Use of DRI/HBI in ironmaking and steelmaking furnaces

The iron and steel production processes are characterized by a considerable environmental impact. The reduction of this impact, in particular emissions, is the target of modem society; this goal can be achieved through process optimization. The two main production processes, the blast furnace one and the one from electric arc furnace, are of different specificities and therefore different levers are present in order to decrease the amount of pollutants in the atmosphere. The adoption of pre reduced iron charge for these processes seems to be a good operating practice. A further reduction of pollutants linked to the coke oven batteries can be carried out thanks to the reduction of loaded cast iron within the converter. The decrease of the hot charge means that a lower amount of coal is consequently required. The electrical cycle, due to its structure, has a lower environmental impact, but the maximization of the process yield is a desirable objective for the purpose of a reduction of the environmental impact and economic optimization of such a steel cycle. The direct-reduced iron (DRI), due to its operative flexibility, is a suitable element to achieve this target.