BFI VDEh-Betriebsforschungsinstitut GmbH

Initial situation:

The natural gas demand of German iron and steel production amounts to around 20.8 TWh. This corresponds to around 4.2 million tCO₂/a of energy-related CO₂ emissions. Climate-neutral steel production is to be achieved by 2045. "Green" hydrogen can be used to replace fossil fuel gases.

Project targets:

Using the example of a bell type furnace, hydrogen is utilized for heating in order to enable CO₂-free production. Key aspects are safe operation and ensuring productivity and product quality. The transferability of the results is ensured by CFD simulations and process modelling. In addition to the investigation of the process, a supply and usage concept for the efficient use of H₂ is also being developed. The project ends with a 6-month industrial trial of the use of hydrogen at a bell furnace.

Innovative approaches:

• First systematically investigated use of hydrogen to heat a hood annealing system
• Demand scenarios and supply concept (generation, storage, transport)
• Safety-related consideration
• Modelling of the discontinuous annealing process with natural gas, hydrogen and natural gas-hydrogen mixtures
• Systematic adaptation of the plant and furnace control
• Industrial long-term testing

Benefits for the industry:

• Compilation of potentials and obstacles for the efficient and cost-effective use of hydrogen technology
• Cost analysis
• Catalogue of measures or roadmap for the conversion from natural gas to hydrogen
• CO₂ savings of approx. 350 ktCO₂ on hood annealing in Germany

Funding source: Federal Ministry of Education and Climate Protection (The joint project is a research project within the 7th Energy Research Programme).

Links:
https://www.enargus.de/pub/bscw.cgi/?op=enargus.eps2&q=%2201246006/1%22

https://www.industrie-energieforschung.de/interviews/h2distherpro_wasserstoff_stahlindustrie_thyssenkrupp_rasselstein_bfi