Periodic Reporting for period 1 - RecHycle (Recycling renewable hydrogen for climate neutrality)
Okres sprawozdawczy: 2022-06-01 do 2023-11-30
RecHycle's goal is to investigate the use of (green) hydrogen and recycled metallurgical gases to replace the use of coke and pulverised coal in the blast furnace. This is to be fed ultimately into the Blast Furnace and a future DRI furnace to sustainably produce green steel. The project will demonstrate a cost-efficient solution to decrease carbon emissions by initiating a new industrial symbiosis between and within the steel industry, chemical industry and renewable energy sources (e.g. wind or solar to obtain green electricity or hydrogen). The project will contribute in the shift towards a circular economy where waste products are valorised to the maximum of their potential. Furthermore, the project is to serve as a stepping stone towards further development of synergies within the industrial area, thus creating new opportunities for innovation and economic activities. Challenges to be addressed are the dynamic optimization of gas mixtures and flows, minimizing risks of hydrogen on material embrittlement, ceramic feed-inlet (Tuyeres) within the furnaces and the quality of the produced steel. RecHycle is to be executed through a consortium of 6 partners from 4 different countries including 1 industrial partner that is world leading in the steel manufacturing industry and 5 research partners specialized in hydrogen-based studies.
The main activities involved in the RecHycle project encompass a diverse range of topics of investigation. These include the investigation of the operation of blast furnaces using a mixture of hydrogen and/or circular gases, aiming to understand and optimize the use of alternative, more sustainable fuel sources in steel production. Accordingly the full process design and optimization is studied where the operations are scrutinized for efficiency. The project also delves into the risks associated with hydrogen, particularly its potential effects on material embrittlement, ensuring the safety and durability of materials used in high hydrogen environments. Additionally, the development and integration of ceramic feed-inlets within the furnaces is being explored, a significant step towards enhancing furnace efficiency and longevity. Lastly, a comprehensive Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) is being conducted to assess the environmental impacts of these innovations, providing a holistic view of the project's sustainability.
ArcelorMittal has recently investigated and determined the potential use of other sustainable fuels and reducing agents, both on-site and provided by an external produce.The study of the operational limits of the BF-B in Ghent was carried out by AMMR using a heat and mass balance model. The necessary permits of the site implementation of the proposed solutions have been obtained. The operational limits of the furnace were analysed in relation to several scenarios.The materials that will be used at hydrogen rich environments are currently being tested for the risk of hydrogen embrittlement. Room temperature testing of one material has shown no mechanical weakening due to hydrogen exposure.In order to ensure and guarantee the smooth and safe operation of all the demonstrations taking place in the RecHycle project, an action plan is prepared and presented. The RecHycle project's Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and Life Cycle Cost (LCC), following ISO 14040 standards, focuses on environmental impacts in the steel industry. Key impact categories like global warming, acidification, and water consumption are currently being studied. The analysis encompasses the entire steelmaking process, comparing the current "AS-IS" scenario with a future "TO-BE" scenario that includes a hydrogen hub.
ArcelorMittal has recently investigated and determined the potential use of other sustainable fuels and reducing agents, both on-site and provided by an external produce.The study of the operational limits of the BF-B in Ghent was carried out by AMMR using a heat and mass balance model. The necessary permits of the site implementation of the proposed solutions have been obtained. The operational limits of the furnace were analysed in relation to several scenarios.The materials that will be used at hydrogen rich environments are currently being tested for the risk of hydrogen embrittlement. Room temperature testing of one material has shown no mechanical weakening due to hydrogen exposure.In order to ensure and guarantee the smooth and safe operation of all the demonstrations taking place in the RecHycle project, an action plan is prepared and presented. The RecHycle project's Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and Life Cycle Cost (LCC), following ISO 14040 standards, focuses on environmental impacts in the steel industry. Key impact categories like global warming, acidification, and water consumption are currently being studied. The analysis encompasses the entire steelmaking process, comparing the current "AS-IS" scenario with a future "TO-BE" scenario that includes a hydrogen hub.
There are no significant results related to this section as of now. However, ongoing efforts and further research are expected to yield more substantial findings in the near future.