Analysis of C + O = CO Reaction in Modified Tatara Steelmaking Furnace by Chemical Affinities

Abstract

Tatara was a Japanese traditional process for producing mainly pig iron, with so called "Zuku" and bloom, so called "Kera", from iron sand and charcoal using box type furnace with 1.2 m height and intermittent blowing air. The modified tatara furnace has been examined for investigating on the production mechanisms of "Kera". A bloom of "Kera" was produced in the bottom of furnace. Carbon in Kera was analyzed to be 0.432.41 mass%, and the oxygen content was 0.0120.026 mass%. Iron sand was reduced above tuyere, followed by absorbing carbon on fired charcoals in front of the tuyere at about 1550K. The characteristics of tatara process are low temperature of about 1550K for absorbing carbon into steel. The reactions were carried out under nonequilibrium of C+ O = CO reaction.