Molten Iron Refining with CO2 Gas and CO Monitoring
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Solution Overview
Problem
The steel industry faces challenges in achieving carbon neutrality due to high greenhouse gas emissions, particularly when using low-quality raw materials in hydrogen reduction steelmaking, where predicting the end of decarbonization refining is difficult due to continuous CO gas generation during oxidation by CO2 gas.
Innovation Solution
A method and system for refining molten iron using CO2 gas generated during melting and reduction, where CO2 is collected and used for decarbonization refining, and the completeness of the process is determined by measuring the amount of CO gas generated, allowing for process optimization and carbon neutrality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-generated harmful factors
If CO2 gas is used for decarbonization refining instead of O2 gas, then carbon neutrality is achieved and greenhouse gas emissions are reduced, but it becomes difficult to predict the end of decarbonization refining due to continuous CO gas generation during oxidation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs feedback control by continuously monitoring CO gas generation amount during decarbonization refining. The system uses the measured CO gas generation data to determine when decarbonization is complete, creating a closed-loop control mechanism that solves the endpoint detection problem while maintaining the environmental benefits of CO2-based refining
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses CO gas generation amount as an intermediary indicator to indirectly detect the endpoint of decarbonization refining. Instead of directly measuring the completion of carbon removal, the system monitors the byproduct (CO gas) generation, which serves as a measurable proxy for the refining process status
2Adaptability or versatility
If low-quality raw materials are used in hydrogen reduction steelmaking, then raw material supply constraints are alleviated, but reduction rate decreases and yield decreases due to increased gangue content
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical parameters of the refining process by using CO2 gas instead of traditional O2 gas for decarbonization. This parameter change enables effective processing of low-quality raw materials with higher gangue content, improving the system's adaptability to different raw material qualities while maintaining productivity through optimized process conditions
3Loss of energy
If CO2 gas is collected and recycled from melting process for decarbonization refining, then carbon capture utilization is achieved, but process complexity increases due to gas separation and collection requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the CO2 collection from the melting process with the decarbonization refining process, creating an integrated system where the CO2 generated during melting is directly utilized in the subsequent refining stage. This combination reduces the need for separate CO2 capture and storage infrastructure, lowering overall system complexity while achieving carbon recycling
Data Source
AI summary
An embodiment provides a method and a system device for refining molten iron, wherein hydrogen reduction DRI is utilized to collect CO2 gas generated during melting and further reduction and use the gas in decarbonization refining, so as to optimize processes and achieve carbon neutrality. In addition, it is possible to predict the end point of the decarbonization refining by measuring the amount of CO gas generated in decarbonization refining.