Effects of H 2 ratio on the softening–melting behaviours of vanadium titanomagnetite pellets under simulated H 2 -rich oxygen blast furnace conditions

Abstract

The effect of H₂ ratio (0–70 vol%) on the softening–melting behaviours of vanadium titanomagnetite pellets in H₂–CO gas mixtures has been investigated experimentally in the simulated H₂-rich oxygen blast furnace conditions. The feasibility of vanadium titanomagnetite pellets smelted in an H₂-rich oxygen blast furnace was discussed from gas utilisation rates, slag–iron separation performances, slag foamabilities, hot metal qualities, etc. The results indicate that although the cohesive zone range increases with the increase of H₂ ratio in gas mixtures, the permeability of the feed bed is improved greatly. The H₂ utilisation rate increases with the increase of H₂ ratio. Moreover, the formations of the slag foaming are minimised with the increase of H₂ ratio. H₂ in the reduction gases also promotes the reduction of vanadium oxides and titanium oxides, which increases the [V] content in dripping iron, and results in more TiC generations which severely deteriorates the slag–iron separation performances.