For the steel industry to reach the ambitious goals for reducing CO2 emissions by 2050, actions for developing new technology that allows the transition to carbon-lean or carbon-free steelmaking have to be started now. Electricity-based steelmaking using hydrogen as reducing gas has a key role in reaching this goal. In addition to electricity, energy is provided for melting processes and reheating of steel blooms etc. by burning various fuels, which in turn may be a significant source of CO2 emissions. The objective of the present research is to develop an on-line optical emission spectroscopy-based process control tool to increase the efficiency of industrial burners and optimize the burning process. Since the target is to achieve CO2-free steelmaking, elevated hydrogen content in the burner gas will be studied in this project in order to pave the way for the gradual shift towards hydrogen-based applications.

2022

2025