Mini-plants based on cast iron and direct reduction

Here we can see the advantages of moving away from an exclusive scrap feed and using a primary metal produced from iron ores. This is where we find the differences between :

• the classic mini-mill, which buys in such primary metals as DRI/HBI produced by direct reduction processes or solid pig or granulated iron (as is the case with a whole series of mini-mills in the USA);

• the mini-plant that will be integrated with these direct reduction or cast iron production units.

To deal with this subject, i.e. these new integrated plants based on the electric furnace, we will divide it into three chapters devoted, respectively, to :

• integrating a direct reduction system to feed the electric furnace;

• which integrate with liquid iron production units;

• which combine these two types of primary metal production processes, DRI and cast iron.

Readers may wish to refer to the previous issue of [M 7 090v2] , devoted to large, classic integrated plants.