Effects of Making HBI With and Without Hot Fines Recycling

Direct reduced iron (DRI) pellets can be briquetted to reduce the pyrophoric nature of the iron. However, briquetting tends to create not only hot briquetted iron (HBI) but also fines. The fines are undesirable, being a potential yield loss. One adopted technology to overcome this issue is the hot fines recycling (HFR) system. As part of the ongoing process optimization efforts at Cleveland-Cliffs Toledo HBI plant, a study was undertaken to determine the effect of running with and without the HFR system. This paper reports on the industrial study; key variables being reported are fines generation rates and briquette strength.

Matthew Miller | Cleveland-Cliffs IronUnits LLC