Improving Productivity of Sinter Through Magnetic Segregation Chute at Sinter Plant, Bokaro Steel Plant, Bokaro Steel Plant

Abstract

In a conventional sintering process, heat deficiency at the top layer of sinter-bed causes poor quality sinter from top lead to reduction in yield due to generation of return-sinter fines. Charging the raw-materials through an inclined chute in conventional system causes increase in bulk density of sinter-bed due to impact force, which affects the sinter-bed permeability. These process shortfalls of the conventional system are effectively tackled through introduction of a “magnetic segregation chute” in replacing the earlier conventional inclined charging chute at sinter band no. 1 of Bokaro Steel Pant. Magnetic field induced on charge materials by a permanent magnet provided in the charging chute, improves size segregation of charge materials and segregation of para-magnetic materials of the charge materials to top of the sinter-bed. The improved size segregation of charge materials effects in formation of highly permeable sinter-bed in the pallet, which facilitates increased bed permeability and segregation of para-magnetic materials to top of the sinter-bed, increases the heat availability at top for efficient sintering process. The introduction of magnetic-plate charging chute in sinter machines has yielded various technological benefits such as, increase in average air filtration velocity by 3%, improvement in productivity by 3%, reduction in solid-fuel consumption by 3 Kg/t-s, reduction in generation of (-) 5 mm return-sinter fines by 0.5%, increase in Tumbler Index by 5% etc.