What it's about

Evaluation of HEC/OEC Burner Impact on Steel Grade Properties 

The second work package focuses on evaluating the impact of HEC/OEC burner operation on steel grade properties by comparing them with the performance of NG/air burners, which currently serve as the reference for existing furnaces, within reheating and annealing processes. The primary goal is to assess how the use of hydrogen-enriched combustion (HEC) and oxy-enriched combustion (OEC) affects steel quality. 

In this Package it will be adapted and monitored the measurement and control instrumentation required for this evaluation. This includes regulating fuel and oxidizer gas flows (NG, H2, air, O2), controlling cooling systems to achieve dedicated heat-up curves, and monitoring a range of variables such as temperatures (along the burner axis, off-gas, cooling systems, and samples), pressures (gases and furnace), and off-gas composition (CO2, O2, NOx, CO). 

The closed energy and mass balance generated by these measurements will provide validated input for the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), focusing on combustion efficiency, CO2 emissions reductions, and NOx reductions. These insights will also support the adjustment of furnace and burner operations in WP2 and WP4, and provide crucial data for refining models in WP3. 

Furthermore, real-time monitoring of air leakage into the combustion zones will allow for necessary adjustments in furnace or door construction, or an increase in internal atmospheric pressure if needed. Safety measures will also be implemented, including forced aspiration with detectors to mitigate potential risks in the event of H2 leaks.