Summary of research results on the effect of increasing hydrogen content in the blast and its distribution across the blast furnace radius on the technological mode of blast furnace smelting
Authors:   Iron and Steel Institute of Z. I. Nekrasov National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Muravyova I. H. , Chaika O. L. ,   Iron and Steel Institute of Z. I. Nekrasov National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Ivancha M. H. ,   Iron and Steel Institute of Z. I. Nekrasov National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Kornilov B. V. ,   Iron and Steel Institute of Z. I. Nekrasov National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Merkulov O. Ye. ,   Iron and Steel Institute of Z. I. Nekrasov National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Nesterov O. S. ,   Iron and Steel Institute of Z. I. Nekrasov National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Harmash L. I. ,   Iron and Steel Institute of Z. I. Nekrasov National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Vіshnyakov V. I. ,   Iron and Steel Institute of Z. I. Nekrasov National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Shcherbachov V. R. ,   Iron and Steel Institute of Z. I. Nekrasov National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Yermolina K. P. ,   Iron and Steel Institute of Z. I. Nekrasov National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine
Published: January 2025

A promising pathway to achieving carbon neutrality while preserving the traditional blast furnace technology for pig iron production lies in the development and implementation of breakthrough innovations in technology, particularly involving the use of hydrogen as a reducing agent and heat source. The use of hydrogen-containing fuel in pig iron production results in significant changes in blast furnace smelting technology, especially in the thermal and reduction processes occurring in the furnace. Enhancing the understanding of these processes when using hydrogen-enriched blast additives and scientifically justifying their optimal quantities to ensure the maximum utilization of hydrogen are critical tasks in developing scientifically substantiated technological principles for using hydrogen in blast furnaces. The development of these principles must be based on research results that examine the effect of increasing hydrogen content in the blast and its distribution across the blast furnace radius on the technological mode of blast furnace smelting. These studies have been conducted by researchers from various countries. The purpose of this research is to summarize and systematize the results of studies on the effect of increasing hydrogen content in the blast and its distribution across the blast furnace radius on the technological mode of blast furnace smelting. The experience of using hydrogen-containing gases in the blast furnace process is reviewed. An analysis of research results regarding the distribution of hydrogen or hydrogen-containing gases across the furnace cross-section and their impact on blast furnace smelting technology is conducted. These studies are categorized as follows: experimental studies on industrial facilities, studies on experimental blast furnaces, numerical studies using mathematical models. The results of experimental studies conducted on industrial blast furnaces and in laboratory conditions, as well as through mathematical modeling, have demonstrated that injecting hydrogen-containing gases increases blast furnace productivity and reduces coke consumption. However, the understanding of hydrogen distribution is ambiguous and sometimes contradictory. The results of some studies indicate that the penetration depth of H2 is limited, with hydrogen primarily concentrating in the furnace wall region, rising with the gas flow, and the injected gas may not reach the furnace center. To enhance the efficiency of hydrogen gas utilization in the blast furnace, it is necessary to increase the penetration depth of hydrogen-containing gas and control the distribution of the gas flow within the furnace. According to alternative viewpoints, the amount of hydrogen decreases from the furnace axis (where H2 levels are highest) toward the walls. The blast furnace smelting process undergoes significant changes compared to the traditional pig iron production process when hydrogen or hydrogen-containing gases are injected. Therefore, operating a blast furnace with hydrogen requires optimization, with one of the key focus areas being the burden charging program tailored to these conditions.