Effect of concentrate and micropellet additions on iron ore sinter bed permeability

Abstract

With the depletion of high-grade lump iron ore, concentrates have been identified as an alternative material for sinter making. In this study, the effect of concentrate and micropellet additions on the permeability of the sinter mixture was investigated. Permeability was measured on sinter mixtures containing 10–40% concentrate or micropellets at various moisture contents. The results confirmed that the addition of concentrates to the sinter mix decreases the maximum permeability of the sinter bed. Incorporation of micropellets into the sinter mix reduced the permeability less than concentrate addition. The maximum permeability of sinter mixes containing concentrate is reached at the same moisture content as the sinter mixture without concentrate addition. For sinter mixes containing micropellets, additional water must be added to obtain maximum permeability. Granule size, void fraction and angle of repose were also investigated to evaluate their effects on the permeability of the sinter bed.