Industrial engineering firm, Sarralle, in collaboration with Nippon Gases, is taking significant strides towards aiding companies in their decarbonization and sustainability efforts. To this end, they have equipped ArcelorMittal Sestao with cutting-edge technology capable of utilizing green hydrogen in the steel manufacturing process. This milestone achievement involves the world’s first ladle preheating station powered entirely by green hydrogen, effectively achieving zero CO2 emissions in the ladle.
The primary objective of this project was to enhance the operation of the existing ladle preheater and replace natural gas with green hydrogen, resulting in minimized CO2 emissions. Additionally, the integration of oxycombustion burner technology has substantially reduced NOx emissions. The use of 100pct green hydrogen has successfully replicated different heating/drying curves, ensuring the required temperatures for ladle casting are attained, thus ensuring consistent and uniform heating of the refractory material.
The new equipment enables slow heating ramps while efficiently reaching casting temperature within a short timeframe. Extensive hydrogen consumption measurements during various heating/drying curves have validated earlier estimates, with no negative impact observed on the refractory material. Ladle inspections conducted after heating/drying with 100pct green hydrogen have confirmed the positive results.
The green hydrogen used to power ArcelorMittal Sestao’s ladle preheater is sourced from the Nippon Gases plant in Hernani, Spain, and produced from renewable energy.
