【Ten Years of Rapid Development in Chemical Engineering Equipment】Development and testing of hydrogen-enriched blast furnace smelting technology using pure hydrogen as the blowing gas source for the first time from 1197 to 2022
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Looking at the development of chemical engineering technology over the past decade, we celebrate the prosperity and strength of modern China. This is just a starting point to encourage further discussion among everyone; with your participation, things will become even more interesting. [Ten Years of Progress in Chemical Engineering Equipment] – continuous updates and summaries are available; feel free to join the discussions at https://bbs.hcbbs.com/thread-3576046-1-1.html. Prevention first, life above all. ----------------------------------------- In March 2022, Shanghai University, in collaboration with Xingguo Precision Machinery Co., Ltd. in Changli County, Hebei Province, carried out China’s first experimental study on hydrogen-rich smelting in blast furnaces using pure hydrogen as the blowing gas. The system operated properly during the experiment, and the relevant data met the expected standards. The goals of reducing the coke ratio by over 10%, cutting carbon dioxide emissions by over 10%, and increasing iron production by over 13% were achieved, thus providing valuable experience for the safe use of hydrogen on a large scale in steel production. Reducing carbon consumption and emissions in the blast furnace ironmaking process is crucial for achieving China’s goals of carbon peak and carbon neutrality. “Hydrogen metallurgy low-carbon technology, in simple terms, involves using hydrogen to replace traditional metallurgical fuels—coal and coke. ”Zhang Yuwen, a professor at the School of Materials Science at Shanghai University, said that hydrogen is used in metallurgical processes, with green and pollution-free water as the product; this represents an important way to significantly reduce carbon emissions, and it is also a key innovative technology for making metallurgical processes greener and less carbon-intensive. In 2019, Shanghai University and Xingguo Company reached a strategic cooperation agreement on industry-university-research-application collaboration to jointly establish a \"Research and Development Center for High-End Special (ductile) Cast Steel Products\" and a \"Low-Carbon Technology Research and Development Center\". The R&D team drew extensively on the production experience of hydrogen-powered vehicles in the transportation industry, and after multiple rounds of adjustments and optimizations, developed a complete set of production processes tailored for the metallurgy industry. By employing methods such as oxygen-enriched hydrogen injection and loading control, the R&D center has successfully resolved the issue of coordinating the use of hydrogen in blast furnaces with traditional ironmaking processes. This ensures that even when oxidation-reduction reactions between hydrogen and iron ore occur within the furnace (resulting in heat absorption and temperature drop), the furnace temperature remains at levels suitable for metallurgical processes.
【Ten Years of Rapid Development in Chemical Engineering Equipment】The first 1500 Nm³/h high-temperature electrolyzer was produced between 1198 and 2023. https://bbs.hcbbs.com/thread-5493116-1-1.html (Source: Haichuan Chemical Engineering Forum)
Blast furnaces traditionally use coke as both fuel and reductant; the use of hydrogen as a reductant represents a significant technological advancement that improves reaction efficiency while reducing environmental pollution, achieving two goals at once. However, the explosion protection rating for the blast furnace area may not need to change; it will remain at IIC level, with hydrogen and carbon monoxide falling under the same category.
Similar technologies have already begun to be adopted in steel mills
【Ten Years of Rapid Development in Chemical Engineering Equipment】China’s first flat-tube SOEC high-temperature electrolysis system from 1199 to 2023 https://bbs.hcbbs.com/thread-5493122-1-1.html (Source: Haichuan Chemical Engineering Forum)
SOEC is a water electrolysis structure with higher electrolytic efficiency. There are several methods for producing hydrogen through water electrolysis, including alkaline water electrolysis and PEM (Polymer Electrolyte Membrane/solid polymer electrolyte membrane) electrolysis. Since water has the property of being able to decompose at lower voltages as its temperature increases, unlike alkaline water electrolysis and PEM hydrogen production methods that operate at around 60°C, the ceramic materials used in SOEC can react at high temperatures of about 700°C, thereby reducing the energy consumption required for hydrogen production.