DRI & HBI: Logistics, Production and Utilization Seminar
Conference Details: 19–21 March 2018, Charleston, S.C., USA
This conference focused on raw materials and direct reduced iron (DRI) handling and shipping; technologies to produce DRI; and the use of DRI to produce steel in electric arc furnaces, blast furnaces and basic oxygen furnaces. In addition, presentations covering environmental issues and dust recovery and reuse were added to the lineup. The Direct Reduced Iron Technology Committee would like to thank Midrex, who was the event sponsor for this seminar.
The following are highlights from a few of the presentations:
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“Introduction to DRI/HBI Production and Use,” by Joe Poveromo, RMI Global Consulting — This presentation reviewed methods for production of DRI not involving the blast furnace, their product characteristics, and how production is distributed globally.
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“Pellets for Direct Reduction — Mining, Beneficiation, and Pelletizing,” by Renard Chaigneau, Rio Tinto Iron Ore — This presentation described how iron ore is mined, processed, and agglomerated and how all of these affect the total cost and quality of iron ore pellets and thus the steel produced.
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“Direct Reduced Iron Production — Midrex DRI Technology Overview,” by Mark Boedecker, Midrex Technologies Inc. — This presentation introduced Midrex technology and how it is used in DRI production across many different steel plants.
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“DRI — Safe In-Plant Handling and Storage,” by Sergio Guzman, Tenova Core, and Joel Morales, Tenova HYL — Like with ocean shipments of DRI, the in-plant handling of DRI requires special practices to ensure the safety of personnel and equipment in the plant. This presentation gave an overview of best practices for the design of DRI handling systems.
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“Use of DRI/HBI in EAF Steelmaking,” by Jeremy Jones, CIX LLC — This presentation gave a history of DRI and HBI use in the EAF and how product quality can greatly affect EAF performance.
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“Technical and Economic Considerations for DRI and HBI at Integrated Steel Mills,” by Janice Bolen, Hatch — This presentation examined the economic feasibility of utilizing DRI or HBI in both the blast furnace and basic oxygen furnace, and how each of these options may be preferable for different operations.
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“ArcelorMittal Production and Use of DRI,” by Elaine Chen, ArcelorMittal Global R&D – East Chicago — ArcelorMittal operates DR reactors at five different plants around the world today and is the largest single producer of DRI in the world. This presentation covered many of the improvements and innovations that allowed the ArcelorMittal DRI plants to increase production well above their design capacity.
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“Dust Recovery and Reuse,” by Erick Bubniak, Diproinduca — DRI plants across the world produce significant amounts of byproducts in the form of dusts, sludges, fines, and other material. If they can be recovered and reused a great deal of value can be created. This presentation covered some different options for recycling several of these different materials.