The Direct Reduction of Iron Ore with Hydrogen

Shuo Li, Huili Zhang, Jiapei Nie, Raf Dewil, Jan Baeyens and Yimin Deng
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Shuo Li: Beijing Advanced Innovation Centre for Smart Matter Science and Engineering, Beijing University of Chemical Technology (BUCT), Beijing 100029, China
Huili Zhang: School of Life Science and Technology, Beijing University of Chemical Technology (BUCT), Beijing 100029, China
Jiapei Nie: School of Life Science and Technology, Beijing University of Chemical Technology (BUCT), Beijing 100029, China
Raf Dewil: Process and Environmental Technology Lab, Department of Chemical Engineering, KU Leuven, J. De Nayerlaan 5, 2860 Sint-Katelijne-Waver, Belgium
Jan Baeyens: Beijing Advanced Innovation Centre for Smart Matter Science and Engineering, Beijing University of Chemical Technology (BUCT), Beijing 100029, China
Yimin Deng: Process and Environmental Technology Lab, Department of Chemical Engineering, KU Leuven, J. De Nayerlaan 5, 2860 Sint-Katelijne-Waver, Belgium

Sustainability, 2021, vol. 13, issue 16, 1-15

Abstract: The steel industry represents about 7% of the world’s anthropogenic CO 2 emissions due to the high use of fossil fuels. The CO 2 -lean direct reduction of iron ore with hydrogen is considered to offer a high potential to reduce CO 2 emissions, and this direct reduction of Fe 2 O 3 powder is investigated in this research. The H 2 reduction reaction kinetics and fluidization characteristics of fine and cohesive Fe 2 O 3 particles were examined in a vibrated fluidized bed reactor. A smooth bubbling fluidization was achieved. An increase in external force due to vibration slightly increased the pressure drop. The minimum fluidization velocity was nearly independent of the operating temperature. The yield of the direct H 2 -driven reduction was examined and found to exceed 90%, with a maximum of 98% under the vibration of ~47 Hz with an amplitude of 0.6 mm, and operating temperatures close to 500 °C. Towards the future of direct steel ore reduction, cheap and “green” hydrogen sources need to be developed. H 2 can be formed through various techniques with the catalytic decomposition of NH 3 (and CH 4 ), methanol and ethanol offering an important potential towards production cost, yield and environmental CO 2 emission reductions.

Keywords: hydrogen; iron ore; direct reduction; fluidized bed; solar energy (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (7)

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