Japanese Steel Makers Started Operation of CO2 Resumption Pilot Plant from Blast Furnace Gas

A pilot plant for the innovative steel making process developing project (COURSE 50) started operation in Kimitsu iron works of Nippon Steel. Nippon Iron & Steel Federation and Japanese 5 integrated steel makers have cooperatively advanced COURSE 50 development to separate off and take up CO2 gas from blast furnace gas. The plant is now in assessment activity for 8 hours per day, which will enter continuous operation for 100 hours from next week. They aim to construct a demonstration plant in or after fiscal 2013 ending in March 2014. COURSE 50 is expected to contribute to 30% CO2 gas reduction.

The plant melts CO2 into absorbing liquid and separates off CO2 from blast furnace gas. The pilot pant started the operation in April. The resuming capacity is 30 tonnes per day. They try to decrease gas separating and resuming energy through the test operation. The pilot plant carries out performance assessment of absorbing liquid and develops COURSE 50 to fit with the conventional iron making process, using no.4 blast furnace gas of Kimitsu iron works.

The pilot plant aims to reduce energy consumption for CO2 resumption to 2-2.5 GJ for 1-tonne CO2. They started the project in fiscal 2008. The project is scheduled to enter the second phase in fiscal 2013 to construct a demonstration plant to collect CO2 at 3,000 tonnes per day.