Prospects of steel industry development accounting ecological restrictions

Discussion of many years on consequences of man’s activity effect on environment at present moved to a practical aspect. New ecological and economical limits dictate a necessity to reduce the carbon intensity of metallurgical processes. It was noted that the technological couple “blast furnace – basic oxygen furnace” is a basic method of steel production, based on utilization of coke as a fuel and reducing component. Distribution of metallurgical capacities by types of fuel used shown, which confirms application of carbon-containing fuel-reducing additions in overwhelming majority of technological processes of iron production. Data on projects reducing carbon intensity of metallurgical industry presented, most of which aimed at changing the technology of BF process. Experience of steel industry of Japan on perfection machinery and technology of BF production considered, which enabled to reduce total consumption of reducing agents down to figure less down to 450 kg/t of hot metal, which is the best index among countries of the world. It was shown that increase of a blast furnace volume results in change of BF process technology. Such an increase also results in decrease of carbon consumption – blast furnaces of large volume have lower specific consumption of fuel and reducing agent. The specific coke rate in blast furnaces of large volume is by 71 kg/t of hot metal less comparing with blast furnaces having volume less 1000 m3, and the total fuel consumption in large blast furnaces is by 51 kg/t of hot metal lower. Accounting necessity to decrease the carbon footprint in steel products, basic ways of steel industry technologies development can be enlargement of facilities with shutdown of small and not effective capacities, changing sinter and BF charges structure with increase of more qualitative raw materials and pellets, application of alternative kinds of fuel and reducing additions.