General :
The major Raw Materials required for production of Pellets by the Grate chain technology are graded Iron Ore fines and Bentonite. Coke/H.S.D./L.D.O. is being used as a Fuel.
IRON ORE
The quality requirement of Sized ore for sponge iron production can be classified into :-
(1) Physical Rrequirements :-
The optimum tumbler strength of the ore should be < 70 percent minimum, Depending on the reducibility, closely calibrated ores in the size range of 0 to 5 mm generally used.
(2) Metallurgical Requirements :-
The ore should be highly reducible, thermally stable and have a low tendency for sticking and disintegration during heating and reduction.
(3) Chemical Requirements :-
Apart from the removal of oxygen, no other major chemical change takes place in direct reduction. The gangue material in sponge iron, originating from Iron Ore, namely, silica and alumina and the sulphur and phosphorous contents adversely affect the economics in subsequent steel making operation. Therefore, the ore should be high in iron content and low in gangue.
FUEL
The Coke / H.S.D./ L.D.O. is used as a Prime Fuel.
BENTONITE
2% of the mixed raw materials is bentonite to improve the makeup of raw materials' sizes of green ball and increase the strength of both green balls and dried balls.
SOURCES OF RAW MATERIAL
SOURCES OF SUPPLY OF IRON ORE
The rich iron ore deposits are available in the OMC, ORISSA area. The source of supply for the plant would be from one or more of the mines.
As per the Survey conducted by the Indian Bureau of Mines (IBM) in April, 1995, India had 10,052 million tones of Recoverable reserves of Hematite and 3,408 Million Tones of Magnetite. While Zone ’A’ comprising of Bihar & Orissa is the largest Hematite Ore bearing Zone in the country with reserves of 5,951 Million Tones consisting mainly of Medium Grade & Low Grade Ore (Iron content 65% and below), Madhya Pradesh has the largest quantity of High Grade Ore reserves (Iron content greater than 65%) in the country at 570 Million Tones. Karnataka has the highest reserves of Magnetite at 2,784 Million tones followed by Andhra Pradesh and Goa.
