Advantages and Risks of Blast Furnace Operation at Increased Pressure

It is known that one of the approaches to raise furnace productivity is to increase the gas pressure within the working capacity of the blast furnace and also the enrichment of the blast with oxygen. However, this approach cannot be realized due to the technological features of each blast furnace; in particular, the smelting processes of titano-magnetite raw materials. Thermodynamic analysis and modelling of kinetics and head transfer processes in blast furnace determine the conditions under which pressure could be increased in the furnace and enrichment of the blast with oxygen that provides the production of high purity pig irons. These conditions of high-quality iron ore materials and coke were recommended for implementation at the blast furnace. It is possible to increase the specific productivity of blast furnace by more than 10% and significantly reduce the specific consumption of coke. The mathematical model developed could be used to solve technological problems.