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The Direct Reduction of Iron Ore with Hydrogen

Author

Listed:
  • 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
    Process and Environmental Technology Lab, Department of Chemical Engineering, KU Leuven, J. De Nayerlaan 5, 2860 Sint-Katelijne-Waver, Belgium)

  • Yimin Deng

    (Process and Environmental Technology Lab, Department of Chemical Engineering, KU Leuven, J. De Nayerlaan 5, 2860 Sint-Katelijne-Waver, Belgium)

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.

Suggested Citation

  • Shuo Li & Huili Zhang & Jiapei Nie & Raf Dewil & Jan Baeyens & Yimin Deng, 2021. "The Direct Reduction of Iron Ore with Hydrogen," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(16), pages 1-15, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:16:p:8866-:d:610640
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Hong, Sanghyun & Kim, Eunsung & Jeong, Saerok, 2023. "Evaluating the sustainability of the hydrogen economy using multi-criteria decision-making analysis in Korea," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 204(C), pages 485-492.
    2. Sun, Xue & Li, Xiaofei & Zeng, Jingxin & Song, Qiang & Yang, Zhen & Duan, Yuanyuan, 2023. "Energy and exergy analysis of a novel solar-hydrogen production system with S–I thermochemical cycle," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 283(C).
    3. Boldrini, Annika & Koolen, Derck & Crijns-Graus, Wina & Worrell, Ernst & van den Broek, Machteld, 2024. "Flexibility options in a decarbonising iron and steel industry," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 189(PB).
    4. Jia Liu & Shuo Li & Raf Dewil & Maarten Vanierschot & Jan Baeyens & Yimin Deng, 2022. "Water Splitting by MnO x /Na 2 CO 3 Reversible Redox Reactions," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(13), pages 1-15, June.
    5. Ashkan Bahadoran & Qinglei Liu & Seeram Ramakrishna & Behzad Sadeghi & Moara Marques De Castro & Pasquale Daniele Cavaliere, 2022. "Hydrogen Production as a Clean Energy Carrier through Heterojunction Semiconductors for Environmental Remediation," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(9), pages 1-30, April.
    6. Deng, Yimin & Li, Shuo & Appels, Lise & Zhang, Huili & Sweygers, Nick & Baeyens, Jan & Dewil, Raf, 2023. "Steam reforming of ethanol by non-noble metal catalysts," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 175(C).
    7. Lin Lu & Zhipeng Yan & Xilong Yao & Yunfei Han, 2025. "An Investigation into the Effects of Coke Dry Quenching Waste Heat Production on the Cost of the Steel Manufacturing Process," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(10), pages 1-30, May.
    8. M, Aravindan & V, Madhan Kumar & Hariharan, V.S. & Narahari, Tharun & P, Arun Kumar & K, Madhesh & G, Praveen Kumar & Prabakaran, Rajendran, 2023. "Fuelling the future: A review of non-renewable hydrogen production and storage techniques," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 188(C).

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