ULCOS - Pilot testing of the Low-CO₂Blast Furnace process at the experimental BF in Luleå

Abstract

The ULCOS blast furnace process aims at reducing the CO<sub>2<sub/> emission of the blast furnace by 50% in two steps: Decrease of carbon consumption by recycling most of the top gas after CO<sub>2<sub/> removal, which requires operating the blast furnace with pure oxygen; Underground storage of CO<sub>2<sub/>. The first stage is essential to demonstrate the feasibility of this new process. It has been tested over a 6 week campaign at the LKAB experimental BF in Luleå. The facility was adapted specifically for the trials (including the erection of a VPSA plant). Different operating conditions were investigated. In conclusion, and taking into account underground storage, the CO<sub>2<sub/> emission at the blast furnace was reduced by up to 76%. For the steelmaking plant, this should result in a net CO<sub>2<sub/>-savings of 65% at the level of the hot rolled coil.