The University of Wollongong – Pilbara iron ores in an electric smelting furnace process

R&D Focus Areas:
Industrial heat processes

Lead Organisation:
The University of Wollongong

Partners:
BlueScope Steel

Status:
Active

Start date:
March 2024

Completion date:
June 2029

Key contacts:
Dr. Xue Feng Dong – xuefeng_dong@uow.edu.au
Dr. Raymond Longbottom – raymond_longbottom@uow.edu.au

Funding:
AUD$2.03 million – Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA)

Project total cost:
AUD$4.24 million

Project summary description (as published by ARENA):
In the core research stage, the award recipient aims to assess the pelletising performance of Pilbara iron ore fines, assess the reduction/melting behaviours of DR Pilbara ore products produced using up to 100% hydrogen, and measure key properties of slags necessary for understanding electric smelting furnace (ESF) operations.

In the research commercialisation stage, the aim is to investigate the production of commercial grade pellets with/without added steel plant by-products and assess the optimal operating conditions (e.g., energy consumption, production capability, design) of the ESF process to inform future pilot/demonstration scale experimentation.

The objectives for the Project will be achieved through the following outcomes:

1. Reduction in, or removal of, barriers associated with using low to medium grade Australian iron ores in low emissions iron and steel production.
2. Further development of innovative and/or step change emissions abatement pathways for iron and steel production using Australian iron ores.
3. Increased research capacity in the Australian iron and steel sector, and the facilitation of collaboration between research groups and industry.
4. Improvement in the technology readiness and commercial readiness of the direct reduced iron (DRI)-ESF process using Pilbara iron ores by addressing key research questions associated with:
   • Palletisation performance of Pilbara ore fines with high loss on ignition.
   • Reduction, carburisation and melting behaviours of different DR Pilbara ore products for the ESF process.
   • Measurements of slag formation, property analysis and partition reactions between slag and metal; and
   • ESF process development, control and efficiency.

Related publications and key links:
https://arena.gov.au/projects/the-university-of-wollongong-australian-pilbara-iron-ores-in-an-electric-smelting-furnace-process/

Higher degree studies supported:
None at this stage.

 

April 2024