Influence of the conditions of internal heat exchange on the process of thermal decomposition of carbonates in iron ore raw materials

This work considers influence of heating rate of iron ore raw materials on chemical and metallurgical processes of thermal dissociation of carbonates, which occur during its high-temperature roasting. The research was conducted for the temperature ranges of the existing roasting and sintering machines, taking into account macro-kinetics of calcination processes. Substantial influence of heating rate of iron ore samples on kinetics of thermal decomposition of carbonates was revealed. The cause of the effect of internal heat exchange conditions in reacting iron ore sample on macro-kinetics of dissociation reaction for carbonates was substantiated scientifically. Influence of non-isothermal properties on precision of thermal analytical investigations, which were conducted using the methods of non-isothermal kinetics with different heating rates of iron ore samples, was studied. The authors suggested the mathematical model, which allows to take into account wide range of variations of the parameters in kinetic equations and volumetric thermal and chemical-metallurgical dissociation processes for carbonates. A series of calculating experiments, aimed on reveal of the relationship between heating rate of iron ore samples and evolution of concentration fields, transformation rates and temperature gradients, was carried out using the suggested model. The obtained results can be used for development of the optimal operating conditions for sintering and roasting machines, which propose optimization of heat treatment processes for iron ore preparation, owing to intensification of heat and mass exchange processes during high-temperature roasting. These conditions are considered as optimal from the point of view of power-and resource efficiency. Forming of the above-mentioned conditions allows to decrease fuel and power expenses for thermal preparation of raw materials at metallurgical production facilities, as well as to lower total economical production charges due to use of thermal decomposition of carbonates