RESEARCH NEWS
Reduce steelmaking emissions by 90 %
Researchers from the University of Birmingham , UK , have designed a novel adaptation for existing iron and steel furnaces that “ could reduce carbon dioxide ( CO₂ ) emissions from the steelmaking industry by nearly 90 %.”
“ This radical reduction is achieved through a ‘ closed loop ’ carbon recycling system , which could replace 90 % of the coke typically used in current blast furnace-basic oxygen furnace systems and produces oxygen as a byproduct ,” outlined the university .
Devised by Professor Yulong Ding and Dr . Harriet Kildahl from the University of Birmingham ’ s School of Chemical Engineering , the system is detailed in a paper published in the Journal of Cleaner Production . This shows that , if implemented in the UK alone , it could deliver cost savings of £ 1.28 billion in five years , while reducing overall UK emissions by 2.9 %.
Professor Ding said : “ Current proposals for decarbonising the steel sector rely on phasing out existing plants and introducing electric arc furnaces powered by renewable electricity . However , an electric arc furnace plant can cost over £ 1 billion to build , which makes this switch economically unfeasible in the time remaining to meet the Paris Climate Agreement . The system we are proposing can be retrofitted to existing plants , which reduces the risk of stranded assets , and both the reduction in CO₂ and the cost savings are seen immediately .”
The recycling system captures the CO₂ from the top gas and reduces it to CO using a crystalline mineral lattice known as a ‘ perovskite ’ material . The material was chosen as the reactions take place within a range of temperatures ( 700-800 º C ) that can be powered by renewable energy sources and / or generated using heat exchangers connected to the blast furnaces .
Most of the world ’ s steel is produced via blast furnaces which produce iron from iron ore and basic oxygen furnaces which turn that iron into steel . The process is inherently carbonintensive , using metallurgical coke produced by destructive distillation of coal in a coke oven , which reacts with the oxygen in the hot air blast to produce carbon monoxide . This reacts with the iron ore in the furnace to produce CO₂ . The top gas from the furnace contains mainly nitrogen , CO and CO₂ , which is burned to raise the air blast temperature up to 1200 to 1350oC in a hot stove before blown to the furnace , with the CO₂ and N₂ ( also containing NOx ) emitted to the environment .
Under a high concentration of CO₂ , the perovskite splits CO₂ into oxygen which is
absorbed into the lattice , and CO which is fed back into the blast furnace . The perovskite can be regenerated to its original form in a chemical reaction that takes place in a lowoxygen environment . The oxygen produced can be used in the basic oxygen furnace to produce steel .
The new system can be retrofitted to existing furnaces , with the addition of an array of additional gas separators and heat exchangers required to support the perovskite splitter .
“ Iron and steelmaking is the biggest emitter of CO₂ of all foundation industrial sectors , accounting for 9 % of global emissions . According to the International Renewable Energy Agency ( IRENA ), it must achieve a 90 % reduction in emissions by 2050 to limit global warming to 1.5 ° C ,” added the university .
University of Birmingham Enterprise has filed a patent application covering the system and its use in metal production and is looking for long-term partners to participate in pilot studies , deliver this technology to existing infrastructure or collaborate on further research to develop the system . n
. bham . ac . uk
Investing in UK innovation
Inventions created by the Innovate UK Young Innovators Awards include robotic vessels , a body-powered bionic hand and alternatives to plastic . Announced at the end of January 2023 , the 94 winners will receive £ 1.25 million in grants to help tackle some of the biggest societal challenges . The Young Innovators competition received almost 700 applicants this year , up 25 % on the previous year .
“ The exceptional standard of ideas led Innovate UK to award over 50 % more winners this year ( 94 versus 63 ), making this the largest cohort of Young Innovators to date . The Young Innovators Awards recognise a diverse cohort of entrepreneurs from every nation and region of the UK . Each inspiring young person will benefit from a £ 5,000 grant , one-on-one business coaching and an allowance to cover living costs ,” stated Innovate UK .
UK Science , Research and Innovation Minister , George Freeman , said : “ Innovation is about developing new and better ways of doing things , something that young minds do naturally . Our Innovation Nation mission , and 50 % increase in the Innovate UK budget , is about investing in R & D in all parts of the UK to help drive economic investment and create exciting new career opportunities .”
The race to Net Zero inspired many of these entrepreneurs . Other winners were inspired by personal or family health challenges . Amongst the innovators looking to make the world a better place are :
■ Anahita Laverack ( 22 years old ) who has created Oshen , a fleet of autonomous , robotic vessels that resembles mini-sailboats , to capture live data from oceans to improve everything from fishing to weather forecasting to shipping route planning .
■ Fergal Mackie ( 25 years old ), who has developed Metacarpal , a body-powered bionic hand to give those with upperlimb amputations a better experience , using no electronics .
■ Alasdair Aegerter ( 28 years old ), an aerospace engineer who has created
Young Innovator , Fergal Mackie , who has developed Metacarpal , a body-powered bionic hand using no electronics .
a hybrid aircraft , the ‘ plane-o-copter ’, that can land anywhere . It can be used to transport goods more efficiently and to combat illegal logging , poaching and human trafficking .
The Young Innovators Awards recognise young people with great business ideas who have the potential to become successful entrepreneurs and future leaders in innovation . In addition to the awards , Innovate UK delivers workshops and briefing events to provide practical business advice to a network of over 12,500 young people across the UK . n