DIRECT REDUCTION PROCESS USING HYDROGEN

Description

A direct reduction method / system comprising: adding variable amounts of natural gas, hydrogen, and a carbon-free oxidizing gas to a feed gas stream upstream of a reformer; reforming the feed gas stream in the reformer to form a reformed gas stream; and supplying the reformed gas stream to a blast furnace, where the reformed gas stream is used to reduce a metallic ore material to a direct-reduction metallic material. The feed gas stream includes a throat gas stream recycled from the blast furnace. Optionally, the carbon-free oxidizing gas includes steam, and the method further includes controlling the steam flow rate in order to maintain a maximum feed gas k-factor value of 0.74 or less.Optionally, a variable amount of hydrogen is selected to replace 20 to 90% of the natural gas in combustion capacity. The variable amount of hydrogen is selected based on the available hydrogen supply.