Potential for the use of biomass in the iron and steel industry

Since late-2006, in response to concerns regarding climate change, BlueScope Steel and OneSteel, partnering with CSIRO, have conducted an RD cokemaking blend component; steelmaking recarburiser; and, in the blast furnace, as a tuyere injectant (the largest application), nut coke replacement and reductant for pre-reduced feeds. For the EAF route, applications include replacement for charge carbon, foaming agent and steel recarburiser. Work has included several lifecycle and techno-economic studies as well as technology reviews. Providing the R&D is successful and the economics of charcoal supply are favourable, the potential for savings in net CO2 emissions ranges from 32 to 58% for the integrated route and from 6 to 12% for the EAF route. In all of the applications studied, it has been found that charcoal properties can be usefully optimised, a concept referred to as “designer char”. In this paper, brief mention will be made of several applications, but emphasis has been placed on theoretical, economic and combustion studies for blast furnace tuyere injection.