Exploitation of Banded Hematite Quartzite and Jhama Coal for the Production of Higher Grade Ferro-silicon

摘要

Ferro-alloy industries are backbones of steel industries because of its wider application such as an alloying element and in some cases as deoxidizer. In the Pidgeon process for production of magnesium from dolomite ferrosilicon is used. Ferrosilicon is used as inoculants which accelerate graphitization during the production of cast iron. In arc welding, ferrosilicon is used in electrode coatings. Recently, Indian ferro-alloys industries are passing through one of its worst periods by the process of economic liberalization. With the recent reductions in custom duties, the exports are becoming cheaper. It has been hit hard rather than being helped in its growth through additional investment. Thus the production of ferro-alloys in our country is coming down mainly due to inadequate industries demand, nonavailability of exports, high power cost and non-availability of low ash coking coal. In view of the above challenges, the present investigation has been taken up with a process development for the production of ferrosilicon using lean grade Banded Hematite quartzite (BHQ) and unutilized low reactive coals such as Jhama coal as a reducing agent.