One technology showing promise in the European steel industry’s ultralow CO2 emissions (ULCOS) programme is the development of the top gas recycling blast furnace process.
Partly financed by the RFCS, so far three versions of the top-gas-recycling blast furnace have been tested in the LKAB experimental blast furnace at the Swerea Mefos R&D facility in Lulea, Sweden.
Two versions were tested in the first trial in autumn 2007. One of these was further explored during recent trials together with a third version. The best version will be verified in 2010 trials.
The results are to be evaluated and used as the basis for the planned full-scale blast furnace to be built in Eisenhuttenstadt, Germany and later in Florange, France.