Direct Reduced Iron Agglomeration Gas Removal

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for agglomerating direct-reduced iron are inefficient in removing gases, leading to reduced production and lower density of agglomerates, which complicates the smelting reduction process.

Innovation Solution

The method involves filling the space in direct-reduced iron with carbon monoxide or carbon dioxide, converting carbon monoxide into carbon dioxide and carbon, and using CaO or MgO to react with carbon dioxide, thereby reducing gas volume and increasing agglomerate density, while agglomerating with rollers under controlled pressure.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If physical pressure method is used to agglomerate reduced iron, then the oxidation problem is avoided, but gas removal efficiency is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoxidation of reduced ironVSAvoidgas removal efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the chemical parameters by introducing carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide gases that react with the reduced iron at controlled temperatures (600-800°C). This chemical parameter change enables efficient gas removal through controlled reactions, resolving the contradiction between avoiding oxidation and improving gas removal efficiency

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent converts the harmful gas phase into beneficial carbon deposits through controlled chemical reactions. Carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide react with reduced iron to form solid carbon, transforming the harmful gas that needs removal into a beneficial solid product that remains in the agglomerate, thus improving gas removal efficiency without causing oxidation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

2Productivity

If gas is not efficiently removed from reduced iron, then production efficiency decreases, but the process becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveagglomerate production efficiencyVSAvoidprocess complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts harmful gases from the reduced iron by introducing reactive gases (carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide) that chemically bind with and remove the trapped gases. This extraction process efficiently removes gases to improve production efficiency while maintaining relatively simple process equipment

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide as intermediary substances that mediate between the trapped gases and the reduced iron. These intermediary gases facilitate the removal process by reacting with trapped gases to form removable products, improving production efficiency without requiring complex direct removal mechanisms

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This approach efficiently removes gases, increasing agglomerate density and production efficiency, simplifying the process and improving the smelting reduction process by minimizing gas occurrence.

Implementation Method 1

converting the carbon monoxide into carbon dioxide and carbon while agglomerating the reduced iron

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectChemical reaction (CO conversion): Chemical Bonding

Implementation Method 2

removing the carbon dioxide by allowing the carbon dioxide to react with the oxide

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectChemical reaction (CO2 absorption): Chemical Bonding

Implementation Method 3

agglomerating the reduced iron by a pair of rollers, and nip pressure of the pair of rollers may be 10 ton/cm to 15 ton/cm

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMechanical compression: Compression

Data Source

PatentEP3228717B1Direct reduced iron compacting method, direct reduced iron compacting apparatus, and molten iron manufacturing apparatus containing same
Publication Date: 2019.04.10 POHANG IRON & STEEL CO LTD
  • EP3228717B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3228717B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3228717B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Provided are a method and an apparatus for agglomerating direct-reduced iron which are capable of efficiently removing gas existing in direct-reduced iron, and an apparatus for manufacturing molten iron including the same. A method of agglomerating direct-reduced iron includes: i) filling a space in reduced iron with one or more gases selected from a group consisting of carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide; and ii) converting the carbon monoxide into carbon dioxide and carbon while agglomerating the reduced iron.