CSN Invests in innovative decarbonisation initiative in Steelmaking
Initiative was officially incorporated this month into the blast furnace 2 regenerators at UPV.
REDUCING CARBON DIOXIDE EMISSIONS
In the race for decarbonisation, the UC3 technology stands out as one of the key initiatives to reduce carbon dioxide emissions in production processes. Although this is the first application in a steelmaking plant worldwide, the Portuguese company has already been a partner of the CSN Group in cement production, achieving significant results at the Arcos (MG) plant since 2020, through optimising combustion by injecting controlled amounts of hydrogen for cement manufacturing.
With the application of UC3 technology at CSN Cimentos in Arcos, CSN reduced CO2 emissions by around 5% per tonne of clinker produced. The initiative also brings other benefits, such as increased furnace productivity, reduced use of fossil fuels (petroleum coke), and lower electricity consumption, resulting in cost reductions alongside environmental and strategic advantages. Another important aspect is the safety of the technology, as the gases produced are never stored. Instead, there is an ‘on-demand’ production and consumption of H2 and O2, which are injected at specific combustion points, ensuring maximum reliability of the entire process.
“We are very excited about the progress of our partnership with CSN, now also in steelmaking processes. The goal is to optimise steel production while substantially reducing carbon emissions, contributing to a more sustainable future for the industry,” concludes Paulo Gonçalo, CEO of UTIS.
THE FOUNDATIONS OF UC3 TECHNOLOGY
The patented Ultimate Cell® Continuous Combustion (UC3) technology enables increased combustion efficiency through the injection of controlled amounts of hydrogen and oxygen. The fundamental principle of the technology is to accelerate the reactions in the continuous combustion process, making it more efficient as more energy is released with the same amount of fuel. This gain in energy efficiency translates into environmental benefits (reduced CO2 emissions), lower fossil fuel consumption and energy costs, as well as improved product quality, wherever applicable.
The system is supplied in the form of containers, allowing for easy industrial installation, requiring only connections to electricity, communication, water, and sewage networks. The underlying concept of the “plug and play” product aims to ensure that clients make minimal changes to their production process to gain the advantages associated with the product.
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