Summary
This paper discusses the need for a radical technological change to take place in the production of iron and steel and suggests the salient features that should be addressed. In this respect, five new direct smelting steelmaking systems which, at least in part, provide some measure of meeting these salient features, have been examined and compared with the present blast furnace/basic oxygen furnace route. It is suggested that future ministeel plants may benefit from adopting one of these new direct smelting units when used in conjunction with converter steelmaking and continuous-casting facilities.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
H. Takano, “Productivity of the Japanese Iron and Steel Industry— Technology for Manpower Saving,” Tetsu-to-Hagane, 67, (1981) (11), pp. 1867–1875.
C.G. Davis, J.F. McFarlin, and H.R. Pratt, “Compilation of Reports on Direct Reduction Technology and Economics,” United States Steel Corporation Research Laboratory, under sponsorship of U.S. Department of Energy, Washington, 1981, VI–16.
J.J. Moore, “The Potential for Direct Reduction Steelmaking in the Upper Great Lakes Region,” Chapter 4, edited by K.J. Reid, 1981, sponsored by the Upper Great Lakes Regional Commission.
R.J. Goodman, “Direct Reduction Processing— State of the Art,” Skillings’ Mining Review, 68,(10) (1979).
J.J. Moore and K.J. Reid, “Novel Direct Reduction Technology,” Final Report submitted to the Legislative Commission on Minnesota Resources, July 1981, p. 16.
J. Szekely, “The Role of Innovative Steelmaking Technologies,” Iron and Steelmaker, 1,(12) (1979), pp. 25–30.
S. Eketorp, “Thoughts about Metallurgy Facing Year 2000,” Stahl und Eisen, 101,(H 13114), (1981), pp. 82–89.
P.H. Colin and H. Stickler, “ELRED—A New Process for the Less Expensive Production of Liquid Iron,” Iron and Steel Engineer, March 1980.
E. Bergtsson and B. Widall, “The Chemistry of the ELRED Process,” Iron and Steelmaker, 8,(10) (1981), pp. 30–34.
H.I. Elvander, I.A. Edenwall, and S.C.J. Hellstam, “The Boliden INRED Process for Smelting Reduction of Fine Grained Iron Oxides and Concentrates,” Third Int. Iron and Steel Cong. Proc, April 1978, Chicago, Illinois, pp. 195–200.
R.R. Irving, “The INRED Process: An Ironmaking Option,” Iron Age, 6, (July 1981), pp. 21–23.
S. Santen, “Plasma Technology Gives New Lease of Life to Swedish DR Plant,” Iron and Steel Int., 53,(1), (1980), pp. 347–350.
“SKF Steel’s ‘Flash of Genius’ Will Mean Brighter Prospects for the Steel Industry,” SKF Steel Division Publication, Steel Market News, March, 1980, pp. 1–8.
“SKF Steel Plasmasmelt,” SKF Steel Publication, 1981.
T.E. Ban, “Direct Electric Smelting of Hot Prereduced Iron Ore,” Proceedings of the 46th Annual Meeting, Minnesota Section AIME and 34th Annual Mining Symposium of University of Minnesota, 1973, pp. 95–102.
“The Future Steel Plant— A Study of Energy Consumption,” Summary Report for Natural Swedish Board for Technical Development, No. 135, 1979.
S. Eketorp, O. Wijk, and S. Fukagawa, “Direct Use of Coal for Production of Molten Iron,” in Proceedings, Extraction Metallurgy 81, I.M.M., 1981, London, pp. 184–192.
“South African Mini Steelworks Smelts 420,000 tpy Plus,” 33 — The Magazine of Metals Producing, 8, (4) (1970).
J. Hartwig, D. Radke, and H. Seelig, “Development of a Melt Down Process with Combined Direct Reduction Using Any Type of Small Coal,” Stahl und Eisen, 100,(10) (1980), pp. 535–543.
J.J. Moore, “The Case for Rare Earth Desulfurization of Acid Steel in Steel Casting Production,” Trans. A.F.S., 1981.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Moore, J.J. An Examination of the New Direct Smelting Processes for Iron and Steelmaking. JOM 34, 39–48 (1982). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03338026
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03338026