Tenova has partnered with DMV (Cogne Group, formerly Mannesmann Stainless Tubes) and other companies to launch the EU-funded LIFE H2Reuse project, which began in July 2024. This initiative aims to cut the carbon footprint of the bright annealing process used in producing stainless steel seamless and nickel alloy tubes by improving energy efficiency and reducing waste.
The project focuses on innovative hydrogen recovery and reuse solutions. In the bright annealing process, 100pct hydrogen is used in high-temperature furnaces to enhance tube surface quality, corrosion resistance, and durability. However, the current practice of flaring hydrogen after each cycle results in significant waste. LIFE H2Reuse seeks to recover this hydrogen and reuse it as fuel in radiant tubes operating on 100pct hydrogen, a market-first approach.
While hydrogen burners are commercially available, their industrial application is still under development. The project aims to enhance their efficiency and effectiveness, demonstrating the technical, environmental, and economic benefits of these advancements. Expected outcomes include reduced carbon emissions, energy consumption, and resource waste, with rigorous testing planned to validate results.
Tenova’s roller hearth furnace plants are among the potential beneficiaries, with the innovations expected to lower their carbon footprint, optimize resource use, and reduce operating costs. The project’s findings could also influence other industries reliant on high-hydrogen-content atmospheric gases, driving broader environmental and economic gains.
