Investigation Report on the Injection of Naphtha for Iron smelting

The subject of injection of light naphtha in the iron blast furnace has been engaging the attention of the Ministry of Steel and Heavy Industries, Hindustan Steel Limited particularly in the background of heavy surplus availability of light naphtha in the country during the Third and Fourth Five Year Plans. The Ministry of Iron and Steel, the Hindustan Steel Ltd. provided the necessary capital grant to the National Metallurgical Laboratory for undertaking pilot scale trials on the injection of light naphtha in the low-shaft blast furnace pilot plant of the National Metallurgical Laboratory. In the interest of economy, the National Metallurgical Laboratory agreed to undertake full responsibility of the difficult and hazardous venture of direct injection of an explosive petroleum product directly in the heart of an experimental iron smelting furnace without any additional staff or any additional allowance to the existing staff thereby economizing the recurring expenditure to the Ministry of Iron and Steel and Hindustan Steel Limited.