The ULCOS blast furnace process aims at reducing the
CO2 emission of the blast furnace by 50% in two steps:
Decrease of carbon consumption by recycling
most of the top gas after CO2 removal, which requires
operating the blast furnace with pure oxygen;
Underground storage of CO2.
The first stage is essential to demonstrate the feasibility of this
new process. It has been tested over a 6 week campaign at
the LKAB experimental BF in Luleå. The facility was adapted
specifically for the trials (including the erection of a VPSA
plant). Different operating conditions were investigated.
In conclusion, and taking into account underground storage,
the CO2 emission at the blast furnace was reduced by up
to 76%. For the steelmaking plant, this should result in a
net CO2-savings of 65% at the level of the hot rolled coil.