An innovative process of blast furnace （BF） operation involving charging with low-titanium vanadium-titanium magnetite carbon composite hot briquette （LVTM-CCB） was proposed for utilizing LVTM and conserving energy, In this study, the effect of LVTM-CCB charging ratio on the softening, melting, and dripping behaviors of the mixed burden was explored systemically, and the migration of valu- able elements V and Cr was extensively investigated. The results show that with increasing LVTM-CCB charging ratio, the softening inter- val T40 - T4 increases from 146.1℃ to 266.1℃, and the melting interval To - Ts first decreases from 137.2℃ to 129.5℃ and then increases from 129.5℃ to 133.2℃. Moreover, the cohesive zone becomes narrower and then wider, and its location shifts slightly downward. In addi- tion, the recovery ratios of V and Cr in dripped iron first increase and then decrease, reaching maximum values of 14.552% and 28.163%, respectively, when the charging ratio is 25%. A proper LVTM-CCB charging ratio would improve the softening--melting behavior of the mixed burden; however, Ti（C,N） would be generated rapidly in slag when the charging ratio exceeds 25%, which is not favorable for BF op- eration. When considering the comprehensive softening-melting behavior of the mixed burden and the recovery ratios of V and Cr, the rec- ommended LVTM-CCB charging ratio is 20%.
Basicity has an important effect on the sinter quality, especially for low-titanium vanadium-titanium sinter. The effect of basieity on sintering behavior of low-titanium vanadium-titanium mixture, and the transference and distribution of element in sintering process were researched by sinter pot test, mineralogical analysis, scanning electron microscopy （SEM） and energy dispersive spectroscopy （EDS） analysis. The results show that CaO preferentially reacts with TiO2, generating pervoskite, so that the total liquid phase content of the sinter is low. There is an increase in the perovskite concentration of the sinter with the basicity ranging from 1.9：1 to 2.7：1. With increasing the basicity, the calcium ferrite content increases slightly and then rises rapidly, while the silicate content decreases and the metallurgical property of the sinter is improved. As for the distribution of these elements in the sinter, Ti occurs mainly in perovskite, V occurs mainly in silicate, and Fe occurs mainly in magnetite and hematite. The most abundant occurrence of Ca and Si occurs in silicate and perovskite. With increasing the basicity, the contents of A1 and Mg increase in calcium ferrite, while they decrease in other minerals.
The effect of sinter with different MgO contents on the softening-melting behavior of mixed burden made from chro- mium-bearing vanadium-titanium magnetite was investigated. The results show that with increasing MgO content in the sinter, the softening interval and melting interval increased and the location of the cohesive zone shifted downward slightly and became moderately thicker. The softening-melting characteristic value was less pronounced when the MgO content in the sinter was 2.98wt%-3.40wt%. Increasing MgO content in the sinter reduced the content and recovery of V and Cr in the dripped iron. In addition, greater MgO contents in the sinter resulted in the generation of greater amounts of high-melting-point components, which adversely affected the permeability of the mixed burden. When the softening-melting behavior of the mixed burden and the recovery of valuable elements were taken into account, proper MgO con- tents in the sinter and slag ranged from 2.98wt% to 3.40wt% and from 11.46wt% to 12.72wt%, respectively, for the smelting of burden made from chromium-bearing vanadium-titanium magnetite in a blast furnace.
To achieve high efficiency utilization of high-chromium vanadium-titanium magnetite （V-Ti-Cr） fines, an investigation of V Ti42r fines was conducted using a sinter pot. The chemical composition, particle parameters, and granulation of V-Ti-Cr mixtures were analyzed, and the effects of sintering parameters on the sintering behaviors were investigated. The results indicated that the optimum quicklime dosage, mixture moisture, wetting time, and granulation time for V-Ti-Cr fines are 5wt%, 7.5wt%, 10 min, and 5-8 min, respectively. Meanwhile, the vertical sintering speed, yield, tumbler strength, and productivity gains were shown to be 21.28 mm/min, 60.50wt% , 58.26wt%, and 1.36 t·m^-2·h^-1, respectively. Furthermore, the consolidation mechanism of V-Ti-Cr fines was clarified, revealing that the consolidation of a V-Ti-Cr sinter requires an approximately 14vo1% calcium ferrite liquid-state, an approximately 15vo1% silicate liq- uid-state, a solid-state reaction, and the recrystallization of magnetite. Compared to an ordinary sinter, calcium ferrite content in a V-Ti-Cr sinter is lower, while the perovskite content is higher, possibly resulting in unsatisfactory sinter outcomes.
The optimized use of MgO flux in the agglomeration of high-chromium vanadium-titanium magnetite was investigated system- atically through sinter and pellet experiments. MgO was added in the form of magnesite. When the content of MgO in the sinter was in- creased from 1.95wt% to 2.63wt%, the low-temperature reduction degradation index increased from 80.57% to 82.71%. When the content of MgO in the pellet was increased from 1.14wt% to 2.40wt%, the reduction swelling index decreased from 15.2% to 8.6%; however, the com- pressive strength of the oxidized pellet decreased dramatically and it was 1985 N with an MgO content of 1.14wt%. This compressive strength does not satisfy the requirements for blast-furnace production. When all of the aforementioned results were taken into account, the sinter with a high MgO content （2.63wt%） matching the pellet with a low MgO content （less than 1.14wt%） was the rational burden structure for smelting high-chromium vanadium-titanium magnetite in blast furnaces.
