3. Coke, Iron, and Steel Production. Steel is the single most essential metal in
a modern economy. Total world steel production is 10 times greater 'than combined
production of all other metals. In the US, steel satisfies 40 percent of the total
demand for industrial raw materials. The production of steel is directly linked to
that of coke and iron. Coke is the fuel which supplies the heat required to reduce
iron ore to molten iron (pig iron) in a blast furnace. The carbon content of pig
iron must then be reduced by one of several processes in order to convert it to
steel.
a. Coke production.
Coke is a solid carbon product resulting from the
destructive distillation of coal, particularly bituminous soft coal.
This
distillation is accomplished by heating coal in an oven in the absence of air.
During this process coal, tar, and gas are liberated.
Major recognition features
of a coke production industry (Figure 2-60) include:
Large coal stockpile
Coal preparation facility
Coaling tower
Long, narrow coke oven battery with tall exhaust stacks
Quenching towers
By-products area
Gasometer.
Figure 2-60. Coke Production Industry.
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