Cold bonded ore–coal composite pellets developed on a laboratory scale (Part 1 of this two part paper) were tested in a rotary kiln sponge iron plant. This plant had a 12 m length refractory lined rotary kiln of 8 t/day iron ore throughput capacity. Kiln operation was optimised to achieve more than 90% metallisation of sponge iron using ore–coal composite pellets. The kiln productivity increased and energy consumption decreased, compared with levels obtained when sized lump ore was used as iron oxide feed material. The plant trials established the suitability of composite pellets for sponge ironmaking with enhanced kiln productivity.
