SAIL opts for hydrogen injection to decarbonise its blast furnace
The Indian state-owned company SAIL is commencing the planning phase for a system to inject hydrogen into the blast furnaces at its Bokaro Steel Plant in Bokaro Steel City, Jharkhand. The project to decarbonise blast furnace operations is funded by the Indian government.
Hydrogen replaces conventional fuels: At the heart of the project is the integration of technology for injecting hydrogen via the blast furnace windways. The system, implemented by Primetals, is designed to partially replace conventional fuels with hydrogen in future, thereby directly reducing CO₂ emissions during iron production. The phased introduction of hydrogen allows for controlled adaptation and optimisation and specifically addresses the technical challenges involved in replacing traditional carbon-based fuels. This approach not only reduces CO₂ emissions but also improves the permeability of the blast furnace and process efficiency.
Decarbonisation of large-scale steel production
SAIL Bokaro’s investment is part of a comprehensive sustainability strategy. This includes emissions control, waste management and the development of green spaces and afforestation programmes. By introducing hydrogen-based solutions, SAIL Bokaro aims to set new standards in the industry and demonstrate the practical benefits of decarbonisation in large-scale steel production.
Hydrogen injection technology
Gas injection via the blast furnace is gaining importance amongst steel producers worldwide due to the reduction in CO₂ emissions. Hydrogen and hydrogen-containing gases offer a practical way of replacing some of the carbon-containing fuels and thus reducing CO₂ emissions from the blast furnace. Primetals has been supplying technologies for the injection of such gases into the blast furnace for over 40 years and has, in recent years, established the design of these plants in India. These have included a pilot plant for hydrogen injection and full-scale synthesis gas injection plants at other major steel producers.
Source: Primetals Technologies