China’s new steel production method cuts time, carbon emissions

Proceeding from a recent article, Jason Deegan unveils that a groundbreaking development in steel production may significantly transform the industry. 

For centuries, steel production has involved a slow and energy-demanding process. It begins with iron ore, which is crushed, turned into pellets, and heated to over 1,300°C before being placed in a blast furnace with coke, a refined coal product. The heat and carbon from the coke extract iron from the ore, producing molten iron, which is then further processed to create steel.

This traditional method takes five to six hours and generates significant carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions due to the use of coke. However, Chinese scientists now claim to have reduced the process time to just seconds while completely eliminating the need for coal.

Professor Zhang Wenhai, the lead researcher behind this breakthrough, explains that the new method can produce steel in just three to six seconds, a substantial improvement over the traditional process.

The key to this innovation is the injection of ultra-fine iron ore powder into an extremely hot furnace via a vortex lance. This initiates a rapid chemical reaction, creating molten iron droplets that fall to the bottom of the furnace. The outcome is a continuous flow of high-purity iron, ready for conversion into steel.

This technique is effective with both low-grade and high-grade iron ore, offering particular advantages for China. While the country has abundant low-grade iron ore reserves, it has traditionally relied on imports from Australia, Brazil, and Africa for higher-quality materials. This new method could significantly reduce China’s reliance on foreign suppliers.

The primary benefit of this new method is that it removes coal from the steelmaking process, potentially reducing energy consumption by a third. This development supports China’s ambitious goals for lowering CO₂ emissions as the country works towards achieving carbon neutrality in the coming decades.

As the world’s largest steel producer, China already holds substantial influence in industries such as automobile manufacturing, construction, and infrastructure. If this new method becomes widely adopted, China could enhance its global competitiveness while simultaneously reducing the carbon footprint of its steel exports.

This innovation isn’t solely about speed—it has the potential to pave the way for a more sustainable and cost-efficient steel industry on a global scale. If other countries adopt this approach, it could transform steel production worldwide, contributing to a cleaner, more sustainable planet.

By Naila Huseynova