MECHANISMS OF REDUCTION OF IRON ORE/COAL AGGLOMERATES AND SCIENTIFIC ISSUES IN RHF OPERATIONS.

Laboratory studies of chemical kinetics and heat transfer in the reduction of iron ore/carbon (coal) mixtures in various forms are reviewed. Therefore, the rate-limiting steps, which are of critical importance in process development, may be identified or suggested for a given set of conditions. Commercial operations using rotary hearth furnace (RHF) for the reduction of iron ore and waste oxide recycling by heating chemically self-sufficient agglomerates and related technical issues will be reviewed and discussed. The development of the next generation of processes based on ore/coal agglomerates, which would have very significant economical and environmental advantages, will be presented and discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]