Sarralle commissions at ArcelorMittal Sestao the first ladle preheater capable of running entirely on green hydrogen.

Sarralle has equipped ArcelorMittal Sestao with technology capable of using green hydrogen in the steelmaking process, commissioning the world's first ladle preheater capable of running entirely on green hydrogen. The green hydrogen used in ArcelorMittal Sestao's ladle preheater has been supplied from the Nippon Gases plant in Hernani. This milestone, together with other innovations and technologies, will enable ArcelorMittal Sestao to take an important step forward to meet its challenge of being the first steel plant with end-to-end zero carbon emissions across its entire production process by 2025.

The aim of this project has been to improve the operation of the existing ladle preheater and replace natural gas as a fuel with green hydrogen, reducing CO2 emissions to a minimum. Additionally, the deployment of oxy-fuel burner technology has enabled NOx emissions to be reduced to virtually zero. Using 100% green hydrogen as fuel, the different heating/drying curves have been successfully reproduced and the required casting temperatures have been reached in the ladles, confirming a homogeneous heating of the refractory. The equipment supports slow heating ramp rates and enables the ladle to be heated to casting temperature within a shorter space of time.

Source: Sarralle