RE:Technical Question FOR ALL ..Bashers and pumper weigh in Sorrenson, Resistance electric heating would probably do the job...after proper eng/ scale-up. BUT it would be a total waste of $ and worst, moving against the Green Steel revolution.In 10 years all the blast furnaces presently in use will be shutdown, to be replaced by the DRI ( Direct Reduced Iron) technology. In preparation for this, ALL investment on existing iron ore pellets plants will have to be hydrogen ready ( H2 compatible). TATA steel new pellets plants ( 70% ready in Nederlands) will be running on nat gas and H2 mix from the start in 2023. This is why VALE had in reality no choice but to convert from liquid fuel to nat gas...to be ready to convert to hydrogen in 5- 10 years ? when the price of green hydrogen will be reduced. No choice also. because these new DRI plants will required 100% green material. Because of this, a number of old pellets plants running on Diesel in the jungle will be relocated close to the DRI steel plants near civilisation. Already happening in Germany with Vale, TATA steel in Neaderlands and India, in China and ME ( Oman, also with Vale). This will take a few years, but its already hapening.( also with ArcelorMittal in PortQuartier, Qc where their new huge ( 10MTPY) pellets plants is under construction next to a new H2 complex powered by Qc green electricity and the deep sea port.). So people here dont need to worry about Vale carbon taxes bill! This also confirms what any good chemical engineer will tell you: H2 is too valuable a source of energy to be wasted only for heating. Its value must be protected to make new material like H2, aluminium. Especially when you have no choice to heat air at 5, 000C when 1200 would be sufficient. GLTA.
sorrenson wrote: There is much discussion of plasma versus gas etc
In the iron pellets there is not a targeted mega hot required such as chemical destruction or powder
I dont think electric heat will ever work but if you want to be electrical why would you choose plasma for a long term solution. ?
2 meg Plasma is 70% efficient according to P Carabin at a compnay callled Pyrogenesis and cost $275K per torch per year in spares according to Peter Pascali .CEO of same so we can call those good numbers.
Resistance heaters are 100% efficient , Do not have anodes burning away. The can be up to scaled to massive size and can supply constant heat across the furnace. You can also achieve temperatures north of 1600c with standard materials . Well above with speciality .
They like the plasma are as clean as the electircal grid supplying. I do not think electricity is the solution for pellets why would you pick a heat source 30% less efficient with spare costs and NOx emmissions
The whole pellet system is going to be changed as furnaces life out but cant see plasma now or ever
Serious question... Might explain zero contracts in over a decade and no one using in pellets despite 40 plus years of research
But of course..basher , hater.. shorter ..evil. but but but