the
reduction of the iron oxides has not yet begun due to the temperatures
being too low. Therefore, one has to consider the increased amount of direct
reduction. The situation may become difficult if the level of direct reduction is
too high (and gas reduction is low). This situation manifests itself from:
– The gas utilization.
– The direct reduction, as manifest from CO and CO2 percentages exceeding
“normal” values.
The gas utilization is an indication of the amount of gas reduction taking

place, while the total CO and CO2 percentage is an indication for the direct
reduction. Especially the CO2 percentage indicates if gas reduction takes place.
Slag formation
In general, the slag during blow–in has to be designed for high hot metal
silicon. However, with the proposed method, the hot metal silicon should be
under control. If we continue to follow the “two–phase” blow–in approach
mentioned here, during the first phase of the blow–in about 350 tonne coke is
gasified in 8 hours and the slag formed comes only from the coke ash. Taking
10 % ash and 30 % of the ash as Al2O3, we get 35 tonne of a high Al2O₃ slag
during the first 8 hours. This will not cause a problem in the furnace because of
the small volume. The coke ash can be diluted, e.g. by using a high siliceous ore
in the coke blank. In order to dilute to 20 % Al2O3, some 30 tonne of a siliceous
ore has to be added to the 350 tonne coke blank.
Hot metal quality during blow–in

As soon as the hearth is heated, the hot metal temperature exceeds 1400 °C.
As soon as the top temperature exceeds dew point, all excess moisture has been
removed from the furnace and the process has started. There is only limited
heat required for heating up and drying of refractories, if compared with the
heat requirements of the process itself. So as soon as the hot metal temperature
reaches 1400 °C and the top temperature exceeds 90 °C, the process has to be
brought back to normal operation conditions.
However, in this situation the coke rate in the furnace is still very high and the
hot metal silicon will rise to 4 to 5 %. The hot metal silicon can be reduced by
putting a normal coke rate in the furnace. The “normal” coke rate at “all coke”
operation is about 530 kg/tHM. In doing so, however, it takes considerable time
to consume all excess coke, which is present in the furnace. More rapid decrease
of hot metal silicon can be reached, if a lower coke rate is charged and auxiliary
injection is used as soon as required. The injectant is switched on as soon as the
hot metal silicon decreases below 1 %.
An example of a rapid blow–in of a furnace is presented in Figure 11.21. At the

blow–in, the furnace was started up with four tuyeres (of 25). After opening all
tuyeres, a “heavy” burden (coke rate 440 kg/tHM) was put in the furnace 30
hours after the blow–in and coal injection was put on the furnace 40 hours after
the blow–in. Hot metal silicon reached the 1.1 % mark after 44 hours.
800 25
Tuyeres Opened
Coke rate
700
20
600
500
15
kg/tHM
400
Silicon (%)
10
300
200
5
100
Blast Volume PCI on
(*1000 m³/hr)
0 0
0 12 24 36 48
time (h)
Figure 11.21 Blow–in of a blast furnace in November 2013.
11.7 Casthouse challenges
11.7.1 Chills, loss of connection

A chilled hearth is a situation where the connection between tuyere and taphole
is lost. Liquids generated above the tuyeres can no longer drain to the hearth
and in most cases, all tuyeres are filled with slag/melting materials. Sometimes,
a catastrophic failure of a blowpipe or tuyere stock was the reason to finally stop
the furnace. The furnace is filled with (semi–)solid materials well above tuyere
level (Figure 11.22).
Figure 11.22 Loss of connection of liquid flow to taphole

188 Chapter XI
What are possible causes?

– Poor burden descent/slips, hanging
– Gunnite or shotcrete falling off the walls.
– Scabs falling off the walls.
– Gas reduction of burden deteriorated.
– As a consequence of disturbed gas flow.
– As a consequence of casting delays, especially if the connection is lost after
long stops.
– High water input in lower part of furnace.
– Burned tuyeres.
– Leaking tuyeres, staves, cooling plates, hot blast valves.
– Water input with burden materials.
– Top sprays leaking through the shut–off valves.
– Increased heat loss.
– Burden distribution
– Loss of refractory protection of staves.
– Casting problems.
– Burden quality.
– Improper charging.
– Burden materials or burden distribution.
– Loss of fuel injection.
How to recover?
Since the liquids in the furnace have been frozen, the following line of action
has to take place:
1. heat has to be brought into the furnace.
2. the material in the furnace has to melt as easily as possible.
3. the molten material has to be taken from the furnace.
So the recovery principle is:

– bring maximum heat into the furnace: note that the tuyeres are the motor of the
melting process.
– make slag as liquid as possible: very lean, typical basicity (B3) of 0,8–0,9.
– cast and clean to drain liquids form the furnace.
Step 1: is re–establishing the connection between tuyere and taphole. This can be done
with or without oxy–fuel lances. The connection is re–established by starting at
a few tuyeres above one taphole. We recommend at least three tuyeres, since the
tuyeres on the outside lose a lot of heat to laterally to the adjacent tuyere areas
that are not working,
Step 2: is to bring sufficient fuel to the tuyeres, so that the liquids draining to the
hearth are hot. This can be done by charging coke blanks. Note that a fuel
rate that is too high only leads to burning coke but no hot metal reaching the
hearth.
Step 3: is normalizing the process by placing more and more tuyeres in operation and
normalizing fuel rate and process settings.
11.7.2 Coke mess

Coke mess is a situation, where a lot of coke is coming out of the taphole.
This can happen when the taphole allows the coke through: it is normally
rather short and wide, which can be caused by the fact that a taphole was out
of operation for a long time, by poor quality of the clay or by water leakage.
Also, the coke quality plays a role: the poorer the coke quality, the easier coke
mess can result. The operational reaction is to lower the wind volume, plug the
taphole as soon as possible, and start carefully anew. If water leakage plays a
role, the problem has to addressed first before the next cast.
11.8 Greenhouse gas emissions
The amount of carbon we bring into the furnace for normal operation is the
carbon present in 300 kg/tHM coke and 200 kg/tHM coal (Table 11.1). If we
assume that this carbon is emitted as CO2, then the emission of CO2 is 1544
kg/tHM. This is a simplification of reality, since carbon is used for sintering,
cokemaking, blast generation and the electric power used for the blast furnace
operation nor credits for top gas are taken into account. The European
Commission has made a study of CO2 emissions in the steel industry (Pardo et
al, 2012). This study comes to a total CO2 emission of 1279 t CO2/tHM.
Since a blast furnace is operated close to the thermodynamic limitations,

greenhouse gas emission reductions coming from increased efficiency will be
relatively small. Table 11.1 gives the example of replacing 54 kg coal injection
with 50 kg gas injection, which reduces the CO2 emission with about 2%.
However, the “best” way to reduce greenhouse gas emission from the blast
furnace–BOF route is to use high coal injection rates and to make use of top gas
efficiently.
Scenario
Carbon Coal injection Co–injection
content (kg/tHM) (kg/tHM)
(%)
coke 87.0 300 300
coal 80.0 200 146
natural gas 72.0 0 50
Unit
carbon input kg C/tHM 421 414
CO2 emission kg CO2 /tHM 1,544 1,517
Table 11.1 CO₂ footprint assuming that all carbon input is converted to CO₂
Annex I Glossary
Angle of repose
The natural angle that is formed when material is discharged onto a pile.
Apatite
A group of phosphate minerals Ca₅(PO₄)₃(OH, F, Cl).
Banded Iron Formation (BIF)

A sedimentary mineral deposit consisting of alternate silica–rich (chert or
quartz) and iron rich layers formed 2.5–3.5 billion years ago; the major source of
iron ore.
Bentonite
An absorbent aluminum silicate clay formed from volcanic ash and used in
various adhesives, cements, and ceramic fillers.
Calcium ferrite
Crystal of CaO and Fe₂O₃.
Chert
A hard, dense sedimentary rock composed of fine-grained silica (SiO₂).
CO₂ Foot Print

The total amount of CO₂ emitted per ton of product over the whole route and
taking all energy requirements into account.
Decrepitation
Breaking up of mineral substances when exposed to heat.
Dolomite
Material consisting of lime and magnesium carbonates; extensively used for
adjusting the slag composition directly into the blast furnace or via sinter.
Fayalite
Compound of iron silicate: 2FeO.SiO₂.
192 Annexes
Harmonic Mean Size (HMS)

The harmonic mean is the number of values divided by the sum of the
reciprocals of the values. This gives a truer average value where ranges of values
are used as it tends to mitigate the effect of large outliers from the total data set.
Hematite
Iron oxide in the form of Fe₂O₃.
Magnetite
Iron oxide in the form of Fe₃O₄.
Mill scale
The scale removed in a hot strip mill from the steel slab, mainly iron oxide.
Olivine
A mineral silicate of iron and magnesium, principally 2MgO.SiO₂, found in
igneous and metamorphic rocks and used as a structural material in refractories
and in cements.
Serpentine
Any of a group of greenish, brownish, or spotted minerals, Mg₃Si₂O₅(OH)₄,
used as a source of magnesium and asbestos. Generally a blend of olivine and
fayalite with various impurities.
Spinel
Mineral composed of magnesium aluminate.
Wustite
Iron oxide in the form of FeO, does not occur in nature; produced during
reduction process.
193
Annex II Further reading

Babich, A.; Senk, D.; Gudenau, H.W.; Mavrommatis, K.: Ironmaking textbook.
RWTH Aachen, 2008.
Biswas, A.K.: Principles of Blast Furnace Ironmaking. Cootha Publishing House,

Brisbane, 1981.
Committee on Reaction within Blast Furnace; Omori, Y. (chairman): Blast

Furnace Phenomena and Modelling. Elsevier, London, 1987.
IISI website: http://www.worldsteel.org
Ghosh, A; Chatterjee, A.: Ironmaking and Steelmaking, 5t edition. PHI

Learning, New Delhi, 2012.
Loison, R.; Foch, P.; Boyer, A.: Coke: Quality and Production. Butterworths,
London, 1989.
McMaster University: Blast Furnace Ironmaking Course. Hamilton, Canada,

2006 (held every two years).
Meyer, K.: Pelletizing of Iron Ores. Springer Verlag, Berlin, 1980.
Peacy, J.G.; Davenport, W.G.: The Iron Blast Furnace – Theory and Practice.
Pergamon Press, Oxford, 1979.
Rosenqvist, T.: Principles of Extractive Metallurgy. McGrawHill, Singapore,

1983.
Schoppa, H.: Was der Hochöfner von seiner Arbeit wissen muss. Verlag Stahleisen,
Düsseldorf, 1992.
Türkdoğan, E.T.: Physicochemical Aspects of Reactions in Ironmaking and

Steelmaking Processes. In: Transactions ISIJ, Vol. 24, pages 591–611, 1984.
Wakelin, D.H. et al: The Making, Shaping and Treating of Steel, 11t Edition.
AISE Steel Foundation, Pittsburgh, 1999.
Walker, R.D.: Modern Ironmaking Methods. Institute of Metals, London, 1986.

194 Annexes
Annex III Starting point for

calculation examples
The calculations and examples in the book are intended for illustration of the
points made. Although all numbers and values are reasonable estimates, it is not
necessarily the most accurate number available. Moreover, local conditions can
be different. For example, the ore weight required to produce1 tonne hot metal
varies with slag volume per tonne.
Blast Furnace Unit Chemical parameter Unit

Hearth diameter m 14 C g/mol 12
Throat diameter m 10 H g/mol 1
Working volume m³ 3,800 O g/mol 16
Inner volume m³ 4,400 N g/mol 14
Tuyeres 36 Fe g/mol 55.85
Production tHM/d 10,000 1 kmol gas m³ STP 22.4
Voidage in shaft % 30
Voidage in hearth % 15
Input Spec. wt. Chemical Composition (wt%)

kg/tHM kg/m³ ash C H O N S
Coke 300 470 10.0 87.0 0.2 1.3 0.9
Coal 200 450 5.0 80.0 5.0 8.0 1.3 0.7
Coal (co–injected) 150 80.0 5.0 8.0 1.3 0.7

Gas (co–injected) 50 72.0 23.0 2.0 3.0 0.0
Burden 1600 1.800
Spec. wt. Chemical Composition (wt%)

kg/m³ C CaO MgO SiO2 Al2O3 B2 B3
Slag 220 kg/tHM 2300 51 10 45 10 1.13 1.36
Hot metal 945 kg Fe/tHM 7200 4.5
1 charge 96 t burden
1 charge 60 tHM
wind 6,500 m³ STP/
min
oxygen 26 % in hot Composition (vol%)
blast
hot blast 1250 °C CO CO2 H2 N2
temp.
top gas (dry) 1.35 24.3 23.1 5.5 47.1
195
Annex IV Rules of thumb

Rules of thumb for daily operation of the blast furnace process (constant blast
volume).
Unit Change Coke Rate

Adj. (kg/t)
Si % + 0.1 + 4
Moisture g/m³ STP + 10 + 6
Top pressure bar + 0.1 – 1.2
Coal kg/t + 10 – 9
Natural gas kg/t + 10 – 10.4
Oil kg/t + 10 – 11
Oxygen % + 1 + 1
Blast temperature °C + 100 – 9
Slag kg/t + 10 + 0.5
Cooling o
l sses GJ/hr + 10 + 1.2
Gas tilization
U % + 1 – 7
Rules of thumb for daily operation of the blast furnace process, a typical example
Unit Change Flame Top

temp. temp.
(°C) (°C)
Blast temperature °C + 100 + 65 – 15
Coal kg/t + 10 – 30 + 9
Natural gas kg/t + 10 – 87 + 19
Oil kg/t + 10 – 53 + 4
Oxygen % + 1 + 45 – 15
Moisture g/m³ STP + 10 – 50 + 9
Rules of thumb for daily operation of the blast furnace process (constant blast volume)
196 Annexes
Annex V Coal types used for

coke making
The grade or rank of coals depends on the formation history. Coals come
from plants that were growing millions of years ago. The plant remains were
converted to coal under the influence of temperature and pressure without air
access. The more intensively the plant remains are processed, the more volatiles
escape from the coal and the higher its carbon content. The lowest rank of coal
is lignite or brown coal. Increasing rank is in the sequence sub–bituminous
coal, bituminous coal and anthracite.
Two major properties determine how much of a coal type can be used for coke
production: coking behavior and caking capacity. Coals having good coking
behavior can give high–strength coke. The caking capacity of coals is the
capacity to form soft semi–liquid mass during their heating. The resolidification
of this mass results in particles sticking together. Presence of coals with high
caking capacity in the coal charge allow for the use of coals with poor caking
capacity. Good coking coals have good caking capacity but the reverse is not
necessarily true.
The caking capacity of good coking coals is indicated with the Roga index,
which characterizes the thickness of the plastic layer formed during coal
heating. Caking capacity of poor coking coals is evaluated using the free
swelling index, which is a standardized test to measure the volume increase of a
coal sample during its heating. Indicators of petrographic composition of coals
and indicators characterizing coal metamorphism, in particular, level, vitrinite
reflectance index (Ro) are also used.
Coals used for coke production are subdivided into four groups by their coking
behavior.
– hard coking coals form strong hard coke such as coals A, B, C in Table A5.1.
– medium–hard coking coals as D, E, F, G.
– soft coking coals are gas coal J as well as H, and I.
–non–coking coals like K and L.
Coals with very low volatile matter, like anthracite, or very high volatile matter
are generally considered unsuitable for coke making.
Average characteristics of the various coal types from different (Russian) coal
basins are given in Table A5.1. Coal types differ in volatile matter content,
thickness of plastic layer (U) or reflectance index R0.
197
Hard coking coal Medium hard coking coal Soft coking coal Non–coking
coal
A B C D E F G H I J K L
Volatile 24–25 25–30 28–37 36–38 27–37 18–27 33–37 25–37 8–16
matter,
%
U, mm 13–17 18 14–26 10–12 10–13 16–25 6–13 6–9 10 –16 – –
Ro *, % 1–1,69 0,9– 0,8– 0,8– 0,8– 0,8– 1,3– 0,8– 1,1– 0,5– 0,7– 1,3–
1,29 1,19 0,99 0,99 0,99 1,8 1,09 1,69 0,89 1,79 2,6
Table A5.1 Average characteristics of the various coal types from different (Russian)
coal basins.
Coal blend for coke making

Coal blends for coking normally consist of 4–8 coal types from the first three
groups. Coals from the fourth group are used less extensively and in small
quantities. In order to ensure a consistent quality of coke, the share of the of
the various coals in the blend should also be sufficiently consistent and be kept
within ±2 % (abs). This will lead to acceptable standard deviations in moisture
content (±1 %), ash content (±0,5 %), volatile content (±0,7 %), sulphur content
(±0,05 %) and fines (< 0,5 mm, ±2 %).
When the coal blend is heated, pyrolysis takes place in several stages: release of
volatile matter, softening, melting, hardening, partial graphitization of carbon.
Release of volatile matter starts at 300 °C and continues with varying rate in the
300–1150 °C temperature range.
Different coals have different temperature intervals for the various stages of
pyrolysis. When composing a coal blend, the temperature intervals of the
various stages must at least partially coincide for all the coals. In the coking
process, new conditions for physical and thermo–chemical processes are
created, which do not necessarily coincide with conditions for individual coal
types. As a result, the coking properties (coking behavior, caking capacity) can
be better or worse than expected on the basis of averaging the properties of the
individual coals.
The non–linearity of coal properties have to be known to predict the

metallurgical coke properties. These factors can determined from multiple trials
and/or pilot coking of individual coals and their blends.
For good quality coke, the coal blend should contain at least 40 % of hard
coking coals with high caking capacity. The coal blend should have the
following characteristics:
– vitrinite reflectance indexes R0 above 1.12
– plastic layer thickness U around 15 mm
– volatile content between 25 and 27 %
– sulphur content below 0,7 %
– ash content between 7.8 and 10 %
198 Annexes
Annex VI Coke quality tests

Since drum tests are only cold simulations of the load on the coke during its
descent through the blast furnace, there are different ideas as to the best way to
generate comparative quality values using the drum test. Some of the differences
between the various tests are; how the sample is taken as input for the test; the
number of rotations; the size of the screens using to determine the size of the
resulting coke; and the dimensions of the drum. In Table A6.1 the differences of
the most common used drum tests are presented.
Test Strength Indices

Coke Drum Test Breakage Abrasion
Weight Size Length Diam. rpm Total
kg mm m m rev.
Micum 50 > 60 1 1 25 100 M40 M10
% > 40 % < 10
mm mm
ISO 50 > 20 1 1 25 100 M40 M10
% > 40 % < 10
mm mm
Extended 50 > 60 1 1 25 100, Fissure Micum
Micum 200, free size Slope
300, Stabilisa-
500, tion index
800
IRSID 50 > 20 1 1 25 500 I40 I10
% > 40 % < 10
mm mm
ASTM 10 2–3” 0.46 0.91 24 1,400 % > 1” (25 % > ¼”
mm) (6 mm)
Japanese 10 > 50 1.5 1.5 15 30 or % > 15
Drum 150 mm
Table A6.1 Differences between the most commonly applied drum tests.
To have a better understanding of coke degradation mechanism under

mechanical stress we look at Figure A6.1. Here the percentage of the coke larger
than 40 mm and smaller than 10 mm of the sample are presented as a function
of the number of rotations of the drum.
199
Dff
Coke breakage
M40 Pure abrasion

%>4 of coke lumps
0 mm
Weight %
I40
Stabilization Point
I10
M10 % < 10 mm
100 150 500

Micum Irsid
Number of rotations of drum
Figure A6.1 Comparison of different mechanical tumble tests and results.
From this figure we see that the lumps > 40 mm starts to degrade only by
breakage until the point of stabilization is reached, when no further breakage
occur. From this point on only abrasion takes place to further degrade the coke.
In general the coke is stabilized after about 150 rotations of the Micum drum
or an equivalent mechanical load. From this figure we see the great difference in
number of rotations of the drum between the Micum test and the Irsid test. An
advantage of the Irsid test is that the coke is always completely stabilized which
makes the result less sensitive for the point of sampling. It further shows that it
is in principle not correct to compare test results between different production
sites unless the exact the degree of stabilization at the sampling points is known.
The weight percentage of coke larger than 40 mm after 100 rotations is called
M40 and the percentage after 500 rotations is called the I40. The weight
percentage of coke smaller than 10 mm is called M10 and I10 respectively.
Besides these values, the Fissure Free Size, the Stabilization Index and the
Micum slope have been introduced as coke quality parameters. Although in
this test the parameter used is not the percentage larger than 40 mm of the
coke but the average mean size (AMS) as a function of rotations. We will
explain these concepts with Figure A6.1 as well. First we fit a line (shown in
green) to the curve of abrasion only. Then we extrapolate the green line of
abrasion–only to the y–intercept (zero rotations) and calculate the AMS of
the coke at this point, which gives the Fissure Free Size (FFS), also known as
Dff. This then represents the size at which there would be no degradation due
to breakage, but only abrasion. The slope of the green line of abrasion–only is
called the Micum Slope. Some mills consider this to be a better way to evaluate
abradability than traditional M10 or I10. The FFS was developed to simulate
a maximum obtainable (theoretical) size for stabilized coke. Some believe
the FFS approximately represents the size of stabilized industrial coke at the
200 Annexes
blast furnace stock line, which is then considered a more suitable controlling
parameter. Also a stabilization index can be defined as FFS/AMS, which will be
at its maximum of 1 for fully stabilized coke.
Chemical reactivity
Besides a high mechanical strength, coke should have a high resistance against
chemical attack. There are two measurements for the reaction with CO₂ most
commonly used, the CRI and the CSR (Coke Reactivity Index and Coke
Strength after reaction).
Coke Reactivity Index

Reactivity of coke can be tested in numerous ways, but by far the most common
way to determine the coke reactivity is the Nippon Steel Chemical Reactivity
Index (CRI). With this test, coke of a certain size is put under a 100% CO₂
atmosphere at 1100 °C. The percentage of coke that is gasified after 120 minutes
gives the CRI value. The more reactive the coke, the higher the mass loss will
be. Reactivity of the coke is mainly determined by the chemical composition of
the parent coal blend, because ash components act as catalysts for the reaction
of C with CO₂.
Coke Strength after Reaction

Due to the loss of mass whilst under attack by CO₂, the surface layer of the
coke particles get very porous and the mechanical strength against abrasion
drops rapidly. To measure this effect the reactivity test is normally followed by a
tumbler test to determine the residual coke strength. The percentage of particles
that remain larger than 10 mm after 600 rotations is called the ‘coke strength
after reaction’ or CSR index. For most coke produced there exists a strong
correlation between CRI and CSR.
Before CRI and CSR were developed, a series of relatively expensive tests were
carried out under various research projects that involved partially gasifying
the coke in its original particle size under realistic blast furnace conditions
before subjecting it to the standard drum test. While the results of this costly
research work showed exactly how the coke in the blast furnace was subjected
to chemical attack, it provided no better information on coke quality than the
more–simple method of determining CRI and CSR. These two parameters are
now generally adopted by the coke–making industry as the most important
parameters for determining coke quality.
Carburization of Hot Metal

There is no standard test for the dissolution of carbon in hot metal, the
carburization. Experiments were conducted on this item by the Institute of
Ferrous Metallurgy in Germany to compare different cokes of different coal
blends and coke making technologies. The experiments showed a very similar
201
behaviour between most cokes. The only exception was the traditionally
produced beehive coke. Although it had a very good CSR and CRI it was the
only coke examined that cannot be used alone in a blast furnace because of its
poor carburization characteristics. Production trials prove that this type of coke
can only be used in a mixture with other more reactive coke.
202 Annexes
Annex VII Expert systems

and models
An expert system helps the operator to continuously analyse all process data
and to suggest or execute corrective actions in real time. The corrective actions
are based on the deviation of major process parameters from their target values
and predefined rules of how to correct for the deviations. Any company with
a book of “Standard Operating Procedures” can consider an expert system by
automating these operating procedures in the process computer. The major
advantages of expert systems are:
– Continuous monitoring of all relevant process parameters.
– Possibility to develop the system to improve the decision making rules.
However, an expert system has its limitations for some parts of the process and
is not suitable for controlling special situations (blow–in, sudden chill). An
expert system is no replacement of experienced blast furnace operations experts.
A7.1 Visualization of process conditions in real time
The process control system shows screens where the operator can monitor all
variables of the process for a certain aspect of the process. An example is shown
below. There are three important areas:
– Diagnostics: process parameters are scaled between –1 and +1, or between 0 and
1 and “red” and “green” areas are presented, red showing parameters outside the
normal control area.
– Control actions or suggested control actions. The suggested actions serve
to establish a dialogue within the shift, which allows the operator to decide
whether or not the suggested action is implemented. The comment of the
operator on the suggested actions even when not implemented, allows the
optimisation of the process rules within the system.
– “Open” or “closed” decisions on suggested actions: in the open situation, the
expert system presents a suggested action, but does not react if no decision
is made. Closed decisions are executed automatically after 20 minutes if no
rejection has been received by the system.
A7.2 What process parameters and diagnosis

can be made?
The expert system follows a huge number of measurements in the furnace and
makes a diagnosis whether or not the parameter is in a desired range. Among
others, the following diagnosis are made:
– Burden descent: compares the burden descent of the last 24 hours with the
last hour and analyses whether or not the burden descent is slow, normal or
accelerated. (See section on direct reduction)
203
– Slag and hot metal quantity produced and drained from the furnace. The
production balance is made based on progress of the last 25 casts as a reference
and subsequently analyses the last cast and last three casts to monitor high,
normal or low slag drainage. The same is done for hot metal.
– Thermal state of the furnace: based on temperature, hot metal carbon, silicon,
sulphur and titanium as well as slag FeO level. The thermal state is considered
low, normal or high.
– Stave temperatures and stave heat fluxes: continuous analysis of stave
temperatures and heat fluxes on the various levels, defining 2 types of
conditions: the current level and current tendency. The diagnosis gives an alarm
when 25% of the temperatures are below lower level or above upper level limits
with the corresponding decreasing or increasing tendency.
– Skull/scaffold formation: follows the temperature and heat fluxes through
the staves and defines scaffold formation as decreasing tendencies of both
parameters for the last 24 hours. To this end, the individual staves are taken
in “areas” representing several staves. Occasionally it is found that the loss
of thermal activity in the staves is also manifest in neighbouring areas. The
opposite of the skull/scaffold formation is called “peeling”, which is the loss of
the skull. This is analysed based with the same data.
– Charged burden: compares setpoint weights of materials charged with actual
weights and monitors the deviation from setpoint.
– Hot blast stoves: analysis of the moments that stoves are changed for every
stove, allowing the operator to operate the stoves within ±10 °C of the target
value.
A7.3 Process control actions
Process control in the blast furnace has various areas and targets.
– Thermal control: the liquid products have to be drained from the hearth at the
desired temperatures.
– Chemical control: the hot metal and slag need to have the desired chemical
composition.
– Gas flow control: the gas flow in the furnace can be monitored and has to be
optimized for efficiency of contact between gas and burden.
– Casthouse control: the hot metal and slag have to be removed from the furnace
hearth at the desired rates and intervals of time.
Control of equipment like tuyeres and coolers.
Incident control: how to manage unwanted and unexpected process conditions
for which no cause is known: what to do if a furnace is out–of–control: slips,
hangs, sudden chills, etcetera.
In the table below the various subjects for process control are summarised:
– the indicators which are used and
– the corrective actions.
Table A7.1 on the next page shows a typical example of what can be done. Every
company develops its own expert system, based on its own experiences and
operating practices.
204 Annexes
Field indicator/diagnostics corrective action

Thermal Control Hot Metal Silicon Step 1: adjust injection rate 2–5 kg/tHM
Hot Metal Temperature Step 2: adjust coke rate
Hot Metal Carbon (Ti, Mn) in severe chills:
Slag FeO Extra coke
Chemical Control New chemical analysis Change input according to guidelines
burden materials
Slag basicity Change input
Burden input Adjust input
Hot metal Manganese Adjust input
Gas Flow Control Coke % in center Adjust central flow by increase/de-
crease coke% in center
Coke % at wall Correct burden distribution
Drying capacity/water Increase gas volume/tHM (lower oxy-
eimination gen enrichment, higher fuel rate)
Too high Delta~P, total Lower blast volume
column
Too high Delta–P, upper or Check fines coming into furnace, check
lower part hearth drainage
Wall gas flow as manifest Adjust blast volume
from spikes in stave tem- (longer term: burden distribution)
peratures (peeling), high
local heat loss or decreasing
peaks
Casthouse Control Slag and hot metal drain-
age
Incidents Burden level too low Caused by charging system: extra coke,
pull wind
Caused by process: decrease wind vol-
ume, extra coke. control Delta–P
Sudden chills (temperature Extra coke, lower wind volume
and silicon drop)
Water leakage/top gas From cooling system, burnt tuyeres:
hydrogen repair, a stop may be required
Table A7.1 Indicators and corrective actions in an expert system
An expert system is able to check in real time a huge number of measurements

and is able to suggest process control actions to the operators for the various
area. In the present section a few examples are indicated how an expert system
works.
A7.4 Examples of process control with an

expert system
Thermal control
Thermal control can be based on the hot metal temperature and hot metal
silicon. Both factors have their own weight. An example is, that the thermal
stage of the furnace is judged from the average hot metal temperature and
205
silicon of the last three casts. Since three casts represents a production, which
is larger than the production coming from the complete working volume of
the furnace, the hot metal temperature and silicon are always delayed with
a number of hours. Therefore, the system checks whether or not there are
indications of increased production rate, for example from the charging rate.
If so, it is taken into account. The correction can be executed by changing fuel
injection or by adjusting the coke rate. This type of choices are build in the
system according to local experience and preferences.
Control of injection (coal, gas)

The operator targets a constant injection rate per ton hot metal produced. Since
the actual flow rate of the injectant is measured in kg/hr (coal) or m³ STP/hr
(natural gas) the set point for the injection has to be corrected for the actual
production. The main factor determining the actual production is the amount
of oxygen per hour blown into the blast furnace. So the injectant control should
take into account hot blast volume changes, as well as, changes in oxygen
enrichment and steam injection. An additional correction can be made for
deviations in the direct reduction rate: if direct reduction increases (for example
as a consequence of input of more fines), then the production rate will increase,
even if all set points at tuyeres are maintained. This can be observed from the
charging rate. A faster response can be generated from continuous mass balance
of the gas, as shown in section 6.5.
Tracking the charge

When the burden is changed, the revised burden descends to the tuyeres in 5–7
hours. The tracking system visualizes where in the furnace the change is present
in real time. This is important for extra coke and/or basicity changes when
preparing for a furnace stop or shutdown. An example is shown in Figure A7.1.
Figure A7.1 Tracking the charge: to monitor when changes are being processed with
an extra coke descending in the charge.
206 Annexes
A7.5 Examples of models
Mass and heat balance and minimum fuel rate model

The mass and heat balance model checks the input and output of the furnace on
a daily basis. It does so by closing the material balance as well as the enthalpy
balance. Most companies use a two–stage mass and heat balance, where
the upper furnace and lower furnace are separated by the plane where it is
considered gas temperature = 900 °C, O/Fe ratio in burden is 1.
The mass and heat balance when used continuously can serve as an early
warning signal for sudden chills, because increase of direct reduction can be
calculated in real time from the top gas composition.
Hearth wear model

The hearth of a blast furnace is equipped with numerous thermocouples. The
temperature readings combined with the thermal properties of the refractories
can be used to calculate the isotherms in the furnace hearth. The isotherm of
1150 °C represents the solid–liquid interface, so is indicative for the hearth
refractory wear. An example is shown in Figure A7.2
Figure A7.2 Hearth isotherms
The actual condition of the hearth is shown by the actual thermocouples. But to
estimate the refractory condition of the hearth, the campaign highest readings
have to be analysed: the highest value in the campaign indicates the border of
good hearth refractories, since refractories when gone are not restored, but scabs
are formed in the hearth. Some blast furnace hearth models even calculate the
thickness of the skull on the hearth sidewall and bottom.
207
Use of the model helps to maintain the integrity of hearth wear monitoring
system. Many thermocouples fail during a campaign, so a program for repair
and/or elimination from the model has to be in place in order to secure accurate
results.
While the model is very useful for repair/reline planning, daily operations are
more reactive on high temperature readings in a certain area. If temperatures
at hearth wall become too high, there is the risk of a break–out. Most operators
know the weak points of their hearth refractory and alarm temperatures are put
into the hearth monitoring system. When temperatures become too high, there
are corrective actions possible like plugging tuyeres above the affected area.
208 Annexes
Annex VIII Rist diagram

The Rist diagram is a graphical tool for analysis of the mass and heat exchange
in the blast furnace in steady–state condition, i.e. with constant material flows,
composition and temperatures of the blast furnace input (charge, fuel, hot blast)
and output (hot metal, slag, top gas) as well as heat losses.
The Rist diagram is a graphical presentation of a mathematical balance model

of the blast furnace process and it can be used to analyze operational efficiency.
In the present annex charge materials without limestone, dolomite or carbonate
ore are used.
In this situation the heat consumption of the process is determined by the

processes in the lower part of the furnace (i.e. below the thermal reserve zone)
since gas reaching the upper part of the furnace contains sufficient energy to
heat the materials, drive chemical reactions and for heat losses. The upper part
of the furnace is called the dry zone of BF shaft.
The upper part of the furnace is a counter current mass exchanger, where
oxygen is transferred from iron to gas (C and H₂). The iron flow (nFe, atom Fe/
min) reducing gas (n(C+H₂), (atom C + mol H₂)/min) have initial oxidation
(YO, atom O/atom Fe), XO, (at. O + mol H₂)/(atom C + mol H₂) at the reactor
entry and final oxidation (Yf , X f ) – at its exit. This is shown in Figure A8.1 and
in table A8.1.
YO n(C+H )
2
nFe Xf
Yf n(C+H )
2
nFe XO
Figure A8.1 The reduction of iron oxides in the upper part of a blast furnace reactor:
the amount of iron processed is shown as nFe, the oxidation degree at
input of the reactor YO and at exit as Yf. The amount of gas as n(C+H2) and
its oxidation degree as XO (at inlet, lower part) and X f at exit.
209
The mass exchange equation for such a reactor shall be as follows:

n(C+H₂) (X f –XO) = nFe(YO – Yf ) or for any other point through the height of
the reactor:
Y F = YO – n(C+H₂) / nFe(X F –XO) or Y = YO – μ(X–XO) (1)
where μ = n(C+H₂) / nFe – is reducing gas consumption, (atom C+mol H₂)/
atom Fe
symbol what unit top bottom comment

(900 °C)
ferrous nFe produc- atom 124,452 124,452 as example 10,000
burden tion Fe/min tHM/d
oxida- YO Yf oxidation atom 1.47 (=YO) 0.5 (=Yf ) Hematite, Fe2O3 has
tion degree O per YO = 1.5
burden atom Fe
gas flow n(C+H2) gas flow (atom 252,232 252,232 based on 250 m³ STP/t
(CO, CO2, C + mol O2, 120 kg C direct
H 2) H2)/min reduction, 200 kg PCI
with 4% hydrogen
oxygen XO Xf oxygen (at. O + 1.38 1.14 bottom ETACO = 24%,
per atom bound to mol H2)/ ETAH2=35%,
(C+H2) C and H2 (at. C + top ETACO = 50%,
mol H2) ETAH2=40%
Table A8.1 Definition of the parameters used in the Rist diagram.
The equation (1) is an “operational straight line” and describes the oxygen
transfer from burden to gas in the blast furnace shaft.
In a simple case of a furnace operating with dry blast and without hydrocarbon
injection, i.e. with no hydrogen content in the blast furnace gas on the axes of
the Rist diagram are shown:
Y–axis = atom O/atom Fe
X–axis = atom O/atom C.
When hydrogen is present in blast furnace gas the coordinates of the above axes
change to:
Y–axis = (atom O + mol H₂)/atom Fe
X–axis = (atom O+ mol H₂)/(atom C+ mol H₂).
210 Annexes
Figure A8.2 The Rist diagram, for explanation see text
Review Rist diagram

If we look on the x–axis, the point where the x–axis = 1 is the point, where
(O+H₂)/(C+H₂)=1, which means that all the gas is in the form of CO and H₂,
so in the lower part of the furnace.
Let we follow the operation line in Figure A8.2 from left under (point E) to
the right at the top point A. In the area between X=0 to X=1 the line shows
generation of reducing gas (CO and H₂) in the blast furnace during coke
combustion at the tuyeres (segment UE on the axis of ordinates), reduction of
silicon, manganese, phosphorus and other elements by carbon (segment 0U on
the Y–axis) and direct iron reduction (segment B0 on the Y–axis).
The quantity of reduction gas (mol/atom Fe) is determined by the blast oxygen
consumption (yb, atom O/atom Fe), oxygen of the direct reduction of elements
(yel, atom O/atom Fe) and of desulphurization reaction (ys, atom O/atom Fe)
and hydrogen of coke volatile matters (yc, mol H₂/atom Fe).
On point B the gas is in the form of CO and H2 and the line BA shows the gas
reduction of the burden and thus the oxidation of CO to CO₂ and H₂ to H₂O.
The value of point W1 on the x–axis shows the equilibrium composition for
reaction of FeO reduction by carbon monoxide in chemical reserve zone, while
value of point W2 on the x–axis shows equilibrium composition for reaction of
FeO by hydrogen in the same zone (Figure A8.2).
When CO and H₂ are both present in the gas, point W can be determined as a
211
weighted average W = W1+h(W2 – W1), where h – is the share of hydrogen in

H₂ + CO mixture.
The operational straight line passes through point W only, if gas reaches the
equilibrium composition. This is the ideal case, where the reduction process is
executed with the minimum reduction gas and therefore with minimum fuel
rate.
In a less than ideal case, gas equilibrium is not reached and the operational
straight line passes to the left of point W (for example through point D in Fig
Annex 8.2). The closer the operational straight line comes to point W, the more
efficient the reduction processes in the blast furnace.
This is indicated by Ƥ = (X D/X W ). The X–value of point W (X W ) depends on

the gas temperature in thermal reserve zone of the blast furnace and hydrogen
content in the reducing gas. The operation line for an operating furnace can be
drawn through 2 of the 3 points available i.e. A, E, P.
For point A: The Y value of point A (YA) is determined by oxidation of materials

charged into blast furnace (atom O/atom Fe) and its X–value (X A)– by oxidation
of the top gas (atom O + mol H₂)/(atom C + mol H₂)) or (2CO₂ + 2 H₂O + CO
+ H₂)/(CO₂+ H₂O + CO + H₂) = 1+(CO₂+ H₂O)/(CO₂ + H₂O + CO + H₂).
For point E: The Y–value of point E (Y E) is determined by quantity of oxygen
(atom O/atom Fe) of the blast (segment EU) and oxygen of direct reduction of
elements (segment from 0 to point U on the axis of ordinates).The X–value of
point E is 0.
For point P (X P) is determined by temperature and moisture content of

the blast, while the Y–value (Y P) depends on quantity of oxygen for direct
reduction of elements and heat requirement of lower part of the furnace, i.e. it is
determined by the y–values of points U and V. Y V in the diagram is determined
as the ratio of heat requirement of the lower part (Q, kcal /atom Fe ) and the
heat for (qs, kcal /atom C) the gasification reaction (reaction of solution loss
CO2 +C ȼ2CO): Y V= Q/qs, atom C/atom Fe .
The heat required to run the process in the lower part is needed for all
endothermic reactions, smelting/heating of hot metal and slag as well as heat
losses.
The equation of the operation line at maximum efficiency (Ƥ =1) can be derived
from the temperature of the thermal reserve zone and coordinates of points W
and P.
In this case the Y–value of point W is equal to oxidation of wustite Y W =1,05

atom O/atom Fe, while the X–value is equal to the equilibrium condition of
the gas as can be determined from reference data for a given temperature in
the thermal reserve zone. In this case the equation of operation line allows the
212 Annexes
operator to find theoretically minimum possible fuel rate.
The equation of the operation line for an operating furnace makes it possible
to assess the efficiency of reduction processes in the furnace and the degree
of direct reduction (Y B), or to forecast the furnace performance (fuel rate) for
changes in blast furnace operating conditions.
The position of point P can be calculated from the temperature and moisture
content of the blast as well as from the heat and mass balance of the BF lower
part.
When injecting hydrocarbons into blast furnace tuyeres (Figure A8.3), blast
furnace gas contains additional hydrogen and CO gas from injected fuel, for
example from coal injected with PCI. The additional amount of H₂ and CO
gas (yj,(a+ b) in Figure A8.3) is determined by the injection rate (yj, mol/atom
Fe) as well as by the content of H₂ and oxygen in it (a, mol H₂/mol and b, atom
O/mol). Heat required in the lower part of the furnace then increases with the
amount of heat, required for dissociation of hydrocarbons of injected fuel (q j/
qsol). In this case the Y–value of the point W depends on the share of hydrogen
in the reduction gas and the gas temperature in the thermal reserve zone W =
W1+h(W2 – W1).
Figure A8.3 The Rist diagram including injected fuels, for explanation see text.
213
Annex IX References
Agarwal, J.C.; Brown, F.C.; Chin, D.L.; Frydenlund, A.R.; Jessiman, N.S.:
The use of total Thermal–plus–Chemical Energy above 2700 °F to describe blast
furnace operations. Charles River Associates Incorporated, Boston, 1991.
Biswas, A.K.: Principles of Blast Furnace Ironmaking. Cootha Publishing House,

Brisbane, 1981.
Bonnekamp, H.; Engel, K.; Fix, W.; Grebe, K.; Winzer, G.: The Freezing with
Nitrogen and Dissection of Mannesmann’s No. 5 Blast Furnace. Proceedings of the
43rd Ironmaking Conference, Chicago, USA, 1984, pages 139–150.
Bonte, L.; Huysse, K.; Daelman, A.: Hearth Management at Sidmar for an
Optimal Hot Metal and Slag Evacuation. Proceedings of the 5t European Coke
and Ironmaking Congress, Stockholm, Sweden, 2005.
Carpenter, A.: Use of PCI in Blast Furnaces. IEA Clean Coal Center, London,
2006.
Chaigneau, R.; Bakker, T.; Steeghs, A.; Bergstrand, R.: Quality Assessment
of Ferrous Burden: Utopian dream? Proceedings of the 60t Ironmaking
Conference, Baltimore, USA, 2000, pages 689–703.
Chaigneau, R.: Complex Calcium Ferrites in the Blast Furnace Process. PhD
thesis, Delft University Press, Delft, 1994.
Committee for Fundamental Metallurgy of the Verein Deutscher

Eisenhüttenleute: Slag Atlas. Verlag Stahleisen, Düsseldorf, 1981.
Geerdes, M.; Van der Vliet, C.; Driessen, J.; Toxopeus, H.: Control of a High
Productivity Blast Furnace by Material Distribution. Proceedings of the 50t
Ironmaking Conference, Washington, USA, 1991, pages 367–378.
Grebe, K.; Keddeinis, H.; Stricker, K.P.: Untersuchungen über den

Niedrigtemperaturzerfall von Sinter. In: Stahl und Eisen, No. 100, pages
973–982, 1980.
Hartig, W.; Langner, K.; Lüngen, H.B.; Stricker, K.P.: Measures for Increasing
the Productivity of Blast Furnace. Proceedings of the 59t Ironmaking
Conference, Pittsburgh, USA, pages 3–16, 2000.
Kolijn, C.: International Cokemaking Issues. 3rd McMaster Cokemaking Course,

McMaster University, Hamilton, Canada, 2001.
214 Annexes
Raipala, K.: On Hearth Phenomena and Hot Metal Carbon Content in Blast
Furnace. PhD Thesis, Helsinki University of Technology Publications in
Material Science and Metalurgy, Espoo, 2003.
Lingiardi, O. et al: High Productivity and Coke Rate Reduction at Siderar Blast
Furnace No. 2. Procceedings of the 1st International Meeting on Ironmaking,
Belo Horizonte, Brazil, 2001.
Nightingale, R.J.: The Development of Hearth Voidage Estimation and Deadman

Cleanliness Index. PhD Thesis, University of Wollongong, 2000.
Pagter, J. de; Molenaar, R.: Taphole Experience at BF6 and BF7 of Corus Strip
Products IJmuiden. Proceedings of the McMaster Ironmaking Conference,
Hamilton, Canada, 2001.
Pardo, N.; Moya, J.A.; Vatopoulos, K.: Prospective Scenarios on Energy Efficiency
and CO₂ Emissions in the EU Iron & Steel Industry. EUR Scientific and
Technical Research Series, Publications Office of the European Union, 2012.
Peacy, J.G.; Davenport, W.G.: The Iron Blast Furnace – Theory and Practice.
Pergamon Press, Oxford, 1979.
Rist, A.; Bonnivard, G. – Revue de Métallurgie, Vol. 60, pages 23–38, 1963.
Rist, A.; Meysson, N. – Revue de Métallurgie, Vol. 61, pages 121–46, 1964.
Rist, A.; Meysson, N.: A Dual Graphic Representation of the Blast Furnace
Mass and Heat Balances. Proceedings of the 25t Ironmaking Conference,
Philadelphia, USA, 1996, pages 88–98.
Rist, A.: Solving Simple Blast Furnace Problems by Means of the Operating
Diagram. In: Blast Furnace Ironmaking, pages 4/1–4/37, 1977.
Schoone, E.E.; Toxopeus, H.L.; Vos, D.: Trials with a 100% Pellet Burden.
Proceedings of the 54t Ironmaking Conference, Nashville, USA, 1995, pages
465–470.
Singh, B.N.; De, A.; Rawat, Y.F.; Das, R.C.; Chatterjee, A. – Iron and Steel
International, pages 135ff, 1984.
Toxopeus, H.L.; Steeghs, A.G.S.; Van den Boer, J.F.C.: PCI at the Start of the
21st Century. Proceedings of the 60t Ironmaking Conference, Baltimore, USA,
2001, pages 736–742.
Vander, T. et al: Coke Quality Improvement Possibilities and Limitations.

Proceedings of the 3rd International Cokemaking Congress, Gent, Belgium,
1996, pages 28–37.
215
Index
alkali, reactions 169
alkali, recirculation 169
Banded Iron Formation 26

basicity 138
blast furnace profile 10
blow–down 181
blow–in 185
blowpipe failures 179
Boudouard equilibrium 116
briquettes 39
burden calculation 78
burden components, blending 131
burden components, interaction 41
burden descent, vertical forces 87
burden descent, voidage 85
burden distribution 96
burden distribution, “ideal” 104
burden tracking 202
carbon and iron oxides 115

cast, not dry 157
casthouse 145
casthouse operation 145
casting delays 153
channelling 96
charging rate, variability 166
charging systems 8
chills 187
coal ash deposits 66
coal blending 65
coal blends for coke 45
coal gasification 66
coal hardness 64
coal injection equipment 62
coal volatile matter 64
coal-gas coinjection 73
coal-oxygen working area 67
216 Index
cohesive zone 90
coke cold strength 52
coke degradation 48
coke hot strength 53
coke layer 101
coke making, coal types 196
coke mess 189
coke quality 46, 57
coke rate, minimum 102
coke residence time 43
coke, quality tests 198
cold compression strength 36
cooling plates 12
cooling systems 11
CRI 53
CSR 53
deadman 54
deadman cleanliness index 54
decrepitation 39
desulphurization 137
direct reduction accompanying elements 117
direct reduction estimate 83
direct reduction increase, example 83
Direct reduction iron oxides 116
DRI 39
efficiency 111
efficiency, monitoring 112
expert system 202
fines and bin levels 161

fines, handling 161
fines, segregation 161
fluidization 96
freestanding 8
gas cleaning 7
gas flow 89
gas flow daily control 106
gas reduction 118
gas utilization 20
glossary 191
goethite 27
greenhouse gas emissions 189
217
hanging 167
harmonic mean size 50
HBI 39
hearth, liquid level 151
heat flux 90
hematite 26
hot blast stoves 7
hot metal composition 127
hot metal composition and temperature 132
hydrogen 121
incomplete combustion 59, 75

injectants 59
inner volume 9
instrumentation 106
iron and slag separation 145
K–factor 126
layer structure 2
lintel 8
lump ore 39
magnetite 26
mass balance 79
metallic charge 39
mixed layer 98
models 202
moisture, input with charge 164
moisture, recirculation 164
natural gas, working area 71
ore layer 103

oxygen lancing 160
pellets 35
permeability 126
pressure difference 87
process, daily control 106
production rate, variability 166
productivity 110
quality of ferrous burden 28

quenched blast furnace 5
218 Index
raceway 15
RAFT (Raceway Adiabatic Flame Temperature) 113
Reducibility 31
reduction–disintegration 31, 32, 128
replacement ratio 59, 63
Rist diagram 208
rules of thumb 195
scabs, at peepsites 179

shutdown, procedure 181
silicon reduction 133
sinter 32
slag composition 127
slag flooding 132
slag granulation 7
slag properties 139
slag properties at stops and starts 143
slipping 166
softening and melting 129
start–up, after short stops 182
staves 12
steel consumption 1
stockhouse 7
stops and starts 180
sulphur in hot metal 136
swelling 37
symmetry, circumferential 173
taphole 147
taphole operation, one side 156
taphole operation, two sides 148
temperature profile 124
top gas composition 79
top gas, formation 124
total energy 71
tuyeres 176
tuyeres, burnt 177
tuyeres, tipped 178
water discipline 177

whisker 37
working volume 9
wustite 26
zinc, recirculation 172

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What is the book about?

What is the book about?

What are some of the main topics covered in the book?

What are some of the main topics covered in the book?

Modern

Third Edition, 2015

ISBN 978–1–61499–498–5 (print)

Published by IOS Press under the imprint Delft University Press

PRINTED IN THE NETHERLANDS

We are indebted to many colleagues we have worked with. We are grateful to

We learn by sharing our knowledge. We wish the same to our readers.

Maarten Geerdes, Rénard Chaigneau, Ivan Kurunov,

Chapter I Introduction of the Blast Furnace Process 1

Chapter II The Blast Furnace: Contents and Gas Flow 15

Chapter III The Ferrous Burden: Sinter, Pellets, Lump Ore 25

Chapter V Injection of Coal, Oil and Gas 59

Chapter VI Burden Calculation and Mass Balances 77

Chapter VIII Blast Furnace Productivity and Eﬃciency 109

Chapter IX Hot Metal and Slag 127

Chapter X Casthouse Operation 145

10.11 Deﬁning a dry hearth 159

Chapter XI Operational Practices and Challenges 161

Annex I Glossary 191

List of Symbols and Abbreviations

Global ﬁnished steel consumption: 1413 Mtpa

Resources Ironmaking Steelmaking Finished

Figure 1.2 Geographical distribution of steel consumption

1.2 Short description of the process

Figure 1.3 Input and output of a blast furnace

A typical example of the temperature proﬁle in the blast furnace is shown in

Figure 1.5 Temperature proﬁle in a blast furnace (typical example)

1.3 The layer structure within a furnace

Figure 1.6a Dissections of quenched blast furnaces Kakogawa 1 and Tsurumi

Figure 1.6b Cohesive zone after blow–down

As indicated in Figure 1.7, at any moment, an operating blast furnace contains,

Figure 1.7 The zones in the blast furnace

1.4 The equipment

1.4.1 Equipment overview

Figure 1.8 Blast furnace general arrangement

Examples of various types are schematically shown in Figure 1.9.

1.4.2 Blast furnace construction

Figure 1.10 Blast furnace constructions

1.4.3 Blast furnace development

Bottom Bottom Bottom of

Figure 1.11 Deﬁnitions of working volume and inner volume

1.4.4 Blast furnace proﬁle

Figure 1.12 Major dimensions of a blast furnace

1.4.5 Cooling systems

Figure 1.13 Cooling systems: plate coolers, staves and hybrid

1.5 Book overview

Blast furnace ironmaking can be discussed from three diﬀerent perspectives:

Figure 2.1a The raceway, horizontal and vertical sections

Figure 2.1b The raceway after a blowdown and nitrogen quench.

The blast furnace is a counter–current reactor (Figure 2.2). The driving

Figure 2.2 The blast furnace as a counter–current reactor

Figure 2.4 Schematic presentation of reduction of iron oxides and temperature

important to screen the burden materials well, normally with 5 or 6 mm screens

2.2 Furnace efﬁciency

The process eﬃciency of the blast furnace, generally considered to be the