Granulated Pig Iron (GPI) | International Iron Metallics Association

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In most integrated steel mills, the blast furnace plants are not equipped with pig casters, meaning that the excess hot metal has to be cast into an open air sand pit, a process known as "pooling" or "beaching." The ensuing dust and fumes constitute an environmental hazard and the resultant pool or beach iron takes a long time to solidify before it can be crushed into usable material. </p> <p>Granulation of the excess hot metal is a process that deals with these issues and produces a by-product - Granulated Pig Iron (GPI) - that can readily be used internally, for example as BOF coolant, or sold to third parties as feedstock for electric arc furnaces, cupolas and induction furnaces. </p><figure><img src="assets/uploads/IMG_5434_fri.jpg" alt="Granulated Pig Iron (GPI) can be used, for example as BOF coolant, or sold to third parties as feedstock for electric arc furnaces, cupolas and induction furnaces." data-caption="Granulated Pig Iron (GPI) can be used, for example as BOF coolant, or sold to third parties as feedstock for electric arc furnaces, cupolas and induction furnaces." ><figcaption>Granulated Pig Iron (GPI) can be used, for example, as BOF coolant, or sold to third parties as feedstock for electric arc furnaces, cupolas and induction furnaces.</figcaption></figure> <h2>Composition and characteristics</h2> <p> GPI has the same chemical analysis as the source hot metal, with no slag contamination and minimal or no oxidation. Typical analysis is 4-4.5 % carbon, 0.5-0.6 % silicon, and 94-95 % iron. Tramp elements (copper, nickel, molybdenum, and tin) are typically at a maximum of 0.05 %. GPI has a deformed spheroidal shape and has a high bulk density of around 4,000 kg/m<sup>3</sup>. The particle size of GPI is in the range of 5 mm to 25 mm. GPI has a high angle of repose, which allows for effective transport and storage. </p> <h2>Process</h2> <p>The granulation process has four principal steps: </p> <ol> <li>control of the flow of hot metal to the granulator</li> <li>granulation by formation of liquid iron droplets, followed by rapid quenching in water</li> <li>discharge of solidified and cooled particles (GPI}</li> <li>dewatering and transport to storage</li> </ol> <p style="text-align: center;"><img src="assets/uploads/Granshot_Flowsheet.jpg"> </p> <p>The diagram above compares the <strong>sandpit casting</strong> and <strong>granulation routes</strong> for dealing with excess hot metal, in this case the granulation process is the Granshot<sup>庐</sup> process of IIMA member UHT Uv氓n Hagfors Teknologi AB. </p> <p>The video below shows pig iron granulation production using the Granshot<sup>庐</sup> process. </p> <p><div class="videoWrapper" style="position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%; /* 16:9 */ padding-top: 25px; height: 0;"> <iframe style="position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%;" width="853" height="480" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/flg5cHT5dsw" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe> </div><br> </p> <h2>Benefits of GPI in steelmaking</h2> <p>For further information about GPI and its benefits for EAF steelmaking, see our Fact Sheet: </p> <p><a href="/assets/files/Public-Area/Fact-Sheets/_10_GPI_in_EAF_Fact_Sheet_-Rev4.pdf" target="_blank">Use of Granulated Pig Iron (GPI) in the Electric Arc Furnace (EAF) for steelmaking</a><br> </p> <ul> </ul> <h2>Shipping and handling of GPI</h2> <p>For the purposes of the International Maritime Organisation's International Maritime Solid Bulk Cargoes Code, GPI is included in a new schedule for "Iron Smelting By-products" and is classified as Group C (cargoes which are neither liable to liquefy nor possess chemical hazards). </p> </main> <aside class="small-12 medium-4 large-3 columns"> <div data-sticky-container> <div class="sticky" data-sticky data-anchor="maincontent" data-margin-top="4">  <div> <ul class="menu vertical"> <h3>Ore Based Metallics</h3> <li> <a href="pig-iron.html">Pig Iron</a> </li><li> <a href="hbi.html">Hot Briquetted Iron (HBI)</a> </li><li> <a href="dri.html">Direct Reduced Iron (DRI)</a> </li><li> Granulated Pig Iron (GPI) </li> </ul> </div>    </div> </div> </aside> </div> <section id="footertopper"> <div class="row"> <div class="small-12 medium-6 large-6 columns">   </div> <div class="small-12 medium-6 large-3 columns">   </div> <div class="small-12 medium-12 large-3 columns">  </div> </div> </section>  <footer>  <div class="row hide-for-print"> <div class="columns small-12 medium-6 large-7"> <h4>International Iron Metallics Association</h4> <p>The IIMA is dedicated to those involved in the ore-based metallics value chain - raw material supply, production and transformation, trading and distribution, transportation and logistics, technology and equipment. Its members account for more than 80% of production and international trade in ore-based metallics.<br><br> Ore-based metallics - merchant pig iron (MPI), direct reduced iron (DRI), hot briquetted iron (HBI), granulated pig iron (GPI) - are value-adding feedstock materials for the iron & steel and ferrous casting industries and IIMA has as its principal objective their promotion through product and market support, innovation, education and regulatory support.</p> </div> <div class="columns hide-for-small hide-for-medium large-1">   </div> <div class="columns small-6 medium-3 large-2"> <ul class="menu vertical"><li class="first"><a href="contact-us.html" title="Contact Us" >Contact Us</a></li> <li><a href="news-and-events.html" title="News & Events" >News & Events</a></li> <li><a href="become-a-member.html" title="Join Us" >Join Us</a></li> <li><a href="about-us.html" title="About IIMA" >About IIMA</a></li> <li class="last"><a href="site-search.html" title="Search" >Search</a></li> </ul> </div> <div class="columns small-6 medium-3 large-3"> <ul class="menu vertical"><li class="first"><a href="disclaimer.html" title="Disclaimer" >Disclaimer</a></li> <li><a href="assets/files/Public-Area/Membership/IIMAArticlesofAssociationJuly2021Final.pdf" title="Articles of Association" target="_blank">Articles of Association</a></li> <li><a href="code-of-conduct.html" title="Code of Conduct" >Code of Conduct</a></li> <li><a href="privacy.html" title="Privacy" >Privacy</a></li> <li><a href="acknowledgements.html" title="Acknowledgements" >Acknowledgements</a></li> <li class="last"><a href="sitemap.html" title="Sitemap" >Sitemap</a></li> </ul> </div> </div>  </footer>  <div class="row hide-for-print">  <div class="small-12 medium-9 large-9 columns" id="credits"> <p>漏 2021 International Iron Metallics Association | powered by <a target="_blank" href="http://www.bluespark.co.uk" title="blue spark web design sevenoaks kent">blue spark</a>*</p> </div>  <div class="small-12 medium-3 large-3 columns hide-for-print" id="social"> <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/21228763" title="linkedin" target="_blank"><i class="fa fa-linkedin"></i></a>  </div> </div>  <script src="dist/bower_components/jquery/dist/jquery.min.js"></script> <script src="dist/bower_components/what-input/dist/what-input.min.js"></script> <script src="dist/bower_components/foundation-sites/dist/js/foundation.min.js"></script> <script src="dist/js/app-min.js"></script> <script src="dist/bower_components/foundation-sites/dist/js/plugins/foundation.dropdown.js"></script>  <script> $('[data-open-details]').click(function (e) { e.preventDefault(); $(this).next().toggleClass('is-active'); $(this).toggleClass('is-active'); }); </script>   <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="//cdnjs.cloudflare.com/ajax/libs/cookieconsent2/3.0.3/cookieconsent.min.css" /> <script src="//cdnjs.cloudflare.com/ajax/libs/cookieconsent2/3.0.3/cookieconsent.min.js"></script> <script> window.addEventListener("load", function(){ window.cookieconsent.initialise({ "palette": { "popup": { "background": "#efefef", "text": "#404040" }, "button": { "background": "#669933" } }, "content": { "href": "http://www.metallics.org/privacy.html" } })}); </script> </body> </html>

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Granulated Pig Iron (GPI) | International Iron Metallics Association