Original Article

Mechanism and method for improving gas utilization rate of large blast furnaces based on data analysis

¹ School of Metallurgical Engineering, Anhui University of Technology, Ma’anshan 243000, Anhui, PR China
² Key Laboratory of Metallurgical Emission Reduction and Resources Recycling, Ministry of Education, Ma’anshan 243000, Anhui, PR China
³ Bayuquan Iron and Steel Branch, Angang Steel Co., Ltd., Yingkou 115000, Liaoning, PR China
⁴ Ironmaking Plant, Bengang Steel Plates Co., Ltd., Benxi 117000, Liaoning, PR China

^* e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Received: 21 November 2025
Accepted: 17 December 2025

Abstract

In response to the “dual-carbon” targets, optimizing blast furnace ironmaking processes has emerged as an urgent and critical pathway for achieving low-carbon smelting. Based on fundamental ironmaking principles, this study systematically investigates the 2021 operational data of 24 large blast furnaces in China (each with an effective volume exceeding 4000 m³) to elucidate the intrinsic relationships between the gas utilization rate and its key influencing factors. Practical methods for improving the gas utilization rate are proposed and demonstrated through a case study of a large blast furnace at a Chinese steel enterprise, where fuel consumption was successfully reduced. The results show that, for blast furnaces operating at gas utilization rates below 50%, each 1% increase in the gas utilization rate leads to a reduction of 6–8 kg/t in fuel ratio and 4–5 kg/t in process energy consumption. Both theoretical analysis and operational verification confirm that enhancing the gas utilization rate is a crucial pathway toward low-carbon and high-efficiency blast furnace smelting.