Features of FASTMET
Process

Hirofumi TSUTSUMI＊1, Shohei YOSHIDA＊1, Masahiko TETSUMOTO＊2

＊1
Technology & Process Engineering Department, Iron Unit Division, Natural Resources & Engineering Business, ＊2 Midrex technologies, Inc.

Over the past 10 years, Kobe Steel and its US Table 1 Delivery record of FASTMET plant
subsidiary company, MIDREX Technologies, Inc., have Capacity
Plant Startup
been developing the FASTMET process. This process (t/y)
１）Kobe Steel Kakogawa Works FASTMET 2001 Apr. 14,000
enables the conversion of metallic oxides from either
２）Nippon Steel Hirohata Works FASTMET No.1 2000 Mar. 190,000
steel mill waste or iron ore fines, into metallized iron
３）Nippon Steel Hirohata Works FASTMET No.2 2005 Feb. 190,000
in a rotary hearth furnace (RHF) using solid carbon ４）Nippon Steel Hirohata Works FASTMET No.3 2008 Dec. 190,000
sources, such as coal, as the reductant. Since 2000, the ５）
JFE Steel West Japan Works (Fukuyama) FASTMET No.1 2009 Apr. 190,000
current commercial operations have enabled steelmakers
to deal with metallic waste problems. In 2009, Kobe its ability to efficiently recycle ironwork dust. These
Steel filled order for two new FASTMET plants, each achievements led the FASTMET process to win the
with 190,000 tonnes/h capacity. One of these is the third Minister's award, Resources Recycling Technology
plant for Nippon Steel Hirohata Works with the first and System, from the Clean Japan Center.
FASTMET-HBI process, and the other is the first plant In 2008, a third plant was delivered to the
for JFE Fukuyama Works, which produces DRI as a Hirohata Works of Nippon Steel Co., and in 2009, JFE
supplemental source for blast furnaces. Steel, West Japan Works, Fukuyama (Table 1), took
delivery of its first plant. Both plants have a
Introduction processing capacity of 190,000 tonnes/year. The
following introduces these plants and outlines the
Reducing iron ore in a rotary hearth furnace FASTMET process.
(hereafter referred to as an "RHF") was first
attempted by Midland Ross Co., a forerunner of 1. Features of the FASTMET process
MIDREX Technologies, Inc., currently a U.S.
subsidiary company of Kobe Steel. The process, The FASTMET process is clearly different from
called "Heat Fast", was unique in that it involved the gas-based reduction process using reforming gas
composite pellets, consisting of iron ore and derived from natural gas, in that it heats and reduces
carbonaceous material, which are pre-heated in a composite agglomerates, each consisting of iron ore,
grate, pre-reduced in an RHF and cooled in a shaft or steel mill waste, and coal. This simple and unique
cooler. A pilot plant was constructed in 1965, tests process involving rapid heating accomplishes a
being conducted until 1966. The Midland Ross Co., rapid reduction reaction. The agglomerates are
however, prioritized the development of a process placed in one or two even layers over the hearth and
using natural gas, which is currently known as the are heated using radiation heat. This prevents the
MIDREX
process. The then low price of natural gas oxidation of agglomerates, despite the in-furnace
made this process seem more feasible, and as a result, condition of combustion exhaust gas, which has a
the Heat Fast process was not commercialized. significant oxidation potential 1). It is important to
In the 1990s, the price of natural gas rose; then mention that the process can achieve the heating
Kobe Steel and MIDREX Technologies, Inc. and reducing of the agglomerates simultaneously
collaborated to restart the development of the and effectively at an ideal air-gas ratio in a furnace. In
reduced ironmaking process using an RHF. A addition, the combustible gas generated from the
demonstration pilot plant was built in 1995 at carbon in the agglomerates burns in secondary
Kobe Steel's Kakogawa Works. Through various combustion above them. This significantly suppresses
demonstration operations conducted there, Kobe the emission of NOx, despite the fact that this is a
Steel and MIDREX Technologies, Inc. had established furnace that burns at high temperatures, another
the FASTMET process for commercialization. feature of the FASTMET process.
In 2000, a first commercial FASTMET plant was Raw materials such as steel mill plant dust may
supplied to the Hirohata Works of Nippon Steel Co. occasionally generate dioxin as they burn. In the
for reducing 190,000 tonnes/year of steel mill waste. FASTMET process, however, the furnace temperature
A second commercial plant was delivered in 2005 to is 1,300℃ or higher, which is high enough to
the same company. The process was recognized for suppress the generation of dioxin. The exhaust gas

85 KOBELCO TECHNOLOGY REVIEW NO. 29 DEC. 2010

from the furnace is cooled rapidly through the one or two even layers 3).
temperature region in which dioxin may recombine, A rapid heating method, a proprietary technology
thus preventing it from recomposing. of Kobe Steel 1), is adopted for heating the pellets or
FASTMET is a unique process using an RHF to briquettes laid over the hearth, rapidly attaining a
reduce agglomerates containing coal with a high high temperature of 1,350℃. This heating generates
reduction ratio and high productivity. The reduced the reaction of oxides and carbon as described in the
iron can be fed, not only into a blast furnace, but also formulae (1). Dwelling for 8 to 16 minutes, the
directly into a melting process. agglomerates are converted into direct reduced iron
Fig. 1 shows a typical flow of the FASTMET (hereinafter referred to as "DRI"), which is discharged
process. The FASTMET process includes mixing steel out of the furnace or supplied to the downstream
mill waste consisting mainly of fine ore (i.e., iron process, at a temperature of 1,200 to 1,000℃ (Fig. 2).
oxide) with pulverized coal, agglomerating the Fe2O3 ＋ 3C ＝ 2Fe ＋ 3CO
mixture into pellets or briquettes using a pelletizer or Fe3O4 ＋ 4C ＝ 3Fe ＋ 4CO
a briquetter, drying the agglomerates in a dryer, and Fe2O3 ＋ 3CO ＝ 2Fe ＋ 3CO2
………………(1)
placing the agglomerates over the hearth of an RHF Fe3O4 ＋ 4CO ＝ 3Fe ＋ 4CO2
in one or two even layers. FeO ＋ CO ＝ Fe ＋ CO2
The pellets or the briquettes must be isolated from ZnO ＋ CO ＝ Zn ＋ CO2   
air when they enter the furnace. Their feed rate must The stable and continuous discharge of DRI out of
be controlled precisely at the same time. FASTMET the furnace at a high temperature is achieved by such
contains a feed pipe system enabling the adjustment proprietary technology of KSL as elevating the hearth
of the number of pipes according to the size of the of a reduction furnace 4). Unlike blast furnaces, the
furnace, thus simultaneously achieving isolation from FASTMET can start and stop operation with relative
the air and volume control 2). A screw-type leveling ease depending on the amount of production, which
system is adopted for placing the agglomerates in enables production in response to demand.

Day bins Air preheater

Bag filter
off-gas cooler

Agglomeration
RHF Stack

Briquetter, Off-gas handling

etc. system

DRI

Dryer Melter HBI

Hot DRI
Cold DRI
Hot metal

Fig. 1 FASTMET process flow

CH4 etc Burner

Fuel
CH4＋2O2＝CO2＋2H2O
Crude Zinc
Combustion Heat Zn＋CO2＝ZnO＋CO Oxide
Air Heat
2CO＋O2＝2CO2
2ndary
Heat Combustion
Feeder

CO gas Cooling
700-1,200 Zn 1,200-1,400 1,000-1,200 Discharger

Hearth
Fe2O3＋3CO＝2Fe＋3CO2
FeO＋CO＝Fe＋CO2
ZnO＋CO＝Zn＋CO2 DRI
CO2＋C＝2CO

Reduction Time：8∼16min
Fig. 2 Schematic drawing of reduction in FASTMET furnace

KOBELCO TECHNOLOGY REVIEW NO. 29 DEC. 2010 86

 The DRI, discharged out of the furnace, is either heating the air that is used for either burning or
transferred to a melting furnace in a transportation drying the raw materials. This reduces the overall
container, or is cooled and supplied into a blast energy consumption.
furnace.
The DRI has many pores left after the reduction 2. FASTMET-HBI process, No. 3 plant at
process. If exposed to air for a long time, the metallic the Hirohata Works, Nippon Steel Co.
iron reoxidizes into iron oxide, deteriorating its
quality. If DRI is not used immediately as raw Kobe Steel delivered the FASTMET No. 1 plant
material for a melting furnace or a blast furnace, (Fig. 3) to the Nippon Steel Hirohata Works in 2000.
compacting and densifying the DRI into hot Another plant with a similar scale, the FASTMET
briquette iron (HBI) prevents reoxidation; this allows No. 2, was delivered to the same site in 2005. The
the storage of reduced iron for an extended period of demonstration plant constructed at Kobe Steel's
time without quality degradation. The stored HBI Kakogawa Works in the 1990s is still at work,
can be fed to a melting furnace or to a blast furnace. recycling reduced iron from ore-dust generated in
Otherwise, the HBI can be transferred or sold to the ironworks, and contributing to resource
others. reduction (Fig. 4).
Whether the reduced iron produced by the Yet another plant, the FASTMET No. 3 (Fig. 5,
FASTMET process is used as DRI in the form of
pellets/briquettes or is formed into HBI using HBI
equipment depends on the application of the product
(iron source) and its storage period.
The combustion gas (CO gas) emitted from the
pellets/briquettes as a result of the reduction
reaction can be used as a fuel for the RHF, which
significantly decreases the amount of fuel supplied to
the burner. The ore dust generated in steel mills has
conventionally been pelletized or sintered in-house
to recycle the dust as a raw material for blast
furnaces. The blast furnace raw material, however,
contains volatile components, particularly zinc, Fig. 3 No. 1 FASTMET plant in Nippon Steel Hirohata Works
which vaporizes in the high temperature zone of a
blast furnace. However, not all the vapor escapes
from the furnace; some portion of it, cooled and
trapped by newly-charged materials, remains in the
furnace. The accumulated volatile components
decrease the permeability of blast furnaces, and
significantly impair their productivity.
The FASTMET process vaporizes heavy metals
such as zinc and lead, which had inhibited the
recycling of scrap iron, and converts them into crude
zinc oxide and the like. This allows the discharging of
these elements into exhaust lines without circulating
them in the process. The off-gas treatment facilities Fig. 4 FASTMET plant in Kobe Steel Kakogawa Works
are equipped with a Kobe Steel original cooling &
dust collection system 5), which, combined with air
cooling and water cooling, prevents the volatile
components from adhering to the equipment walls.
This has enabled stable and continuous operation for
an extended period of time and the collection of
crude zinc oxide and the like, using a bag filter. The
collected crude zinc oxide is a valuable resource and
is recycled along with the reduced iron.
A heat exchanger installed on the off-gas
treatment equipment converts the energy contained
in the high temperature exhaust into energy for Fig. 5 No. 3 FASTMET plant in Nippon Steel Hirohata Works

87 KOBELCO TECHNOLOGY REVIEW NO. 29 DEC. 2010

hereinafter referred to as "the present plant"), was early as 1996, where forming campaigns were
delivered to the Nippon Steel Hirohata Works. It has conducted 6). Table 2 shows the specifications of the
a dust-processing capacity of 190,000 tonnes/year, pilot plant.
equal to the capacity of the No. 1 and No. 2 plants. These experiments provided information on the
The end product of the No. 1 and No. 2 plants is DRI, way in which porosity and apparent density, typical
while that of the present plant is HBI, a hot- characteristics of HBI, affect the weather resistance
compressed, compacted form of DRI. In other words, and strength required of it, as well as information on
the present plant is the first commercial plant the conditions of temperature and residual carbon
adopting the FASTMET-HBI process. content required for HBI forming. On the basis of the
As described above, in a case where reduced iron results of the experiments, Kobe Steel proved that
is stored in the atmosphere for an extended period of DRI reduced from raw materials such as iron-ore and
time, e.g., for sales, DRI is hot-compacted (briquetted) steel mill waste (total iron content higher than
into HBI (Fig. 6), a form without pores. The briquetting about 50%), processed by an RHF operating under
of DRI to be used in a gas-based direct reduction normal conditions (surrounding temperature: 1,200
ironmaking plant was developed in the 1990s, for the to 1,400℃, residual carbon in DRI: 2 to 6%), can be
first time ever, by Kobe Steel and MIDREX formed, in a temperature range of about 600 to 800℃,
Technologies, Inc. The knowledge accumulated to into briquettes suitable for long-term storage and for
date has led many MIDREX process direct reduction charging into blast furnaces 6).
plants to adopt the DRI-briquetting technology. Fig. 8 contains an experimental result showing
The FASTMET-HBI process is based on this the relationship between residual carbon content
proven process and uses a DRI cooler as ancillary and strength, an indicator of HBI quality, for given
equipment. Due to the difference in the discharge briquetting temperatures 7).
temperature of DRI, the MIDREX process does not It was also found that when briquetting HBI, the
use this DRI cooler. The DRI cooler is designed to higher the degree of metallization near the surface
bring the DRI, which is discharged from an RHF at and the higher the residual carbon content toward
a temperature of around 1,000℃, down to a the center of the DRI, the better the quality of the
temperature in the range of about 600 to 800℃. An HBI, with increased adhesiveness among the
HBI briquetter efficiently compacts it to obtain high briquettes 7). Fig. 9 is a full view of the HBI pilot plant
quality HBI (Fig. 7). in the Kakogawa works. Fig. 10 shows the pilot plant
In order to establish the technology for producing producing HBI. Table 3 summarizes the properties
HBI from the DRI made by an RHF, an HBI pilot of the HBI that is produced. The experimental
plant was built at the Kobe Steel Kakogawa Works as results obtained by this pilot plant have provided

Table 2 Specifications of hot briquette machine of pilot plant 6)

Roll Diameter 1.0 m
Allowable feed temp. 800℃
Feed material temp. (typical) 658℃
Feeder speed (typical) 86 rpm
Hot briquette machine
Roll pressure (typical) 16.5 MPa
Roller speed (typical) 5 rpm
Production rate (typical) 9.5 t/h
Motor Power 200 kW

10
HBI compression strength (kN/cm)

Fig. 6 Sectional view of HBI

9

6
Briquetting temp.
5
  760℃
4   600℃

3
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
HBI carbon content ％ (wt％)
Fig. 8 Relationship between compression strength and
Fig. 7 Appearance of HBI carbon content of HBI

KOBELCO TECHNOLOGY REVIEW NO. 29 DEC. 2010 88

 system, and began installation in May 2008. Test
operation began in October, and hot operation in
December, filling the order within a short lead time.
Commercial operation started at the end of December.
The HBI equipment, which is located below the
RHF, fits in a very compact layout and has a height
almost the same as that of the previously delivered
No. 1 and No. 2 plants, which did not have HBI
equipment.
Its environmentally-conscious design includes
Fig. 9 Kakogawa HBI pilot plant
dust collectors disposed at various locations to
prevent dust from generating during the transfer of
the raw material, dust briquettes.
In both the No. 1 plant and the No. 2 plant, the
DRI discharged from the RHF is transferred to the
downstream steelmaking process, while being
maintained at a high temperature. On the other
hand, in the FASTMET-HBI process at our plant, the
DRI discharged from the RHF passes through a
screen8) to remove foreign matter, a DRI cooler that
cools the DRI to a temperature suitable for hot
briquetting, and a hopper that supplies the DRI to an
HBI briquetter which forms the DRI into HBI
(Fig.11).
During the time in the DRI cooler, it is important
Fig.10 Agglomerate test in Kakogawa HBI pilot plant
that the temperature of the DRI be maintained in a
Table 3 Properties of HBI produced by the pilot plant range suitable for briquetting. If the temperature at
Metallization: 80−85％
the outlet of the DRI cooler is too high, the rolls
Carbon: 2−6％ and feeder of the HBI briquetter rapidly wear out,
Density: 4.2 g/mL increasing the cost of maintenance. If the
Compression Strength: 5−7 t/HBI temperature is too low, the ductility of the DRI is
Drop Strength ＋38.1mm: 85％ decreased, and that also causes rapid wearing of
6−38.1mm: 11％ the rolls. Decreased ductility is also detrimental to
−6 mm: 4％
certain qualities of the HBI; for example, it may not

information on the required heat transfer dimensions RHF

and the cooling time of the DRI cooler located
Screen
between the RHF and the HBI briquetter, as well as
the influence of the DRI cooler on HBI quality.
The dust generated at ironworks includes blast Two-way gate

furnace dust, steelmaking dust and sludge. They are Water

Discharge
generated in many different ways and it is difficult to DRI cooler
determine at the planning stage if such dust can be
reduced at a commercial level, or whether it can be Surge hopper
formed into HBI. Kobe Steel has testing equipment,
such as apparatuses for testing reduction and
briquetting, which enables appropriate assessments,
such that suitable feasibility studies can be
conducted in the planning stage. In the case of the HBI briquetter Quench conveyor
No. 3 plant at the Nippon Steel Hirohata Works,
planning began in 2005, exploiting the above
environment, and the detailed designing began in
2007 after confirming the commercial feasibility.
Kobe Steel designed and supplied the RHF, HBI- Fig.11 HBI line process flow of 3rd FASTMET plant in Nippon
making plant, briquette dryer and exhaust treatment Steel Hirohata Works

89 KOBELCO TECHNOLOGY REVIEW NO. 29 DEC. 2010

attain the required degree of strength. The DRI cooler Table 4 Properties of HBI produced by No. 3 FASTMET
adopts an indirect water-cooling drum system. The plant in Nippon Steel Hirohata Works
DRI cooler of the present plant allows temperature Metalization ＞85％
control for the first time, not only by adjusting drum Carbon ＜3％
revolution, but also by adjusting the volume of Density ＞5g/mL
nitrogen that is supplied to the DRI cooler, as
nitrogen gas maintains an inert atmosphere in the
HBI system. This has been confirmed to provide a
suitable control 9).
A surge hopper is provided as a buffer to adjust
the difference in the DRI production volume of the
RHF and the HBI production volume of the
briquetter. Since the inside of the hopper is always
at a high temperature, it is not easy to measure,
from outside, the amount of DRI left inside. There
are level meters that use gamma rays for similar
applications. However, for safety reasons, such
meters require the strict management of radiation
sources, which increases the maintenance load and
decreases the flexibility of operational adjustment. In
order to lessen the maintenance load, the present
plant adopts a level meter using microwaves, a first
for this application, and the meter has proven to
adjust well. Fig.12 Exhaust gas cooler of No. 3 FASTMET plant in Nippon
In order to prevent reoxidation, the HBI Steel Hirohata Works
compacted by the HBI briquetter is cooled to nearly
room temperature by a water spray in a quench characteristics of the raw material.
conveyer and is then stored in a yard for The exhaust gas discharged from the RHF via the
transportation by belt conveyers or by trucks. off-take must be cooled to a temperature which
Because HBI is known to lose its strength if cooled permits collection by a bag filter. Thus the off-gas
rapidly, Kobe Steel uses its original slow cooling treatment system is provided with a gas cooler,
technology, a slow quench system10). typically of the water-spray type. However, this sort
The fines of HBI that are generated during the of gas cooler has suffered from a problem; the water
cooling and handling in the quench conveyor are spray combined with the dust contained in the
collected by a fine conveyor disposed underneath the exhaust, such as zinc oxide, and was then deposited
quench conveyor, if they are large enough. Fine dust on the interior walls of the cooler, where it inhibited
carried into the cooling water is sorted by a separator the flow of gas.
using gravity (a dust catcher), so that the fines will To prevent this, the present plant newly adopts
not clog the inlets of transfer pumps, for example. opposed flow at the gas inlet of the cooler (Fig.12).
An example of the characteristics of the HBI The operation so far has proven to run stably for an
produced by the present plant is shown in Table 4, extended period of time without disturbance due to
which indicates the high quality of the HBI deposit formation11).
produced.
In addition to the HBI system described above, 3. No. 1 FASTMET plant at JFE Steel West Japan
the present plant has a new secondary combustion Works
chamber at the off-take of the RHF. This is to prevent
the combustion gas generated in the RHF from JFE Steel West Japan Works (Fukuyama) received
discharging into the exhaust system without being its first FASTMET plant (Fig.13) in 2009. The
utilized and to exploit and burn the gas efficiently in company's order for this plant arose from its high
the furnace as the heat source for the reduction appreciation of the achievements of the process at the
reaction. The secondary combustion chamber is Kobe Steel Kakogawa Works and the Nippon Steel
provided with a temperature monitoring system, Hirohata Works.
which enables the adjusting of combustion in the This plant is to reclaim the high zinc content dust
chamber so as to adapt to changes in the combustion emitted from the blast furnaces and steelmaking in
conditions; these changes are due to variation in the the ironworks, and has a dust processing capacity

KOBELCO TECHNOLOGY REVIEW NO. 29 DEC. 2010 90

 vaporizing the zinc contained in the dust. To meet
these requirements, this plant has an RHF with an
effective hearth diameter of 27m, making it the
largest FASTMET plant ever built. After adjustment
during commissioning, this plant can produce DRI
with the characteristics shown in Table 5. The DRI is
currently being used for blast furnaces, and no
problems have been observed.
Fig.14 shows the DRI cooling and transportation
line flow of the plant. The DRI is reduced in the RHF
Fig.13 FASTMET plant in JFE Steel West Japan Works and discharged from it at a high temperature of
(Fukuyama) around 1,100℃. A cooler, an indirect cooling drum
type, is used to cool the DRI down to 200℃. The
rated at 190,000 tonnes/year. The produced DRI is drum has a transfer blade and a cooling fin inside it.
charged into blast furnaces, contributing to the zero- Water is sprayed onto the outer wall of the drum. As
emission operation of the ironworks. the drum rotates, the transfer blade moves the DRI
The scope of Kobe Steel's work on this plant toward the outlet, and the DRI is simultaneously
covered the designing, manufacturing, construction cooled by its contact with the drum wall and the
and dispatching of supervisors for commissioning of cooling fin.
the RHF, off-gas treatment equipment and DRI The DRI cooler is provided with a dual damper at
cooling & transferring equipment. Designing began its discharge outlet and with a seal at the sliding
upon receipt of the order in September of 2007. portion of the drum, in which nitrogen is blown into
The project was completed within a short period, the the damper and seal as seal gas. This makes it
installation of machinery beginning in June of 2008, possible to maintain an inert atmosphere inside the
commissioning taking place in January of 2009, and DRI cooler and prevents the DRI from reoxidizing.
operations beginning in April of 2009. In June of It is important that the temperature at the outlet of
2009, the plant ran at the rated capacity, achieving its the DRI cooler be sufficiently low so that the
guaranteed performance and demonstrating the discharged DRI does not reoxidize rapidly and can
possibility of inaugurating the process in a short be transferred without any trouble. On the other
time. hand, an indirect cooler requires a large heat transfer
The DRI produced by this plant, which is charged surface when the subject to be cooled reaches a
into blast furnaces, must have enough strength not to temperature near the ambient temperature, where
be crushed before being charged into a blast furnace the cooling efficiency decreases. This increases the
and must have a low zinc content so as not to increase
the amount of zinc circulating in the furnace. Table 5 Properties of DRI
In order to maintain the strength of DRI at a Reduction degree ＞80％
high level, DRI must be sufficiently reduced, and its
Zinc removal degree ＞90％
residual carbon content must be kept low. Sufficient
Compression strength ＞100kg/piece
reduction time must be allowed for reducing and

RHF

DRI cooler

Double flap
damper
Roller screen

Fine storage Product DRI storage

Fig.14 DRI line flow of Fukuyama Works

91 KOBELCO TECHNOLOGY REVIEW NO. 29 DEC. 2010

size of the equipment. Because of this, the Conclusions
temperature at the outlet of the DRI cooler of this
apparatus is set to 200℃. It has been shown that steel mill waste containing
The DRI discharged from the DRI cooler is zinc, dust which was hard to recycle, can now, using
sieved using a roller screen to separate fines and is the FASTMET process, be efficiently recycled on a
transferred to a product yard by a conveyor. commercial scale, which enables the effective
The off-gas system, which treats the exhaust gas recycling of resources for iron and zinc. With the
from the RHF, adopts a gas cooler and heat ever-increasing importance of environmental
exchanger proven in the past. The gas cooler, in problems, such as the depletion of global resources
particular, is a new type which adopts opposed flow and the need to reduce CO2 emissions, it is expected
for its gas inlet. In this, it is similar to the one installed that there will be an increasing need for introducing
in the No. 3 plant at the Nippon Steel Hirohata the FASTMET process.
Works and has been running without problems for
an extended period of time. References
The combustion fuel for the RHF is coke oven gas
(COG), which has been used by the demonstration 1) Jpn. Patent, No.3304872.
plant in Kakogawa. Coke oven gas has lower heat 2) Jpn. Patent, No.3075722.
3) Jpn. Patent, No.3208385.
value (approximately 18MJ/Nm3) than other types of 4) Jpn. Patent, No.3075721.
fuel such as LNG. This makes a greater amount of 5) Jpn. Patent, No.3844941.
exhaust gas, discharged as off-gas, than the amount 6) H. TANAKA et al. : Tetsu-to-Hagane, Vol.92, No.12 (2006),
from the FASTMET plant installed at the Hirohata pp.330-336.
Works. Thus, it was necessary to upsize the 7) Jpn. Unexamined Patent, No.2008-127580.
8) Jpn. Patent, No.3404309.
equipment for the off-gas system. However, as 9) Jpn. Unexamined Patent, No.2009-74725.
described previously, the plant achieved a 10) Jpn. Patent, No.3145834.
predetermined capacity, including the off-gas system 11) Jpn. Unexamined Patent, No.2008-256332.
equipment, at an early stage of its start-up.
The dust, captured by the bag filter in the off-gas
system and consisting mainly of crude zinc oxide, is
transferred by a conveyor to four hoppers for
temporary storage before shipment.

KOBELCO TECHNOLOGY REVIEW NO. 29 DEC. 2010 92