Carburization of the mainly hydrogen based direct reduction

CO₂-mitigation in the steel industry is achieved by a transformation from the carbon-based blast furnace route to the predominantly hydrogen-based direct reduction route. In direct reduction, iron ore pellets are reduced to so-called direct reduced iron (DRI) in a countercurrent reactor with the aid of reducing gases (until now usually natural gas). In addition to the reduction of iron ores, the DRI is carburized during the process.

Within the scope of the project, the carburization of the DRI is to be investigated with increased use of hydrogen in the direct reduction. In addition to the use of classical models, particle-resolved CFD simulations will be carried out. The simulations will be accompanied by experimental investigations of the reduction and carburization behaviour of iron ore pellets with hydrogen. The work at the VDEh-Betriebsforschungsinstitut is funded by the BMWK.