REPLACEMENT OF COKE BREEZE BY LECO-FINES FROM NEYVELI IN IRON ORE SINTERING

The paper reports the sintering efficiency using Leco fines vis-a-vis coke breeze. The raw materials used and sintering conditions are those typically followed in the sintering plant at Bhilai. The vertical speed of sintering increases with increase in moisture content in the 7-9% range, with 8% being optimum for yield and productivity. The optimum level of leco fines and that of coke breeze is 4.6% carbon equivalent. The yield of sinter, Y+10 increases with increasing coke breeze content in the range 6.10 to 8.33%. Whereas, 6.10% of leco fines (4.6% carbon equivalent) is optimum for Y+10 as well as productivity, P+10 These indices decrease sharply with increasing leco fines in the mix beyond this level. At this level there is an improvement in the sintering indices when leco-fines replaces coke breeze. However, the sintering indices are very sensitive to the variation in amount of leco-fines in the mix.