Analysis of the influence of coke quality on the production of pig iron in the conditions of JSC “Ural Steel”

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to conformity of the quality of coke used in the blast-furnace shop of JSC “Ural Steel” meets the requirements recommended in the scientific literature, and to study its impact on the consumption of coke and the production of pig iron at the enterprise. For the study, the blast furnace № 1 with a useful volume of 1007 m3 and the blast furnace No. 4 with a useful volume of 2002 m3 were selected. The results of the analysis of data on the quality of coke over a three-year period: ash content, volatile matter and sulphur in the coke, the moisture content in the coke, the coke uniformity coefficient, indicators of the cold strength of coke (M25 and M10), indicators of coke hot strength (CSR) and reactivity of coke after high-temperature interaction with CO2 (CRI). Studies have revealed significant instability of the moisture content in the coke, which affects the change in its consumption, and heterogeneity of the granulometric composition of the coke, increasing the stability and uniformity of which would favorably affect the indicators of the blast furnace process. It was found that the values of the indicators of M10 coke attrition, hot strength of coke (CSR) and reactivity of coke (CRI) do not meet the recommendations of domestic and foreign scientists. Measures are proposed to improve the quality of coke, the implementation of which will increase the productivity of blast furnaces and reduce the consumption of coke per ton of pig iron.