Research Projects

Rationale of the research: Reduction of greenhouse gases is the major challenge for fossil fuel-based industries in the path of sustainable development. Iron and steel industry alone contributes to 7 to 9% of total anthropogenic COx emission of the world. Direct reduction of iron ore by hydrogen is gradually emerging as a viable alternative in order to mitigate the carbon emission. As the characteristics of hydrogen are different from COx, it may behave differently with the refractories. However, the interaction between the refractories with the hydrogen at high temperatures is not well known. The proposal aims to study the possible interaction between hydrogen gas and the refractories to assess its impact on refractory properties during the high temperature processes. Outcome of this study can be extended to other high temperature ceramic industries where hydrogen may be used as fuel in future Scientific objectives: Considering the future perspective, it is proposed to i) study the interaction between hydrogen with the individual oxides at high temperatures ii) study the effect of hydrogen with the refractory products at high temperatures, and finally iii) study the impact of hydrogen with the refractory products in presence of iron ore. Since this process is not reported in published literatures and even the direct reduction of iron through hydrogen is not widely established, the scientific challenge starts from the designing of the entire experimental procedures; optimisation of the experimental conditions Main experiments to be carried out are: a) Complete physical, mineralogical, mechanical, and thermo-mechanical characterisation of the alumina-silicate refractory product along with its corrosion behaviour b) Interaction of hydrogen with different oxides (SiO₂, Al₂O₃, mullite) in powder form at high temperatures and characterisation of the oxide after the interaction c) Interaction of hydrogen with bulk refractory (SiO₂-Al₂O₃ system) in controlled atmosphere furnace at high temperatures and characterisation of refractory after the interaction e) Interaction of hydrogen with bulk refractory (SiO₂-Al₂O₃ system) in presence of iron ore in controlled atmosphere furnace at high temperatures and its chracterisation f) Identification of suitable refractory composition for DRI by hydrogen Significance to the field of research Refractories are the integral parts of any high temperature process industries such as iron and steel. The performance of refractories depend on its inertness to furnace atmosphere, thermal, thermo-mechanical stability at the operating temperature. In order to mitigate the environmental problems with COx, iron making process will be shifted towards direct reduction of iron by hydrogen. The impact of hydrogen with refractories is not available in published literatures. The success of this project will help to establish an experimental protocol as well as help to develop refractory for future applications in iron making.

Refractory, Iron making refractories, Refractory characterisation, H2-refractory interaction, DRI,