Calix patents novel zero-emission steel production technology

Low industrial emissions technology developer Calix has filed a patent covering a new and potentially significant application of its core kiln technologies to produce zero CO2 emissions iron and steel.

The company’s zero emissions steel technology, ZESTY, involves the use of the company’s kiln technology which is being proven in its full-scale zero-emissions LEILAC cement plant now under construction in Germany by European cement producers and funded by the EU.

The LEILAC process, also being trialled for lime production by Australian building products group, Adbri, could be used to produce lime which is used in steelmaking to remove impurities.

ZESTY’s goals are to achieve reduced temperature of operation, no ore pelletising required and the use of renewables to power the process.

Testing of ZESTY is already underway at Imperial College, London.

If successful, Calix will undertake scale-up testing at the company’s Baccus Marsh, Victoria kiln with iron ores supplied by a potential customer already engaged in discussions of the technology.

Iron and steel is a major emitter of CO2 accounting for seven per cent of global emissions, with substitution of the current use of coke in traditional blast furnaces a significant advance.

Calix said in a statement that Zesty process could prove less expensive than direct reduction technology that currently produces 10 per cent of the world’s steel.

It could also be cheaper than the use of hydrogen as a reductant which is being tested in the HYBRIT process in Sweden by Vattenfall and LKAB.

ZESTY uses Calix’s kiln technology to reduce iron ore in a hydrogen atmosphere at considerably lower temperatures than a blast furnace dur to ZESTY’s ability to handle small particle sizes, or fines.

ZESTY is also electrically heated, and thus can be energised by renewable sources.

Picture: Calix/Bacchus Marsh kiln

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