Blast Furnace Ironmaking: Analysis, Control and Optimization uses a fundamental first principles approach to prepare a blast furnace mass and energy balance in Excel™. Robust descriptions of the main equipment and systems, process technologies and best practices used in a modern blast furnace plant are detailed. Optimization tools are provided to help the reader find the best blast furnace fuel mix and related costs, maximize output or evaluate other operational strategies using the Excel™ model that the reader will develop.
The first principles blast furnace Excel™ model allows for more comprehensive process assessments than the 'rules of thumb' currently used by the industry. The model clearly shows the beneficial effects of injecting steam, oxygen, coal and natural gas into the blast furnace and their impact on blast air requirements, fuel and coke consumption and productivity. All steps in the molten iron value chain starting from iron ore, and coal and finishing with molten iron ready for processing into steel are described. Instructions are provided for optimizing the blast furnace performance, including energy and carbon footprint minimization that emphasizes the environment, safety and future developments.
This book is suitable for undergraduate and postgraduate science and engineering students in the fields of chemical, metallurgical and materials engineering. Additionally, steel company engineers, process technologists and management will find this book useful with its fundamental approach, best practices description and perspective on the future.
Delivers an ‘a priori’ technique for calculating blast furnace fuel and oxygen requirements
Provides sample problems and assignments at the end of each chapter with answers included
Includes information on how to optimize blast furnace operations while maintaining required temperatures and gas flowrates
Highlights slag properties in detail
Describes all major blast furnace equipment and best practices
Features blast furnace operating data from five continents