The Development and Practical Role of Pure Hydrogen Metallurgy
The preiron CO₂ emissions in the steel industry account for over 70% of the total emissions, and reducing carbon emissions from pre iron processes is the key to achieving carbon peak and carbon neutrality in the steel industry. At present, the use of non blast furnace Tiantie gas based vertical furnace reduction technology and the optimization of various process parameters based on the pure hydrogen vertical furnace reduction process route proposed by China Steel Research Institute provide a solution for achieving low or zero emissions of CO₂in green hydrogen metallurgy.
Why develop pure hydrogen metallurgy?
Under the background of "dual carbon", steel enterprises are facing enormous pressure to reduce emissions. Pure hydrogen metallurgy has dual functions of environmental protection and high-end material preparation. Hydrogen energy is a clean energy source that can replace fossil fuels and is the ultimate metallurgical technology for achieving carbon neutrality and low-carbon near zero emissions, with broad development prospects.
The development of mainstream hydrogen metallurgy technology?
The development of mainstream hydrogen metallurgy technologies covers multiple aspects, among which hydrogen rich vertical furnace process, hydrogen based powder ore direct reduction smelting process, and pure hydrogen vertical furnace reduction process are important components.
The hydrogen rich vertical furnace process is an important form of hydrogen metallurgy technology. It reduces iron ore (or pellets) to metallic iron by introducing a reducing gas rich in hydrogen into the vertical furnace. This process eliminates sintering, coking, and coal injection processes, and can significantly reduce the unit emission intensity of carbon dioxide.
The hydrogen based powder ore direct reduction smelting process is still in the research and development stage, which is an innovative hydrogen metallurgy technology. However, it has made significant progress. The HYFOR process developed by Pruitt Metallurgical Technology is a typical hydrogen based powder ore direct reduction smelting process, which is based on fluidized bed technology and uses hydrogen gas as a reducing agent to achieve the reduction of iron ore at low temperatures. Due to the direct use of mineral powder without the need for pre granulation, the hydrogen based powder ore direct reduction smelting process has significant advantages in reducing production costs and carbon emissions.
The pure hydrogen vertical furnace reduction process is a high-end form of hydrogen metallurgy technology, which uses high-purity hydrogen gas as a reducing agent to achieve the reduction of iron ore in the vertical furnace. The demonstration project of pure hydrogen multi stable state vertical furnace independently developed and constructed by China Steel Research and Technology Group Co., Ltd. has officially started operation in Lingang District, Linyi City, achieving the first successful application of pure hydrogen vertical furnace engineering in China, marking the breakthrough of China's independently developed pure hydrogen metallurgy technology from "0" to "1" and the technological leap from "hydrogen rich" metallurgy to "pure hydrogen" metallurgy.
At present, hydrogen rich vertical furnaces do occupy an important position in industrialized hydrogen metallurgy technology, especially globally, and this technology has been widely applied. However, as far as China is concerned, the development of hydrogen rich vertical furnace technology has indeed been limited by certain resource endowments, and is still in the initial stage of introduction. China Steel Research independently developed pure hydrogen vertical furnace reduction technology and equipment, and solved a series of technical difficulties in pure hydrogen vertical furnaces through the construction of demonstration lines.
