Optimizing sintering air volume for enhanced lean gas recovery and environmental performance

This study examines the impact of sintering air volume on the characteristics of combustible lean gases (CO, H₂, and CH₄) in sintering flue gas. By conducting experiments using a fixed combustion test bench, we analyzed the changes in sintering negative pressure, flue gas composition, and sinter quality under various air volume conditions. The results demonstrate that an air volume of 90 m³/(m²·min) leads to a lower combustion ratio (ω(CO)/ω(CO + CO₂)), indicating more efficient utilization of fuel chemical energy. Additionally, increasing the air volume per unit area reduces the sintering time. The mass fractions of CO and H₂ decrease with increasing air volume, and the mass fraction of CH₄ also decreases, underscoring the importance of its recovery due to its high global warming potential (28 times that of CO₂). These findings provide guidance for optimizing sintering conditions to improve lean gas recovery and reduce environmental impacts.