Direct Iron Ore Reduction for Asia

Abstract

THE increasing shortage of high grade basic materials for, and the high investment cost of, the conventional blast furnace are responsible for the trend in iron ore reducti on technology towards direct processes. In Western Europe the low or short shaft furnace has attracted a considerable amount of development effort while very little research work was devoted there to the fluidised bed technique.On the other hand, the American situation is characterised by a multitude of fluidised bed processes to the virtual exclusion of shaft furnace techniques. Apart front these main trends of development, numerous other processes and promising ideas are tested in pilot or laboratory plants and some have attained almost the stage of commercial utilisation. The technical situation is thus characterised by a great variety and uncertainty. Long range planning is thereby rendered exceedingly complex especially under the pressure of econcmic conditions which enforce, as is the case in Asia, the strictest economy of investment and operation and should be based on a realistic assessment, as is att-emped here, of processes which are well proved in comm-ercial application for a considerable time. Along with these principal processes which are apprai- sed technically and economically and which should command first consideration by planning authorities, significant associated processes are mentioned in acco-rdance with their technical features.Active development projects conclude the listing.