Operational Costs of Hot Metal Desulphurization Processes

Abstract

The main components of the operational costs structure of the Kanbara Reactor, Magnesium Mono-Injection and Co-Injection desulphurization processes for hot metal are discussed here. The pros and cons of lime, magnesium and calcium carbide as desulphurization agents are discussed, too. The aim of this work is to compare the updated operational costs reported in the literature in the last decade among the above processes using the accumulated annual inflation rates of US dollar, euro and Indian rupees. Besides, the operational costs of the process are discussed in terms of the initial and final sulphur content and the degree of desulphurization. The KR process presents the lowest reagents costs, whereas the co-injection process presents the highest reagents costs. The KR process presents the highest iron and temperature losses given the great amount of slag generated and the intense agitation of the rotary impeller. The co-injection process presents an exponential growth of the desulphurization costs as higher desulphurization degree is required.