WP6

WP6 Long term industrial trials (Feralpi, Tenova, CSM)

First long-term tests will be carried out in order to optimize the operating practice and to verify the reliability of the technology. Process parameters will be adjusted according to the results of the first trials. In particular the granulated SRA will be injected alone or blended/mixed with other materials (i.e. scale) and SRA with appropriate characteristics will be charged in the basket. Trials will be designed also to check the effect of the different operational conditions (lance position and angle, carrier gas flow rate, simultaneous use of fossil coal, etc.). The existing equipment will be modified, if necessary, to

  • possible the injection of the identified material combinations (injection).
  • define the best operative procedure for SRA distribution in the basket.

During the plant trials, normal operation parameters will be gathered together with extra steel, slag and dust sampling.

Supplementary off gas analysis will be carried out for a detailed evaluation of the environmental effect. The analysis will be necessary to evaluate variation in dusts, dioxins and furans production with respect to pure coal injection. The analysis will require a minimum duration of eight hours.
A neural model will be developed suited for this specific project, to test the influence of the operative practices accordingly with the injection of SRA grain and their charge in basket in substitution of coal on the thermal efficiency of: the furnace, the reduction of electricity consumption and off gas composition and temperature.

The process data and operating practices acquired during the test campaign will be correlated to electricity consumption and off-gas parameters by means of a neural model in order to provide indications for improving the efficiency of the process. The models developed and applied in Feralpi in previous RFCS projects will be used to support the neural model which will be used to define the new operative practices