Objectives

The innovation actions of MaxH2DR are specifically directed towards three general objectives:
(1) close the most important current knowledge gaps regarding H2-enriched DR,
(2) exploit this new knowledge to develop highly innovative digital toolkits and
(3) provide the digital basis for the planned CDA demonstrator with >80% CO2 mitigation within CSP.

The third general objective refers to the central objective of the Clean Steel Partnership (CSP) : to demonstrate complete production chains with more than 80% CO2 mitigation. Considering the budgets and the timing of CSP and numerous already initiated demonstration activities, this objective generally has to be realised by a combination of demonstrators at different sites which need to be united with a digital toolkit to a "hybrid de-monstrator". MaxH2DR is designed for this approach, to complete already initiated demonstration activities and to provide digital toolkit as crucial enablers for CSP.

This includes the following objectives:

closing knowledge gaps on reduction processes and kinetics in H2-enriched DR,
providing a unique description of the physical properties of pellet/DRI during H2-enriched DR,
demonstrating the coupled solid and gas flow in a physical DR demonstrator for the first time,
providing the first DEM/CFD model of a H2-enriched DR furnace,
deeply validating and fusing DR furnace models with physical demonstration to a " hybrid demonstrator"
creating unique digital toolkits for process optimisation and process integration of H2-enriched DR units
supplying guidelines process optimisation of H2-enriched DR furnaces and on scale-up to full industrial size,
digitally identifying and demonstrating feasibility of steel production chains based on H2-enriched DR.

More concrete focused on the key technology H2-enriched DR in shaft furnaces, the project MaxH2DR also directly addresses three main research and innovation areas:

Replacement of fossil carbon energy by renewable (hydro/wind/solar) electricity in iron and steelmaking.
Development of pilots and demonstrators in the field of direct reduction of iron with hydrogen. Direct reduction of iron ore with high amounts of hydrogen is expected to be key for CO2 neutral steelmaking.
Innovation activities focused on the process and the product properties as well as on the impact of the product properties on the downstream processes (e.g. Electric Arc Furnace). The process technology may have to be adapted to the new boundary conditions

This project has received funding from the European Union under grant agreement NUMBER — 101058429 — MaxH2DR

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