Sage Journals: Discover world-class research

Abstract

Substitution of pulverised coal injection (PCI) by solid biocarbon fuel has the potential to achieve substantial reduction in GHG emissions associated with blast furnace ironmaking. A systematic evaluation was conducted on the performance of solid biocarbons produced from a single raw biomass source using different pyrolysis technologies. A techno-economic model was developed to evaluate the value-in-use (VIU) of the prepared solid biocarbon in blast furnace ironmaking. The VIU of solid biocarbon is strongly influent by its O/C (oxygen to carbon) mass ratio which is determined by the pyrolysis technology and conditions employed. It also dictates the cost of raw materials required to support the blast furnace ironmaking process and the potential GHG emissions achievable. In order to balance all factors that may affect the VIU of solid biocarbon, close collaboration between steelmakers and solid biocarbon producers is critical for producing suitable solid biocarbon fuel to replace PCI.

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

Environment and Climate Change Canada . National inventory report 1990–2014 Greenhouse Gas Sources and Sinks in Canada; 2016.

World Steel Association . Steel statistical yearbook 2017. Brussels; 2017.

Canadian Steel Producers Association . Environmental Performance Report. Ottawa; 2010.

Giroux

MacPhee

et al. Direct injection of biofuel in blast furnace ironmaking. AISTech – Iron and Steel Technology Conference Proceedings; 2010. p. 643–651.

Chen

An evaluation on rice husks and pulverized coal blends using a drop tube furnace and a thermogravimetric analyzer for application to a blast furnace. Energy. 2009;34(10):1458–1466. doi: 10.1016/j.energy.2009.06.033

Chen

Cheng

et al. An evaluation on improvement of pulverized biomass property for solid fuel through torrefaction. Appl Energy. 2011;88(11):3636–3644. doi: 10.1016/j.apenergy.2011.03.040

Viana

Da Silva

Assis

PS.

Characterization of mixtures of sugarcane bagasse and charcoal for injection through tuyeres of blast furnaces. AISTech – Iron and Steel Technology Conference Proceedings; 2011. p. 117–128.

Wang

Mellin

Lövgren

et al. Biomass as blast furnace injectant – considering availability, pretreatment and deployment in the Swedish steel industry. Energy Convers Manage. 2015;102:217–226. doi: 10.1016/j.enconman.2015.04.013

Feliciano-Bruzual

Charcoal injection in blast furnaces (bio-PCI): CO₂ reduction potential and economic prospects. J Mater Res Technol. 2014;3(3):233–243. doi: 10.1016/j.jmrt.2014.06.001

10.

Kambo

Dutta

Strength, storage, and combustion characteristics of densified lignocellulosic biomass produced via torrefaction and hydrothermal carbonization. Appl Energy. 2014;135:182–191. doi: 10.1016/j.apenergy.2014.08.094

11.

Iroba

Tabil

Sokhansanj

et al. Pretreatment and fractionation of barley straw using steam explosion at low severity factor. Biomass Bioenergy. 2014;66:286–300. doi: 10.1016/j.biombioe.2014.02.002

12.

FactSage [Internet] . Montreal (QC): CRCT [cited 2018 Jan 30]. Available from: http://www.factsage.com/ .

13.

Basu

Lahiri

AK.

Production of low-p steel. Trans Indian Inst Met. 2013;66(5–6):555–559. doi: 10.1007/s12666-013-0307-1

14.

Jiao

Zhang

Liu

et al. Circulation and accumulation of harmful elements in blast furnace and their impact on the fuel consumption. Ironmaking Steelmaking. 2017;44(5):344–350. doi: 10.1080/03019233.2016.1210913

15.

Chen

Niksa

Coal devolatilization during rapid transient heating. 1. Primary devolatilization. Energy Fuels. 1992;6(3):254–264. doi: 10.1021/ef00033a004

16.

Chen

Castagnoli

Niksa

Coal devolatilization during rapid transient heating. 2. Secondary pyrolysis. Energy Fuels. 1992;6(3):264–271. doi: 10.1021/ef00033a005

17.

Gray

VR.

The role of explosive ejection in the pyrolysis of coal. Fuel. 1988;67(9):1298–1304. doi: 10.1016/0016-2361(88)90054-3

18.

Ray

Giroux

MacPhee

et al. Evaluation of PCI coals in new injection facility at CanmetENERGY-Ottawa. AISTech – Iron and Steel Technology Conference Proceedings [Internet]; 2015. p. 926–937.

Value-in-use of biocarbon fuel for direct injection in blast furnace ironmaking

Abstract

Get full access to this article

References