Progress in Modern Ironmaking Process

The leading smelting reduction and direct reduction processes were reviewed.The COREX,FINEX and HISMELT processes could eliminate the pollution from coking plant due to coke-needless operation.The industrialized COREX process is owing to the mature technology of shaft furnace gas-based direct reduction.The industrialization of FINEX and HISMELT is more difficult than that of COREX,considering the powder sticking in the fluidized bed and the conflict between secondary combustion and the lining corrosion in the iron bath furnace.The gas-based direct reduction(MIDREX,HYL-III,FINMET,et al) couldn't develop well in China because of the shortage of natural gas.The rotary hearth furnace(RHF) can use the low strength composite pellets.However,high power consumption,low productivity and low quality of the production are its disadvantages.A promising technology of ironmaking with fast reduction speed at low temperature was introduced,which has the advantages of low power consumption,environment-friendly,high productivity,low reduction temperature.