A theoretical approach to evaluate the effect of hydrocarbon and CO2 injection on blast furnace raceway: step towards reduction of CO2 emission

A novel raceway heat and material balance model is developed considering all physico-chemical phenomena surrounding the raceway of the blast furnace (BF). This model is unique, as it considers reactions based on thermodynamics and determines important parameters such as raceway adiabatic flame temperature (RAFT), bosh gas properties, raceway coke rate etc. Importantly, the model also predicts blowing parameters in case of known RAFT and permeability of the furnace. This paper focuses on the raceway regime only considering the effect of different injectants, H2, CO, CH4, CO2 and coke oven gas (COG). Firstly, the paper describes the modelling approach, based on thermodynamic, heat and material balances. The first part of the paper quantifies the effect of injectants on the raceway keeping the blowing parameters constant, whereas second part presents the changes of raceway properties as well as blowing parameters keeping RAFT and permeability of the furnace constant.