Volume 55

Thermodynamic analysis of a methane carbon cycling reforming system integrated iron direct reduction Yixin Weng, Fan Jiao, Shiying Yang, Lixinyu Mei, Xiaojing Shi, Yibiao Long, Qibin Liu

Abstract

The use of hydrogen instead of coke for iron reduction, known as hydrometallurgy, is a potential route to reduce carbon emissions in the iron and steel industry. Hydrogen is used as a heat source and reactant, which is governed by both chemical equilibrium and heat supply. Current processes face the challenge of high energy consumption arising from the heat demand and gas consumption. To alleviate this challenge, we used different H2/CO at different stages of iron oxide reduction to utilize the heat of reaction to drive endothermic reactions. In this way, it is possible to achieve auto-thermal process or less energy consumption. Based on this idea, we proposed a methane carbon cycling reforming system integrated iron direct reduction. This system yields H2 and CO separately, and reducing gas can be directly delivered to the ironmaking system in special proportions. The energy consumption is 8.73 GJ/t DRI. This study provides a promising way for the construction and integration of efficient and low-carbon emission hydrogen ironmaking systems.

Keywords methane carbon cycling reforming, hydrogen, direct reduced iron