TY - JOUR

T1 - Iron ore wires as consumable electrodes for the hydrogen plasma smelting reduction in future green steel production

AU - Springer, Hauke

AU - de Souza Filho, Isnaldi Rodrigues

AU - Choisez, L.

AU - Zarl, Michael Andreas

AU - Quick, Cameron

AU - Horn, Andreas

AU - Schenk, Johannes

N1 - Publisher Copyright: © 2023 The Authors

PY - 2023/11/28

Y1 - 2023/11/28

N2 - In this work we investigate the feasibility and optimisation pathways for using oxide-filled consumable electrodes as both ore feeding system and reducing/melting arc carrier in the hydrogen plasma smelting reduction process. Similar in nature to Söderberg-type electrodes, but free of C-containing substances, this approach has the potential advantage of eliminating the carbon emissions stemming from conventional electric arc furnace electrodes while drastically simplifying the ore feeding into the process. Using a commercial welding setup with a 1.2 mm thick oxide-cored steel wire, area investigations indicate that approximately 50% of the introduced iron ore could be reduced to metallic iron at 100 A arc current under an Ar-10% H2 atmosphere independent from deposition time. The reduction efficiency was negatively affected by increasing arc current and it was increased by using the wire as the anode. Based on the performed variation of deposition parameters, microstructural characterisation results, high speed footage and first upscaling trials, the key scientific questions and engineering pathways for technological optmisiation towards future green steel production technology are outlined and discussed.

AB - In this work we investigate the feasibility and optimisation pathways for using oxide-filled consumable electrodes as both ore feeding system and reducing/melting arc carrier in the hydrogen plasma smelting reduction process. Similar in nature to Söderberg-type electrodes, but free of C-containing substances, this approach has the potential advantage of eliminating the carbon emissions stemming from conventional electric arc furnace electrodes while drastically simplifying the ore feeding into the process. Using a commercial welding setup with a 1.2 mm thick oxide-cored steel wire, area investigations indicate that approximately 50% of the introduced iron ore could be reduced to metallic iron at 100 A arc current under an Ar-10% H2 atmosphere independent from deposition time. The reduction efficiency was negatively affected by increasing arc current and it was increased by using the wire as the anode. Based on the performed variation of deposition parameters, microstructural characterisation results, high speed footage and first upscaling trials, the key scientific questions and engineering pathways for technological optmisiation towards future green steel production technology are outlined and discussed.

KW - Electric arc furnace

KW - Electrodes

KW - Hydrogen plasma

KW - iron ore

KW - Metallurgy

KW - Reduction

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85179133665&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1016/j.susmat.2023.e00785

DO - 10.1016/j.susmat.2023.e00785

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:85179133665

VL - 39.2024

JO - Sustainable Materials and Technologies

JF - Sustainable Materials and Technologies

SN - 2214-9937

IS - April

M1 - e00785

ER -