Utilization of bio-oil or biochar in a blast furnace

Abstract

In various examples, the subject matter of this disclosure relates to a method and a system for reducing iron oxide to produce metallic iron. An example method includes: providing a fuel including at least one of bio-oil or fast pyrolysis biochar, feeding the fuel into a blast furnace containing iron oxide; gasifying the fuel to produce reducing gases; and reducing the iron oxide in the blast furnace using the reducing gases to produce metallic iron.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of reducing iron oxide to produce metallic iron, the method comprising:
 providing a fuel comprising at least one of bio-oil or fast pyrolysis biochar;   feeding the fuel into a blast furnace containing iron oxide;   gasifying the fuel to produce reducing gases; and   reducing the iron oxide in the blast furnace using the reducing gases to produce metallic iron.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the fuel comprises the bio-oil. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the bio-oil comprises a water content less than about 10%, by mass. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the bio-oil has a coke replacement ratio from about 0.7 to about 1. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the fuel comprises the fast pyrolysis biochar. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the fuel further comprises bio-oil. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the fuel further comprises coal. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the fuel further comprises slow pyrolysis biochar. 
     
     
         9 . A system for reducing iron oxide to produce metallic iron, the system comprising:
 a source of a fuel comprising at least one of bio-oil or fast pyrolysis biochar; and   a blast furnace configured to:
 gasify the fuel to produce reducing gases; and 
 reduce iron oxide using the reducing gases to produce metallic iron. 
   
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the fuel comprises the bio-oil. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the bio-oil has at least one of a water content less than about 10%, by mass, or a coke replacement ratio from about 0.7 to about 1. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the fuel comprises the fast pyrolysis biochar. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the fuel further comprises bio-oil. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the fuel further comprises at least one of coal or slow pyrolysis biochar. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the fuel comprises a liquid, a slurry, or a paste. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the system further comprises a plurality of lines configured to feed the fuel to a plurality of tuyeres in the blast furnace. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the system further comprises a ring-shaped manifold disposed around the blast furnace and configured to feed the fuel to a plurality of tuyeres in the blast furnace.