Recent progress of iron ore agglomeration technology

Sintering technology has evolved steadily in the last decade by upgrading specifications of apparatus around the sinter strand and by the sophisticated process control methods. In order to use much difficult-to-sinter raw material without decreases of productivity and product yield and also deterioration of quality, new types of granulation systems for control of mineral constitution formation, such as HPS (Hybrid Pelletized Sinter) Process, CaO Selective Pregranulation Process and Self-Densificication and High-Melting-Point Liquid-Phase Sintering Process, have been developed and installed successfully. Increased productivity has been achieved through improving product yield and permeability in sintering bed by the development of new types of raw mixture feeder, such as ISF (Intensified Sifting Feeder) etc., and by the technology of homogeneous sintering both horizontally and vertically in the bed, such as SECOS (Sintering Energy Control System) etc. In addition, older and less efficient sintering machines are closed, converging on large-scale and small number machines which in turn renewed process control system based on artificial intelligence and introduced high-efficient and compact environmental systems as replace of old ones. Eventually, the major improvements have been achieved in four items: (1) Increase use of cheap raw materials such as limonite ore and pellet feed. (2) Reduce production costs by productivity increase with high product-yield and by man power saving. (3) Upgrade sinter quality in slag volume and reducibility for acceleration of PCI injection to blast furnace. (4) Reduce environmental impact with use of high efficient aparatus.