STATE OF DEVELOPMENT IN THE DIRECT REDUCT ION AND SMELTING REDUCTION OF IRON-ORE

Minimization of the process steps involved in the making of steel, use of available cost-effective energy sources, flexible operation of pla nts and facilities, and a lowering of investment costs are the main go als being pursued in the development of iron- and steelmaking processe s. In comparison with blast furnaces, the processes developed for the direct reduction and smelting reduction of iron ores have the advantag e that they are not reliant of iron ores have the advantage they are n ot reliant on coke. The direct and smelting reduction processes will g ain importance particularly for mini-mills operated on an electric ste elmaking basis. Blast furnaces continue to be the most economical prim ary-product suppliers for integrated iron and steel mills geared to ir on ore reduction. The direct reduction of iron ores was introduced at the end of the fifties. In 1995, the capacities of 36.8 mill. t instal led around the world operated at a utilization rate of 83%, producing 30.7 mill. t of sponge iron (DRI). The only smelting reduction process to be commercially used to date is the Corex process, which is relian t on lump iron ore. All ore-fines smelting reduction processes are at a development, pilot or demonstration stage.