Flash Ironmaking

Abstract

The flash ironmaking technology is an innovative process that uses iron ore concentrate directly without further treatment. The fineness of the concentrate particles allows a very rapid reaction rate, thus requiring residence times measured in seconds instead of the minutes and hours it takes to reduce pellets and even iron ore fines. Obviously, the thermodynamic issues related to this very fast reduction process are analyzed in this chapter. The employed reactors are described. The questions related to different gases atmospheres that can be employed in the process are discussed. The energy consumption due to the reduction times reduction are highlighted. The open questions related to the time temperature of reduction are discussed in this chapter.