The aim of the research is to reduce emissions of oxides of nitrogen from power plants in iron and steel works.
Primary measures (burner design modifications) have been identified through scale model tests, while tests on the industrial boiler have been necessary to investigate fuel mixture changes.

In the case of the burner tests, emissions were measured with the original geometry. Using these conditions as a benchmark and replacing the oil by natural gas it has been possible to make a number of changes to the burner design in order to improve flame stability. Further experiments have been carried out on a new burner, with improved working performance. This solution implies the complete replacement of the burners, which will obviously be relatively costly, though it will improve plant performance.
Recent legislation introduced at the Community and the national levels to curb the atmospheric pollution generated by industry provides for increasingly stringent concentration limits and phased reductions in the volume of pollutants discharged.

In order to meet these requirements the steel industry will have to take action as regards its high-output power houses and also the boilers - which use gases from the production cycle for in-plant generation of steam and electricity - which are frequently part of the works and are managed by the steelmakers themselves.

While the statutory limits for dusts and SO2 can be met by improving the fume dedusting equipment, enhancing the efficiency of the coking gas desulphurization process or using low-sulphur fuels, for reducing NOx emissions preference is still given to intervening in the production process and modifying the combustion parameters and the burners.

In line with this trend, the aim of this research project is to develop ways for the steelmakers to modify the combustion mixes, the combustion techniques and the burners used in steel industry power plant, with a view to reducing NOx emissions as required by law.

More specifically, in order to attain these aims, the project will:

- study and correlate NOx emission from different types of fuel mixes, including non-conventional mixes, as a function of process and plant variables;

- pilot-scale and industrial-scale identification and experimenting ways in which the steelmakers themselves can modify the combustion mixes, the combustion techniques and the high-performance multi-fuel burners currently used.