Experiments and Simulations on the Low-Temperature Reduction of Iron Ore Oxide Pellets with Hydrogen

This article examines the low-temperature reducibility of four types of iron ore pellets in a pure hydrogen atmosphere, with the aim of understanding the thermodynamic aspects of the process. The research focuses on optimizing conditions for pellet reduction in order to reduce CO<sub>2</sub...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Róbert Findorák, Zuzana Miškovičová, Jaroslav Legemza, Róbert Dzurňák, Branislav Buľko, Peter Demeter, Andrea Egryová, Róbert Maliňák
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-03-01
Series:Metals
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4701/15/3/289
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:This article examines the low-temperature reducibility of four types of iron ore pellets in a pure hydrogen atmosphere, with the aim of understanding the thermodynamic aspects of the process. The research focuses on optimizing conditions for pellet reduction in order to reduce CO<sub>2</sub> emissions and improve iron production efficiency. Experimental tests were conducted at temperatures of 600 °C and 800 °C, supplemented by thermodynamic simulations predicting the equilibrium composition and energy requirements. Chemical and microstructural analyses revealed that porosity, mineralogical composition, and phase distribution homogeneity significantly affect reduction efficiency. High-quality pellets with low SiO<sub>2</sub> content demonstrated the best reduction ability, while fluxed pellets with the presence of calcium silicate ferrites and pellets with a higher content of SiO<sub>2</sub> showed lower reduction potential due to the presence of hard-to-reduce phases such as calcium silicate ferrites and iron silicates. The results highlight the importance of controlling process conditions and optimizing pellet properties to enhance the reduction process and minimize environmental impacts. This study provides valuable insights for the application of hydrogen reduction in industrial conditions, contributing to the decarbonization of the metallurgical industry.
ISSN:2075-4701