IRONARC: A Coke-Less Ironmaking Process

摘要

IRONARC is a plasma based ironmaking process where electricity is used to provide heat energy. Carbon required for the process is for performing chemical reduction work only, reducing the carbon consumption and CO2 emissions with 50% compared to conventional ironmaking. The raw material undergoes direct melting, so neither coke nor sintered iron ore is required. Internal combustion of re-circulated process gas results in very high energy efficiency. IRONARC has potential to produce iron with energy consumption less than 3100 kWh/ton iron (incl. coal and electricity), which is 977 kWh less than an ideal blast furnace. This paper presents the technology, the status of the development and its way to industrial implementation.