Hydrogen Plasma Reduction for Steelmaking and Circular Economy

Projektinformationen

H2PlasmaRed

ID Finanzhilfevereinbarung: 101138228

DOI

10.3030/101138228

EK-Unterschriftsdatum 4 Dezember 2023

Startdatum 1 Januar 2024

Enddatum 31 Dezember 2027

Finanziert unter

• Digital, Industry and Space

Gesamtkosten

€ 6 374 937,50

EU-Beitrag

€ 5 997 965,00

Koordiniert durch

OULUN YLIOPISTO
Finland

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - H2PlasmaRed (Hydrogen Plasma Reduction for Steelmaking and Circular Economy)

Berichtszeitraum: 2024-01-01 bis 2025-06-30

Zusammenfassung vom Kontext und den Gesamtzielen des Projekts

The main objective of H2PlasmaRed is to develop hydrogen plasma smelting reduction (HPSR) technology for the reduction of iron ores and steelmaking sidestreams to meet the targets of the European Green Deal for reducing CO2 emissions and supporting the circular economy in the steel industry across Europe. Our ambition is to introduce a near CO2-free reduction process to support the goal of the Paris Agreement - a 90% reduction in the carbon intensity of steel production by 2050. To achieve this, H2PlasmaRed will develop HPSR from TRL5 to TRL7 by demonstrating the HPSR in a pilot-HPSR reactor (hundred-kilogram-scale) that is an integrated part of a steel plant, and in a pilot-scale DC electric arc furnace (EAF, 5-ton scale) by retrofitting the existing furnace. The project's end goal is to establish a way to upscale the process from pilot-scale into industrial practice. To support this goal, the novel sensors and models developed and implemented in the project are used for HPSR process optimization from a reduction, resource, and energy efficiency standpoint.

Arbeit, die ab Beginn des Projekts bis zum Ende des durch den Bericht erfassten Berichtszeitraums geleistet wurde, und die wichtigsten bis dahin erzielten Ergebnisse

The project successfully initiated retrofitting and methodological groundwork essential for the pilot-HPSR plant demonstration trials that will be conducted until the end of 2025. The retrofitting and modification work on the 5-ton pilot DC EAF have progressed as planned, and the demonstration campaign is expected to be completed in 2026. Several supporting laboratory trials have been performed, and the optimal operation parameters have been evaluated via experimental and theoretical approaches. Iron ores and sidestream materials have been provided by project partners both for laboratory and pilot trials.

Numerous laboratory-scale HPSR trials have established procedures both for processing various iron ores and sidestreams, and how to implement in situ analysis methods, such as optical emission spectroscopy. Project’s modeling work, on the other hand, has focused on developing a first of its kind dynamic mathematical HPSR model, support for hydrogen addition into retrofitted EAF, and bridging the gap between laboratory experiments and theoretical models. The results have been reported and disseminated in projects’ public deliverables, conference presentations, and open access peer-reviewed publications.

To address the environmental footprint, process effectiveness, and competitiveness, the life cycle assessment & cost (LCA & TEA) analyses have been started, the benchmark processes have been defined, and HPSR system boundaries and critical performance factors have been identified. In addition, potential uncertainties and future scenarios have been defined. Data from H2PlasmaRed’s laboratory trials have been used as a reference, supported by thorough discussions with pilot-HPSR personnel regarding the scalability factors. Process flow diagrams of various reactors were drawn accordingly. Environmental and techno-economic indicators which will be used to communicate the results were selected. To determine the risks associated with the use of critical raw materials within the HPSR value chain, criticality analysis is being conducted.

Fortschritte, die über den aktuellen Stand der Technik hinausgehen und voraussichtliche potenzielle Auswirkungen (einschließlich der bis dato erzielten sozioökonomischen Auswirkungen und weiter gefassten gesellschaftlichen Auswirkungen des Projekts)

The project’s activities have enabled the retrofitting and modifications of the pilot-HPSR reactor and the pilot-scale DC EAF, which both will provide valuable information about the scalability of HPSR and usage of existing furnaces for HPSR purposes via retrofitting. To support this work, the developed models have presented excellent agreement with experimental results, giving unprecedented insight into the HPSR process and H2 addition into an EAF. In terms of process monitoring, the optical emissions related to the reduction degree of simple hematite system have been identified together with influence of gangue elements to the plasma characteristics. H2PlasmaRed’s results are expected to reach an audience and uptake beyond only the HPSR topics, since the results will benefit the electricity-based EAF processes as a whole due to many similarities in these plasma-based processes.

H2PlasmaRed project logo

Visit to the K1 pilot-HPSR reactor during a General Assembly meeting in Austria (February 2025)

H2PlasmaRed consortium logo picture

Typical H2-plasma processing of iron ore sample in laboratory