LKAB's experimental blast furnace and pellet development

LKAB's experimental blast furnace with a hearth diameter of 1.2 m and a working volume of 8.2 m3 produces approximatively 35 tons of hot metal/day and, not the least, valuable information. The furnace is used for the evaluation of burden materials and combinations as well as of modified or new blast furnace operational concepts and equipments. Nine campaigns ranging from 6 to 11 weeks have been performed since the start up in 1997.