Utilization of carbon dioxide injection in BOF-RH steelmaking process

Iron and steel industry is a large carbon dioxide (CO2) emitter, and it is important for iron and steel enterprises to utilize CO2 as a resource in the steelmaking process. The study involves reviewing recent innovations and advances in CO2 injection in the basic oxygen furnace (BOF)-Rheinsahl Heraeus (RH) steelmaking process. In BOF steelmaking tests, CO2 injection reduces the amount of dust generation with 11.15%, increases CO concentration of the converter gas with 2.66%, increases dephosphorization rate with 6.99% and reduces the endpoint nitrogen content about 6 ppm, and protects bottom-blowing elements. In the RH refining process, CO2 injection benefits the process of dehydrogenation and removal of inclusions. Besides, some drawbacks and corresponding solutions of this technology are presented. Based on the results of a large number of theoretical and experimental studies, combining the mature technology of CO2 capture at present, a new cyclic utilization of CO2 in the BOF-RH steelmaking process is proposed to adapt for actual production in the iron and steel industry.