Heat balance for iron making in experimental low-shaft furnace

Abstract

The difference in design and utilisation of raw materials of poor physical strength, distinguish the iron making technique in low-shaft furnace from that in conventional blast furnace. Due to the comparatively high fuel rate in the low-shaft furnace, heat balance has been prepared and compared with a conventional blast furnace to account for the smelting efficiency. The restriction in the shaft height leading to high top gas temperature and high CO/CO2 ratio do not enable optimum utilization of heat released by the combustion of carbon. The amount of available heat is not to the same extent as in a conventional blast furnace. Based on the operational parameters, the higher fuel consumption in the experimental low-shaft furnace has been explained. (Shri Sidheshwar Prasad, Senior Technical Assistant and Dr. A.B. Chatterjea, Deputy Director, Ferrous Production Technology Division, (Scientist), National Metallurgical Laboratory, Jamshedpur