Briquetting and Reduction of DRI/HBI Fines for Next-Generation Iron and Steel Making Technology

Sammanfattning

The current transition from Blast Furnace (BF) to Hydrogen-Direct Reduction (H-DR) is an initiative to reduce the carbon footprint in Iron and Steel production. The shift from traditional coke-based Iron and Steel making to a green H-DR requires new innovative technologies, underscoring the importance of collective efforts in this field. The production of DRI/HBI fines, which account for 1-2% wt. of DR production, poses a significant challenge for the iron and steel industries. These fines, rich in iron, are generated inside the plant during the handling, production, and transportation process. Their recycling in the DR process is difficult without proper agglomeration. Here, briquetting emerges as a promising solution to this challenge. This research work is dedicated to exploring the use of innovative binders in briquetting the DRI/HBI fines. It aims to understand the H2 -based reduction behaviour of the briquettes and the role of embedded biocarbon in enhancing resource efficiency. The study also investigates the impact of binders on the mechanical strength, moisture content, and compaction pressure of the briquettes. The optimized briquettes are then subjected to H2-based reduction using a thermogravimetric technique (TGA) followed by characterization by XRF, XRD, and LECO analysis, and mechanically evaluated to assess their potential in the next-generation H2-based Iron and Steel Making. Keywords: DRI/HBI Fines, Organic binders, Briquetting, H2 Reduction, Biocarbon, Recycling, Resource Efficiency