KPN Reduced CO2 emissions will focus on primary metal production, focussing on the removal of oxygen from raw input materials with minimal CO2 emissions. The project will generate the competence basis for the development and implementation of new raw materials, methods and technologies enabling reductions in CO2 emissions when oxidic raw materials are converted to alloy.
More specifically, the overall aim is translated into the primary objectives
- Develop methods for substituting fossil carbon in Si, FeSi, Mn-alloy and TiO2 slag production with bio-carbon, hydrogen, or process off gases.
- Identify new technologies for Si, FeSi and Mn-alloy production with a high potential to produce Si, FeSi and Mn-alloys with zero CO2 emissions in 2050.
The primary objectives will be achieved through the following sub-objectives
- Develop competence and standard methods to characterise the properties of biocarbon and other solid carbon sources, and methods to quantify their relative effects on furnace operation, energy consumption and CO2 emissions. ("bio-carbon test centre").
- Determine optimum conditions for pre-treatment of manganese ores by CO-rich furnace off-gases in a separate pre-treatment unit.
- Develop competence and methods to utilise hydrogen in FeSi, Si-production and ilmenite processing.
- Prepare for further development towards industrialisation four promising technologies with high potential to reduce CO2 emissions.
- Educate three PhD candidates and supervise four Masters theses.
The industrial partners in KPN Reduced CO2 are all the Norwegian Si, FeSi and Mn-alloy producers; Eramet, Elkem, Wacker and Finnfjord and TiZir that produces TiO2 slag. NTNU is research partner and SINTEF is project leader and research partner.
The project is funded by the Research Council of Norway
See the project video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wZi0aWN_3Tg