It's all about the mix

The mixing and granulation of sinter material in the steel industry is a heavy-duty application that makes specific demands on mixing technology: Large quantities of extremely abrasive materials have to be processed daily. The example of Lödige Process Technology shows how a high mixing quality, extreme wear protection and particularly high ease of maintenance can be realised on a large scale. The company has produced the largest intensive mixer in its more than 80 years of company history for use in an Indian steel plant: the KM 57,000 SIN. This huge machine, measuring eleven metres in length and weighing 60 tonnes, has been equipped by the experts in mixing and granulation from Paderborn to the highest standards.

Iron sinter is required for producing pig iron in a blast furnace. The raw materials for sintering consist of iron ore, limestone, coke, return fines and binder. The various materials are fed in the correct ratios to the mixer from the respective storage bunkers and are mixed and granulated before they are ignited in the ignition hood of the sinter strand. The material is subsequently transported on by the sinter strand while the sintering process continues to burn down through the sinter bed. The quality of the raw sinter mix achieved in the mixer and the granularity of the mix are very important as they, in addition to parameters such as the water content of the mix and the bed depth, determine the gas permeability of the sinter bed. Correct homogeneity and grain size distribution of the raw sinter mix improve the permeability of the mix and allow the sinter strand to travel at an increased speed, resulting in higher productivity.

Mixing and pelletizing drums are used as standard in sinter plants. Due to the simple design – the material is moved by the slow rotation of the drum – these machines are low maintenance, which is an advantage when processing abrasive materials. However, the mixing quality and granularity of the mix that can be achieved with this technology are limited. Intensive mixers and granulators are an economical alternative to the conventional mixing and pelletizing drums because they can meet the requirements of the industry.

On the one hand, they can be used for processing a wide range of raw materials that have different grain size distributions. The KM 57,000 SIN from Lödige is able to process, for example, ore dust, pellet feed and also the very abrasive return fines produced during crushing and screening of the finished iron sinter. On the other hand, the use of intensive mixers makes it possible to save considerably on the amount of binder and solid fuel required, which increases the efficiency of the plant. The mixer achieves an excellent homogeneity and granularity of the mixture, which increases the capacity of the sinter plant.

Log in to your free materialtoday.com profile to access this article.

The mixing and granulation of sinter material in the steel industry is a heavy-duty application that makes specific demands on mixing technology: Large quantities of extremely abrasive materials have to be processed daily. The example of Lödige Process Technology shows how a high mixing quality, extreme wear protection and particularly high ease of maintenance can be realised on a large scale. The company has produced the largest intensive mixer in its more than 80 years of company history for use in an Indian steel plant: the KM 57,000 SIN. This huge machine, measuring eleven metres in length and weighing 60 tonnes, has been equipped by the experts in mixing and granulation from Paderborn to the highest standards.

Iron sinter is required for producing pig iron in a blast furnace. The raw materials for sintering consist of iron ore, limestone, coke, return fines and binder. The various materials are fed in the correct ratios to the mixer from the respective storage bunkers and are mixed and granulated before they are ignited in the ignition hood of the sinter strand. The material is subsequently transported on by the sinter strand while the sintering process continues to burn down through the sinter bed. The quality of the raw sinter mix achieved in the mixer and the granularity of the mix are very important as they, in addition to parameters such as the water content of the mix and the bed depth, determine the gas permeability of the sinter bed. Correct homogeneity and grain size distribution of the raw sinter mix improve the permeability of the mix and allow the sinter strand to travel at an increased speed, resulting in higher productivity.

Mixing and pelletizing drums are used as standard in sinter plants. Due to the simple design – the material is moved by the slow rotation of the drum – these machines are low maintenance, which is an advantage when processing abrasive materials. However, the mixing quality and granularity of the mix that can be achieved with this technology are limited. Intensive mixers and granulators are an economical alternative to the conventional mixing and pelletizing drums because they can meet the requirements of the industry.

On the one hand, they can be used for processing a wide range of raw materials that have different grain size distributions. The KM 57,000 SIN from Lödige is able to process, for example, ore dust, pellet feed and also the very abrasive return fines produced during crushing and screening of the finished iron sinter. On the other hand, the use of intensive mixers makes it possible to save considerably on the amount of binder and solid fuel required, which increases the efficiency of the plant. The mixer achieves an excellent homogeneity and granularity of the mixture, which increases the capacity of the sinter plant.