Project LIGHTBOW

In a current research project (SuSteel follow-up), the fundamentals for the potential industrial scaling of Hydrogen Plasma Smelting Reduction (HPSR) of iron ore to liquid raw steel are being explored. In this process, a mixture of argon, hydrogen, and ore particles is used, introduced into a reaction vessel through a hollow electrode. This involves both the ionization of hydrogen as a reducing agent and the conversion of electrical power into heat for melting in a direct current arc (plasma column) ignited from the electrode to the melting bath. One currently unresolved challenge is the precise control of arc power while continuously supplying hydrogen and ore particles. To better understand and address this issue, targeted experiments are being conducted in conjunction with numerical simulations.

The ultimate goal is to derive a model from these simulations that can be directly integrated into the process control strategy.