




The process of slag granulation involves pouring the molten slag through a high pressure water spray in a granulation head, located in close proximity to the blast furnace. Granulation process is the controlled quenching of the slag in cold water which does not give time for crystalline growth to take place. Large volume of water is required (10 parts of water to 1 part of molten slag being optimum). During this process of quenching, the molten slag undergoes accelerated cooling under controlled water flow condition and gets converted into glassy sand with 97 % of the solid granulated slag particles less than 3 mm and an average size of around 1 mm. The impact point of the molten slag and the high pressure water is dependent on the slag flow, its temperature and slope and shape of the hot runner. 


Fig - Interaction of molten slag and high pressure water

It is necessary the exchange of heat between the molten slag and high pressure water to take place in a very short time. The high pressure water jet breaks the molten slag stream into molten slat lamellae which initially convert into filaments and then into droplets. Maximum heat transfer takes place when the contact surface between the molten slag and the water for granulation is maximum ie. When the molten slag has been converted into droplets and is fully enclosed with water. The time of the solidification is dependent on the size of the slag droplets, the difference of temperature between the molten slag and high pressure water and the contact environment between water and the slag. Depending on the water temperature around the slag droplets, the transfer of heat takes place due to the following mechanisms.

  • Heat removal through steam release – This is applicable if the temperature of the granulation water is equal to the boiling temperature of the water.
  • Heat transfer to the granulation water as well as heat removal through steam release – Heat transfer through this mechanism takes place during most of the time.
  • Heat transfer to the granulation water without heat removal through steam release – This happens if the temperature of the granulation water is low and allows immediate condensation of the generated steam.

Generally boiling temperature is not reached when cold water is used for the granulation except in local areas due to the transient high slag flow. Removal of heat without steam release is feasible in case of use of cold water for the granulation and with good turbulence between slag and water for optimum heat removal. However normally heat transfer take place through the granulated water as well as through steam release.


The process of cast house slag granulation starts with separation of molten slag from liquid hot metal. The molten liquid slag is led into the granulation chamber through a series of runners protected by lining and sand. Direct contact between pressurized water stream and molten liquid slag takes place in the granulation chamber. Due to rapid cooling and the impact of water pressure, the molten slag is granulated into vitreous sand like particles which form a slurry mixture with water. This slurry mixture of water and granulated slag is transported to the dewatering station.

The simplest dewatering method is through gravel layered filtering bed. This filter bed is periodically back washed with water and air for removal of the choking by small particles of the slag. The granulated slag and water slurry is distributed evenly over the whole length of the drum. Axial vanes inside the drum continuously lift the granulated slag and deposit it onto a conveyor belt located above the distributor. The fine mesh on the exterior of the drum retains the granulated slag and allows the water to filter through. The granulated slag layer at the bottom of the drum creates a self filtering effect.

After dewatering the residual moisture of the granulated slag is around 8% to 10 %. The dewatered water is cleaned, cooled and recycled. The dried slag is conveyed to the granulated slag storage for dispatch to the customers. Water vapours generated during the slag granulation are emitted through a stack normally made of stainless steel.