C3T+group1

Hi

This is Group 1 from C3T



Members:

Jelle Debbie Willem Fedor Iris//**
 * //Jim


 * 1. What are the main three raw materials used to make iron? (Jelle&Jim)**

The raw materials used to produce iron in a blast furnace are: //iron ore//, //coal// and //limestone//.


 * 2. Where do the raw materials come from and how are they transported to the plant? (Jelle&Jim)**

It is estimated that worldwide there are 800 billion tons of iron ore resources, containing more than 230 billion tons of iron. It is estimated that the United States has 110 billion tons of iron ore. The largest iron ore producing nations are Russia, Brazil, China, Australia, India and the USA. In the United States, great deposits are found in the Lake Superior region. Worldwide, 50 countries produce iron ore, but 96% of this ore is produced by only 15 of those countries. It has been estimated that there are over 909 billion tonnes of coal reserves worldwide. This means that there is enough coal for about 155 years, after that there is no coal left, because it’s a fossil fuel. Coal is located worldwide, it can be found on every continent in over 70 countries. The biggest reserves are in the USA, Russia, China and India. Lime stone is fond in North America, Europe, and also in some parts of Canada. New Delhi (India) has long been a major source for Limestone. Limestone often grows on islands. Places were limestone is found include Ha Long Bay (Vietnam), Notch peak (Utah USA), and Niagara Escarpment (Canada/USA). Other countries where limestone is found include France, North Yorkshire (England), and the Swedish Island of Gotland. It’s also found in Limburg (the Netherlands). Iron, coal and limestone is transported by boats to the harbour in IJmuiden. Limestone out of Limburg and France are transported by train to Corus.

Very little coal is used directly in the Blast Furnace to make iron. Most of the coal is packed into sealed ovens and heated strongly until it decomposes. This produces coke, a much purer form of carbon than coal. Coke has three important jobs in the Blast Furnace:
 * 3. How and where are the raw materials processed before they are used in the blast furnace? (Iris&Debbie)**

1. it burns to give the very high temperatures required for Blast Furnace reactions; 2. it produces the carbon monoxide gas that reduces the ore to iron; 3. it is strong and supports the column of raw materials in the furnace. this allows reactive gases to pass through the furnace.

HOW A BLAST FURNACE WORKS
The purpose of a blast furnace is to chemically reduce and physically convert iron oxides into liquid iron called "hot metal". The blast furnace is a huge, steel stack lined with refractory brick, where iron ore, coke and limestone are dumped into the top, and preheated air is blown into the bottom. The raw materials require 6 to 8 hours to descend to the bottom of the furnace where they become the final product of liquid slag and liquid iron. These liquid products are drained from the furnace at regular intervals. The hot air that was blown into the bottom of the furnace ascends to the top in 6 to 8 seconds after going through numerous chemical reactions. Once a blast furnace is started it will continuously run for four to ten years with only short stops to perform planned maintenance.


 * 4. What role does each of these three raw materials play in the iron making process? (Iris&Debbie)**

The //ironmaking// process consists of the sintering, coke-making and blast-furnace processes: In the //sintering process//, iron ore fines, which account for the greater part of imported iron ore, are sintered to produce sinter. In the //coke-making process//, coal is carbonized to produce coke. Coke reduces iron ore with carbon, releasing the iron content, it provides passages for the reducing gas and molten iron in the blast furnace, and coke provides a heat source for melting iron ore and limestone. In the //blast-furnace process//, sinter and coke are alternately charged and hot blast at 1200°C is blown into the furnace, whereby pig iron is produced by the reduction of sinter.


 * 5. What is scrap metal? (Willem&Fedor)**

Scrap metal is old dumped materials that cannot be used in its current form, it was for example old cars, machinery and other metal objects. If it is carefully managed it can be recycled and used again by heating it at a very high temperature with other scrap metal so all the other metal's melt together. So everything is used again and very little is wasted permanently, which is really good for the environment and will help stop negative effects like global warming.


 * 6. What are the advantages and disadvantages of using scrap in the steel making process? (Willem&Fedor)**

The bad point of this is that the scrap can be many different quality metals which are then mixed together which is why such a high melting point is required for all the different metals, but this may also lead to weaker steel. The good point is that its cheap, gives people more jobs and its non-wasting ,less ores are dug up, so its better for the enviroment.