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Direct reduction and smelting reduction – an overview
Author(s) -
Steffen Rolf
Publication year - 1989
Publication title -
steel research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1869-344X
pISSN - 0177-4832
DOI - 10.1002/srin.198900882
Subject(s) - smelting , reduction (mathematics) , coal , blast furnace , coke , metallurgy , iron ore , waste management , direct reduced iron , environmental science , engineering , process engineering , materials science , mathematics , geometry
A survey is given on the current state of direct reduction and smelting reduction processes. Several developments, such as coal injection, top‐gas recycling etc., contribute to decrease the coke consumption in the blast furnace. Coal‐based as well as gas‐based direct reduction processes have not succeeded in Western Europe. These processes have only attracted economical interest in locations where there is a cheap source of energy. Other developments to reduce iron ore are concerned with the direct production of liquid iron in a smelting reduction process with a substantial part of the reduction taking place in the liquid oxide phase. The ideal concept of a smelting reduction process with direct use of fine ore and coal as well as only liquid state reduction to a liquid product similar to steel has not yet been realized.