REDUCTION OF IRON ORES BY REFORMED NATURAL GAS (II)

Abstract

In the first paper ("Tetsu-to-Hagane" vol. 41. No. 1. 1955, p. 5-11) the authors reported of the inyestigations made on reduction process of iron ores by the reformed natural gas. It was found that the decomposition of hydrocarbon in natural gas was one of the most important factors of the reduction process of the ores.
In the present paper are made the studieson the effects of reacting time and of some additions such as salts of alkali and alkaline earth metals on reduction velocity of iron ores by natural gas at low temperature. The results obtained were summarized as follows:
As the reducing action of natural gas was weak, the time for sufficient reduction should be much longer, but when decomposition of hydrocarbon took place, reduction velocity was found to be rapidly increased. The additions of Na₂CO₃, CaCO₃, and CaO were effective to increase the reduction velocity of the ores by natural gas.
Through our experimental results, it was presumed that the decomposition of natural gas was accelerated in consequence of the effects of the additions on reducing power of the gas.