Primetals to supply DRI Plant for flexible transition to hydrogen
German steel producer Dillinger and its subsidiary ROGESA have signed contracts for the supply of a new production complex, which includes a DRI plant, contracted along with Midrex Technologies.
DRI Plant for Flexible Transition to Hydrogen
The new direct reduction plant will produce hot direct reduced iron (HDRI) and cold DRI (CDRI) with an annual capacity of 2 million tons. A consortium of Midrex and Primetals Technologies will handle the engineering and supply of both mechanical as well as electrics and automation equipment. This includes a material handling system, a water treatment plant, auxiliary equipment, and training and advisory services. Primetals Technologies will also provide a complete basic (Level 1) and process optimization (Level 2) system featuring the DRIpax expert system, which ensures consistent high quality of the produced DRI.
“The transition to green steel production will not happen overnight, we will see a step-by-step process towards carbon neutrality,” said Andreas Viehböck, Head of Upstream Technologies at Primetals Technologies. “With this investment, Dillinger and ROGESA are set to reach their mid- to long term goals in terms of decarbonization. The solutions from Primetals Technologies and Midrex will allow them to ramp up the use of hydrogen gradually while adapting to a changing energy landscape. We are very happy to support them on this endeavour and beyond.”
The MIDREX Flex technology is designed to operate at different ratios of natural gas and hydrogen, up to 100 percent hydrogen. Initially, the plant will be operated with a mix of natural gas and hydrogen, allowing for a carbon footprint reduction of more than 50 percent compared to blast furnace based ironmaking. The MIDREX Flex plant will be implemented with hydrogen-ready equipment and piping, such as three stages of process gas compressors. Moreover, it features a hot transport conveyor to utilize the valuable heat of the HDRI for direct charging into the electric arc furnace at the Dillingen site. A DRI cooling solution will enable the transport of CDRI.
“The decision by Dillinger and ROGESA for MIDREX Flex technology allows them to transition to hydrogen-based ironmaking at the pace that matches the availability of sufficient gas supply while reducing their current CO2 emissions significantly,” K.C. Woody, Midrex President and CEO, said. “DRI-based steelmaking provides a pathway to a sustainable future, both economically and environmentally, and our technology solutions offer the flexibility and performance to turn promise into success.”
