Enhancing Direct Reduced Iron (DRI) for use in electric steelmaking

Direct Reduced Iron (DRI) is a valuable source of virgin iron for the electric steelmaking process. Its production is associated with less than half the CO2 emissions of blast furnace produced pig iron, but has a less favourable value in use and potential difficulties with transport and storage. Two concepts are discussed for the improvement of value in use of DRI, namely preheating and melting. An oxy-fuel preheating process is described that can result in savings of $2.3/liq ton in the steel plant and this is currently subject to further evaluation…