TPT September 2023

INDUSTRY

Advancing the use of hydrogen burners for greener furnace performance

in the CELSA Barcelona plant in Spain and aims to demonstrate an optimised heat transfer process based on hybrid burners in reheating furnaces. It aims to progressively decarbonise the reheating process through an increase of hydrogen in combination with oxygen

FIVES, an international engineering group, has partnered with leading European companies and institutions to collaborate on the development and testing of hybrid burners with hydrogen content in industrial reheating furnaces. The TWINGHY project was launched

by monitoring and controlling it through a digital twin. With the ultimate goal of reducing emissions and increasing energy efficiency within the steel industry, this project involves testing and optimising hybrid burners in real-world settings, developing new control systems and monitoring techniques to ensure a safe, efficient operation. Testing will take place on the existing Stein Digit@l Furnace ® , installed by Fives at CELSA Barcelona plant in 2009. This is a walking beam furnace of 180 tons per hour capacity designated for the production of different merchant bars in the construction industry. Two types of hybrid burners (natural gas-hydrogen) will be developed and tested: one based on air-combustion and the other on oxy-combustion. Fives will be providing its thermal reheating expertise to test the hybrid burners by using hydrogen as a partial replacement for natural gas. To support hydrogen transition, a digital twin methodology will be developed by partners and applied to the demonstrator as well as the replication site. The digital twin will analyse the impact of different fuel blends, energy efficiency, reliability and safety. In addition, new challenges related to hydrogen usage, such as security of supply, optimal fuel blends and quantities, CAPEX, OPEX, impact on process and required infrastructure and safety regulations, will be also addressed during the anticipated 54-month project life. The project will ultimately aim to help avoid the need to replace an entire furnace with a long lifespan ahead during decarbonisation.

Fives www.fivesgroup.com

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SEPTEMBER 2023