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US 2026/0176436 A1Published application
Stabilized Agglomerated Compositions Made Using Byproducts from Steelmaking Operations
AssigneeS.A. Lhoist Recherche et Developpement
InventorsJoyce Aderhold, William Edward Johnson, JR.
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Abstract
An agglomerated composition of reduced iron fine/dust particles, a polymeric binder, a lime based fluxing agent and/or an additional source of carbon, such as biochar charcoal. The agglomerated compositions are able to effectively mimic the melting and chemical characteristics observed with traditional pig iron, DRI, HBI and anthracite additions in the electric arc furnace (EAF). The polymeric binder may be a low melting thermoplastic such as a low or high density polyethylene. The lime based fluxing agent may be a dolime composition.
Claims17
1:
- A stable, agglomerated composition useful as replacement alternative iron and carbon sources to traditional pig iron, DRI, HBI and anthracite in electric are furnace steel making and/or iron manufacturing operations, the composition comprising:
- fines/dust from steelmaking operations;
- a polymeric binder;
- dolime as a fluxing agent;
- and
- wherein the fines/dust is comprised of DRI and HBI.
3 more elements
2:
- The composition of claim 1, wherein the composition comprises an additional carbon source.
3:
- The composition of claim 1, wherein the polymeric binder is a low melting thermoplastic binder.
4:
- The composition of claim 1, wherein the polymeric binder is low density polyethylene.
5:
- The composition of claim 2, wherein the additional carbon source is a biochar charcoal.
6:
- A stable, agglomerated composition useful as replacement alternative iron sources to traditional pig iron, DRI, HBI and anthracite in electric are furnace steel making and/or iron manufacturing operations, the composition comprising:
- from about 50-90% by weight, based upon the total weight of the composition, of DRI/HBI fines/dust;
- from about 6-15% by weight, based upon the total weight of the composition, of a polymeric binder;
- from about 1-20% by weight, based upon the total weight of the composition, of biochar charcoal;
- from about 2-20% by weight, based upon the total weight of the composition, of dolime.
2 more elements
7:
- The composition of claim 6, wherein the polymeric binder is low density polyethylene.
8:
- The composition of claim 6, wherein the dolime is at least partially hydrated.
9:
- The composition of claim 6, in which the thermoplastic binder binds the other components together to produce a stable pellet which is useful as an energy source in steel making and/or iron manufacturing operations.
10:
- The composition of claim 1, wherein the stable, agglomerated composition useful as replacement alternative iron and carbon sources to traditional pig iron, DRI and HBI in electric are furnace steel making and/or iron manufacturing operations is a fluxed iron mix composition.
11:
- The composition of claim 1, wherein the stable, agglomerated composition further includes at least one of silicon manganese powder, silicon manganese fines, niobium carbide, roasted molybdenum sulfide, iron dust, iron chips, ferroalloy chips, metallic DRI(C) fines, or any combination thereof.
12:
- A method for providing stable volatile materials as an energy source for steelmaking operations in an EAF process, the method comprising the steps of:
- mixing a volatile material, a thermoplastic binder material and a dolime product as a fluxing agent and/optionally an additional carbon source, to thereby form an agglomerated pellet mixture,
- wherein the volatile material includes an agglomeration of DRI/HBI fines;
- pre-heating the pellet mixture;
- extruding the pellet mixture to form a thermoplastic pellet extrusion;
- and allowing the extrusion to harden to thereby form a stabilized volatile pellet.
3 more elements
13:
- The method of claim 12, further comprising the steps of:
- stockpiling the plurality of stabilized volatile pellets;
- burning the stabilized volatile pellets during a steelmaking process, wherein burning the stabilized volatile pellets releases the volatile material from the thermoplastic binder material.
14:
- The method of claim 12, wherein the volatile material further comprises at least one of silicon manganese powder, silicon manganese fines, niobium carbide, roasted molybdenum sulphide, iron dust, iron chips, ferroalloy chips, metallic DRI(C) fines, or any combination thereof.
15:
- The method of claim 12, wherein the volatile material includes:
- from about 50-90% by weight, based upon the total weight of the composition, of DRI/HBI fines/dust;
- from about 6-15% by weight, based upon the total weight of the composition, of a polymeric binder;
- from about 1-20% by weight, based upon the total weight of the composition, of biocharcoal;
- from about 2-20% by weight, based upon the total weight of the composition, of dolime as a fluxing agent.
2 more elements
16:
- The method of claim 12, wherein the stabilized volatile pellets produced by the process contain iron carbide.
17:
- The method of claim 16, wherein the stabilized volatile pellets contain greater than about 40% iron carbide when analyzed chemically.