Optimization of Process Parameter for Smelting and Reduction of Ferrochrome

Abstract

The increasing costs of electric energy and continuous depletion of quality raw material such as Chromite ore and coke for production of high grade Ferro-chrome imposed a big challenge for the Ferro- alloys industries. In order to sustain in the globalized market, an attempt have been made in the present investigation for production of high grade Ferro-chrome utilizing lean grade raw materials. Chromite ore having different Cr/Fe ratio were smelted in a 100 KVA submerge arc furnace (SAF) with low grade nut coke. The Cr/Fe ratio of the Chromite ore pellets were optimized with respect to the slag basicity and power consumption to yield high grade Ferro-chrome. The basicity of the slag and Cr/Fe ratio of the ore were optimized to produce high grade Ferro-chrome (Cr > 60%) with low power consumption. It was observed that high grade Ferro-chrome can be produced utilizing low grade Chromite ore having Cr/Fe ratio 2.4 at the slag basicity of 1.