With growing regulatory pressure and the need to achieve net-zero targets, new technologies for ‘low carbon’ steelmaking are being urgently explored. Volteron™, developed by the John Cockerill Group and ArcelorMittal Group, introduces a novel electrochemical ironmaking route based on low-temperature electrowinning of iron oxide. The technology eliminates direct CO₂ emissions and leverages...
Achieving net zero ironmaking demands a fundamental shift away from conventional blast furnace routes, which remain among the largest industrial sources of CO₂ emissions due to their dependence on fossil fuels and limited integration of hydrogen. The Hy4Smelt industrial demonstration project addresses this challenge by combining hydrogen based fine ore reduction using the HYFOR® process with...
Hydrogen ironmaking is considered a promising technology for achieving carbon neutrality in the steelmaking industry. Hydrogen reduction is an endothermic reaction, whereas the conventional CO reduction is exothermic. Therefore, the heat supply to the reaction site is an important issue. Macroscopically, heat is transferred by the hot reducing gas flow, and thermal-fluid analysis is a useful...
In order to help reduce the emissions from the global steel industry, many operators are looking to adopt the Electric Smelting Furnace (ESF), and utilising biocarbon as a substitute for fossil carbon to produce pig iron. The ESF can be operated using renewable electricity, and has the capability to treat low grade iron ore, making the ESF favoured in areas where low grade iron ore is...
The decarbonization of the iron and steel industry, responsible for approximately 7% of global energy-related CO2 emissions, represents a critical challenge due to its high energy demand and the intrinsic characteristics of the processes, making it strongly dependent on fossil fuels. Hydrogen-based direct reduced iron (H2-DRI) has gained increasing attention and is currently considered one of...
ABSTRACT
Key words: Electric Smelter Furnace (ESF), Joule Heating, CFD, Radiation, Convection
Steel production involves the reduction, melting, and refining of iron ore. In this processing route, the Electric Smelter Furnace (ESF) is employed to melt the ore and produce molten iron for subsequent refining. Unlike traditional blast furnaces, which rely heavily on carbon-intensive coke,...