Can natural gas replace the coke smelting pig iron?
No, iron does not only need temperature. It requires the chemical reaction of carbon and iron oxide to produce iron.Chemical equation: C+Fe, 3O4 = Fe+CO2
No, because Coke plays a four role in the blast furnace, such as heating, reducing agent, skeleton and carbon supply
Coke at high temperature (also some blast furnace pulverized coal, heavy oil, natural gas and other auxiliary fuel) in carbon with bubbling air oxygen in the combustion of carbon monoxide and hydrogen generated in the furnace, removing the rise in iron ore in the process of oxygen, thereby reducing iron. The molten iron is discharged from the taphole. The impurities in the iron ore, such as limestone and other fluxes, combine to form slag, which is discharged from the slag hole. The produced gas is discharged from the top of the furnace and is used as the fuel for the hot air stove, the heating furnace, the coke oven and the boiler after dust removing. The main products of blast furnaces are pig iron, as well as by-products, blast furnace slag and blast furnace gas.
