Softening and Melting Behavior of Ferrous Burden in Hydrogen-rich Blast Furnace Blowing Break and Re-blowing

Blast furnace blowing break and re-blowing is a regular operation in the smelting process, However, some blast furnace conditions fluctuate for a long time due to improper operation of blast furnace blowing break and re-blowing, and preventing rapid attainment of production capacity. This paper first analyzes the influence of hydrogen-rich on the cohesive zone. Subsequently, it simulates the conditions of ferrous burden during partial and complete tuyere blowing break under hydrogen-rich conditions, followed by re-blowing. The study explores the influence of these operational changes on the softening and melting behaviors of the ferrous burden. The results indicate that with a 10% hydrogen enrichment, the melting range of ferrous burden narrows and shifts to higher temperatures, improving the permeability of the burden. During partial tuyere blowing break, this promotes the reduction of the ferrous burden and the carburization of metallic iron, increasing the melting start temperature and decreasing the dropping temperature by 29°C, thereby narrowing the cohesive zone. Both maximum pressure difference (ΔPmax) and permeability index (S) values decrease. In contrast, with a complete tuyere blowing break, the dropping temperature of the ferrous burden gradually increases from 1459°C to 1478°C as the isothermal duration extends, widening the melting interval and leading to an increase in both ΔPmax and S values.