Reduction Potential Evaluation Index of Various Reducing Agents in Blast Furnace

In blast furnace operation, reducing agent ratio (RAR) is an important index. The RAR is defined as only sum of weight, without considering the kind of reducing material. Here the author proposes a new reducing potential index, "ReP", which considers the difference of reducing material composition under the real blast furnace condition that gas utilization ratios (ηco, ηH2) are 50%. Namely, ReP is set as C=3, H=0.5, O=–2, (N=0) (ReP/kmol). This index evaluates reduction potentials of various reducing materials in a uniformed manner. Latter part of this report includes an example of blast furnace operation analysis using "ReP". Extended case studies which concern utilization of partially reduced ore, utilization of mixture of ferrous and carbonous materials, and gas utilization ratio changes far from 50%, are performed. When gas utilization ratios change from 50%, "ReP" is available if extended ReP is set as C=2+2ηco, H=ηH2, O=–2, (N=0) (ReP/kmol).