Factors affecting return sinter fines regimed and strand productivity in iron ore sintering

The paper describes return sinter fines regime and the factors influencing it under the prevailing condition of the sintering plant at Bhilai, India. The effect of return sinter fines, basicity and other variables on the yield of sinter and speed of sintering has been evaluated through the pot sintering experiments designed statistically and empirical equations have been established. An optimum level of basicity ratio and that of return fines input have been observed for the strand productivity. The basicity ratio and coke breeze content are inter-influenced: greater amount of coke breeze helps in productivity improvement when sintering is carried out at higher basicity lever. A greater amount of return fines in the mix (through screening out the -5 mm size fraction from the sinter at blast furnace and its recirculation) decreases the throughput of the fresh material on the sintering strand. However, part of loss is compensated by a simultaneous increase in the yield of sinter.