How Anthracite Benefits the Steelmaking Process

High Heat Generation

• Anthracite has a high carbon content, usually above 90%, and a relatively high calorific value, generally reaching 25,000 - 32,000 kJ/kg. During the steelmaking process, when anthracite is burned, it releases a large amount of heat, which can raise the temperature in the furnace to 1600°C - 1700°C. This high temperature is crucial for melting iron ore and various alloying elements, facilitating their full reaction and ensuring the smooth progress of the steelmaking process.

Reducing Agent Function

• In the steelmaking process, anthracite can act as a reducing agent. It reacts with oxygen and metal oxides in the furnace. For example, it can react with iron oxide to reduce iron oxide to metallic iron, as shown in the reaction equation . This reduction reaction helps to extract iron from iron ore and is an important step in converting iron ore into steel.

• Compared with other reducing agents, anthracite has a relatively low cost, which can reduce the production cost of steelmaking to a certain extent.

Regulation of Slag Properties

• The ash content in anthracite contains certain metal oxides and other components. During the steelmaking process, these components can interact with the slag in the furnace, affecting the melting point, viscosity, and fluidity of the slag. By properly controlling the amount of anthracite added, the properties of the slag can be adjusted to make it easier to separate impurities from the molten steel, thereby improving the quality of the steel.

• For example, the silicon dioxide and aluminum oxide in the ash of anthracite can react with the calcium oxide in the slag to form complex silicates and aluminates, which can reduce the viscosity of the slag and improve its fluidity, making the slag better play its role in removing impurities.

Improvement of Steel Quality

• Anthracite has a relatively low sulfur and phosphorus content. Sulfur and phosphorus are harmful elements in steel, which can reduce the strength, toughness, and weldability of steel. Using anthracite with low sulfur and phosphorus content in the steelmaking process helps to control the content of these harmful elements in the steel, thereby improving the quality of the steel and making the steel have better mechanical properties and processing performance.

Energy Saving and Environmental Protection

• Due to its high calorific value and good combustion performance, anthracite can burn more fully in the furnace, which is conducive to improving energy utilization efficiency and reducing energy consumption.

• In addition, compared with some other fuels, anthracite has relatively low emissions of harmful gases such as sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides during combustion, which is beneficial to reducing environmental pollution and meeting the requirements of environmental protection in the steelmaking industry.