Flash Ironmaking from Magnetite Concentrate in a Laboratory Reactor: Experimental and CFD Work

A flash ironmaking process is being developed at the University of Utah in which iron is produced directly from magnetite concentrate. The kinetics of magnetite reduction by a mixture of H-2 and CO gases was determined in the temperature range 1150-1600 degrees C. Over 90% reduction degree was achieved at a temperature as low as 1250 degrees C within 4-6 s which is the typical residence time available in a flash reactor. The kinetics results were applied to experimental data obtained in a laboratory flash reactor in which H2 and CO gas mixtures were produced from in situ partial oxidation of natural gas with oxygen. CFD was used to simulate the laboratory reactor, and the results were in good agreement with the experimental data.