| Project Detail |
The University of Minnesota is developing a fully electrified microwave hydrogen plasma process to replace blast furnace technology. The proposed approach uses microwaves to generate an ionized hydrogen gas that supplies significant gas heating at ambient pressures. The technology will use blast furnace and direct reduction grade iron ore concentrates, eliminating the emissions associated with the palletization, sintering, and coke-making steps in the conventional blast furnace process.
Market Impact Potential:
The outcomes of this project include a laboratory scale demonstration unit and a techno-economic and life cycle analysis. At the completion of the project, the device will meet Technology Readiness Level 5, which means a laboratory scale device will be thoroughly tested for industrial relevant conditions. This potentially disruptive new technology can be combined with additional smelting technologies to become a cost-effective, carbon-free integrated process for producing iron that can directly be used in electric arc furnace steelmaking. |
