Attempts to replace nut coke with semi-coke for blast furnace ironmaking

Low coke rate for blast furnace operation has been required in response to the rising cost of coking coals. To extend the utilisation of coal resources, semi-coke has been introduced to blast furnace ironmaking process in recent years, however, there are still many issues unclear about the effect of semi-coke on ironmaking process. In this study, the possibilities of using semi-coke as alternative fuel for nut coke were studied. The characteristics of semi-coke including mechanical strength, high-temperature strength/reactivity, carbon gasification as well as direct reduction were studied and compared with small size metallurgical cokes (nut cokes). The results showed that semi-coke has higher CRI values, especially at higher temperatures and in a mix-charging pattern. Semi-coke was found to have a higher gasification reaction rate and depleted at lower temperatures. The reduction results showed that with participating of semi-coke the reaction starts at lower temperatures. In addition, the study suggested that semi-coke exhibits the advantages of low ash and sulphur contents, although it has lower mechanical strength, it would protect the lump coke by shifting the carbon gasification to itself, therefore, mixing semi-coke would benefit the blast furnace operation and lower the coke rate.