Is there a substitute for coking coal?

For example, biochar is a feasible alternative. A wood-based process would also reduce the impacts of coal mining and transport, produce less waste products, and could be sustainably produced with plantations.

Can hydrogen be used in steel making?

There are two ways in which hydrogen can be used in steel production: as an auxiliary reducing agent in the BF-BOF route (H2-BF) or as the sole reducing agent in a process known as direct reduction of iron or DRI (H2-DRI).

Why hydrogen is used in steel industry?

At present, the applications of hydrogen in steel industry can be roughly divided into two aspects: (1) as reducing agent to reduce iron oxide, mainly involved in BF production process and gas-based direct reduction iron (DRI) process; (2) as fuel for heating, including assistant sintering production, palletizing …

How is steel made from coking coal?

The burning coal and coke produces carbon monoxide, which, along with the high temperature, converts the iron ore into a liquid. This molten ‘pig iron’ is transported to a steel shop, where impurities are removed and alloys are added to make steel.

Why is coking coal used in steel production?

Coal and coke Coke, made by carburising coking coal (i.e. heating in the absence of oxygen at high temperatures), is the primary reducing agent of iron ore. Coke reduces iron ore to molten iron saturated with carbon, called hot metal. China is by far the biggest producer of coking coal in the world.

Can coal be used to make hydrogen?

To produce hydrogen from coal, the process begins with partial oxidation, which means some air is added to the coal, which generates carbon dioxide gas through traditional combustion. Carbon monoxide in the gas stream is now further reacted with steam, generating hydrogen and carbon dioxide.

What is hydrogen reduction?

Oxidation and Reduction with respect to Hydrogen Transfer. Oxidation is the loss of hydrogen. Reduction is the gain of hydrogen.

Does India produce coking coal?

The prime coking coal reserves stand at 5.313 billion tons and proved prime coking coal reserves are 4.614 billion tons. Coal India Limited (CIL) is presently producing about 50 million tons of coking coal annually, out of which only 5 million tons is being washed by the existing washeries and supplied to steel sector.

What is the difference between coal and coking coal?

A non-caking coal is that coal which on heating in absence of air doesn’t from a coherent mass of residue. A coking coal is that coal which on heating in absence of air leaves a solid residue. A non-coking coal also leaves a solid coherent residue which may not possess the physical & chemical properties of the coke.

What is the most efficient way to produce hydrogen?

The carbon monoxide is reacted with water to produce additional hydrogen. This method is the cheapest, most efficient, and most common. Natural gas reforming using steam accounts for the majority of hydrogen produced in the United States annually.

Could hydrogen replace coke in steelmaking by 2050?

Now a new report by Bloomberg New Energy Finance claims hydrogen could replace coke in 10 to 50\% of all steelmaking my the year 2050, given the right carbon pricing. Using hydrogen instead of coke — a process known as direct reduction — could lower the carbon emissions from steel mills significantly.

Why is CO2 used as a reducing agent in coal?

Coal is needed as a reducing agent. “Reduction” is a chemical reaction that turns iron ore (Fe2O3) into pig iron (2Fe). Carbon monoxide (CO) is the crucial ingredient (Fe2O3 + 3CO → 2Fe + 3CO2) and is produced in blast furnaces by burning coal. This also produces carbon dioxide as a waste product.

Are there alternatives to coal in the steel industry?

“It’s clear that there are alternatives to coal for each of the three important roles it plays in steel production. (This) would require the steel industry to invest massively in new infrastructure, like on-site renewable electrolysis plants,” writes Noah Beecher Kelk, in Front Line Action on Coal .

Is hydrogen a threat to coal producers?

Currently, most commercial hydrogen in North America is derived from natural gas, which has its own carbon and methane emissions problems. But new technologies that rely on renewable energy are coming to market soon. Any shift to hydrogen would pose a danger to coking coal producers and their investors.