sponge iron industry –past-present-future - SIMA

tubes. The newly reformed gas, containing 90-
92 percent H2 and CO, is then fed hot directly
to the shaft furnace as reducing gas.
Heat Recovery
The thermal efficiency of the MIDREX®
Reformer is greatly enhanced by the heat
recovery system. Sensible heat is recovered
from the reformer flue gas to preheat the feed
gas mixture, the burner combustion air and the
natural gas feed. In addition, depending on the
economics, the fuel gas may also be preheated
Process Advantage
l World Wide commercial use
l Proven performance
l Raw material flexibility
l CO2 reformer eliminates need for steam system,
reformed gas quench, reducing gas heating and
CO2 removal system.
HYL - Technology – Gas based Sponge iron
The HYL plants operate with iron ore, iron oxide
pellets or mixture of the Two and natural gas.
The main equipment of HYL-III comprises a
DR shaft furnace, a gas reformer, and a gas
reheater. The principles of operation of the
furnace are similar to the midrex shaft furnace
described previously.
Continuously descending iron- bearing
material is reduced in an upper zone by the
counter current flow of gas, which is rich in
carbon monoxide and hydrogen. Reduction is
accomplished by reaction of the reducing gas
which is introduced through a distribution
system around the circumference of the shaft
at an intermediate height.
A proper selection of iron oxide feed stock
permit operation at 950 °C. After reduction, the
hot DRI continues to descend through a
constant pressure zone, which separates the
upper reducing zone from the lower cooling
JANUARY-2011/16