System and method for the production of hot briquetted iron (HBI) containing flux and/or carbonaceous material at a direct reduction plant

A system for producing hot briquetted iron with increased solid carbonaceous material and/or flux comprising:

• a shaft furnace of a direct reduction plant configured to reduce iron oxide with reducing gas;
• a hot briquette machine configured to produce hot briquetted iron;
• a chute coupled between a) a discharge exit of the shaft furnace for discharge of hot direct reduced iron and b) an entrance of the hot briquette machine;
• solid carbonaceous material and/or flux configured to be added to the discharged hot direct reduced iron from the shaft furnace to produce a mixture of the discharged hot direct reduced iron and the solid carbonaceous material and/or flux before feeding to the hot briquette machine;
• a preheater configured to preheat at least one of 1) the hot direct reduced iron and 2) the carbonaceous material and/or flux;
• and
• wherein the mixture is configured to be processed in the hot briquette machine to produce a product of hot briquetted iron with increased solid carbonaceous material content greater than 3 weight percent and/or an increased flux content to achieve the slag basicity (C/S) required for DRI melting process.