Open AccessNitrogen Control in Electric Arc Furnace Steelmaking by DRI (TRP 0009)
Author(s) -
G. A. Irons
Publication year - 2004
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Reports
DOI - 10.2172/840951
Subject(s) - steelmaking , electric arc furnace , nitrogen , work (physics) , waste management , metallurgy , environmental science , engineering , materials science , chemistry , mechanical engineering , organic chemistry
Nitrogen is difficult to remove in electric arc furnace (EAF) steelmaking, requiring the use of more energy in the oxygen steelmaking route to produce low-nitrogen steel. The objective of this work was to determine if the injection of directly reduced iron (DRI) fines into EAFs could reduce the nitrogen content by creating fine carbon monoxide bubbles that rinse nitrogen from the steel. The proposed work included physical and chemical characterization of DRI fines, pilot-scale injection into steel, and mathematical modeling to aid in scale-up of the process. Unfortunately, the pilot-scale injections were unsuccessful, but some full-scale data was obtained. Therefore, the original objectives were met, and presented in the form of recommendations to EAF steelmakers regarding: (1) The best composition and size of DRI fines to use; (2) The amount of DRI fines required to achieve a specific reduction in nitrogen content in the steel; and (3) The injection conditions. This information may be used by steelmakers in techno-economic assessments of the cost of reducing nitrogen with this technology