Title

OUTOTEC’S INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGIES FOR DIRECT REDUCTION AND SMELTING REDUCTION OF FERROUS RAW MATERIALS

OUTOTEC’S INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGIES FOR DIRECT REDUCTION AND SMELTING REDUCTION OF FERROUS RAW MATERIALS

Authorship

Baldock, Ross; Laumann, Max-Dieter; Nepper, Jean-Paul; Stefan, Tobias

Baldock, Ross

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Laumann, Max-Dieter

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Nepper, Jean-Paul

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Stefan, Tobias

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DOI

10.5151/2594-357X-22664

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Abstract

Outotec has been delivering technology solutions for the ferrous direct reduction business sector for over 40 years with the rotary kiln based SL/RN and the shaft based Midrex processes as the main products in the past. However, in recent years focus has been on the commercialization of a suite of new technologies for fine ore reduction and smelting reduction. In particular the Circored® and Circofer® technologies for gas based and coal based direct reduction respectively enable sustainable iron and steelmaking using feed materials of varying quality, which are not appropriate for conventional processes. Through the acquisition of Ausmelt, the AusIron® technology completes Outotec’s product portfolio, which can now offer the combination of direct reduction with smelting reduction to provide a flexible process solution for the production of hot metal using low grade, fine iron ores and coals. Outotec’s SL/RN process, even though a mature technology, is still being further developed with a number of novel applications and technology improvements ensuring continued relevance to the direct reduction market. Finally the hydrogen based Circored technology offers a unique opportunity for sustainable low CO2 steelmaking.

Outotec has been delivering technology solutions for the ferrous direct reduction business sector for over 40 years with the rotary kiln based SL/RN and the shaft based Midrex processes as the main products in the past. However, in recent years focus has been on the commercialization of a suite of new technologies for fine ore reduction and smelting reduction. In particular the Circored® and Circofer® technologies for gas based and coal based direct reduction respectively enable sustainable iron and steelmaking using feed materials of varying quality, which are not appropriate for conventional processes. Through the acquisition of Ausmelt, the AusIron® technology completes Outotec’s product portfolio, which can now offer the combination of direct reduction with smelting reduction to provide a flexible process solution for the production of hot metal using low grade, fine iron ores and coals. Outotec’s SL/RN process, even though a mature technology, is still being further developed with a number of novel applications and technology improvements ensuring continued relevance to the direct reduction market. Finally the hydrogen based Circored technology offers a unique opportunity for sustainable low CO2 steelmaking.

Keywords

Direct reduction; Smelting reduction; Hydrogen-based; Coal-based.

Direct reduction; Smelting reduction; Hydrogen-based; Coal-based.