Reduction in the Midrex furnace
Natural gas (93% methane) is turned into water gas (CO + H2): 2CH4 + CO2 + H2O -> 3CO + 5H2; the gas mixture reduces the ore: 2Fe2O3 + 3CO + 3H2 -> 4Fe + 3CO2 + 3H2O.
The idea, in English
Natural gas (93% methane) is turned into water gas (CO + H2): 2CH4 + CO2 + H2O -> 3CO + 5H2; the gas mixture reduces the ore: 2Fe2O3 + 3CO + 3H2 -> 4Fe + 3CO2 + 3H2O.
Role of natural gas
source of the reducing agents CO and H2.
Explain in Egyptian Arabic
الـ natural gas (93% methane) بيتحوّل لـ water gas (CO + H2): 2CH4 + CO2 + H2O -> 3CO + 5H2؛ وبعدين خليط الغازات ده بيختزل الـ ore: 2Fe2O3 + 3CO + 3H2 -> 4Fe + 3CO2 + 3H2O.
دور الـ natural gas
إنه مصدر الـ reducing agents اللي هما CO والـ H2.
المطلوب
إنك تكتب المعادلات دي وتقارن بالـ blast furnace.
Common misconceptions
- Methane itself reduces the ore.
No. Methane is not the reducing agent here. Natural gas (93% methane) is first turned into water gas, a mixture of CO and H2, and these two gases reduce the iron ore to iron.
Explain in Egyptian Arabic
لأ، الـ methane نفسه مش هو اللي بيختزل الـ ore؛ اللي بيختزله هو الـ CO والـ H2 اللي بيطلعوا منه.
- The Midrex furnace uses coke.
No. The Midrex furnace uses no coke: natural gas is turned into CO and H2, and this gas mixture reduces the ore. Coke belongs to the blast furnace.
Explain in Egyptian Arabic
لأ، الـ Midrex furnace مفيهوش coke؛ الـ CO والـ H2 اللي بيختزلوا الـ ore جايين من الـ natural gas، والـ coke ده بتاع الـ blast furnace.