The ULCOS blast furnace process aims at reducing the CO_2 emission of the blast furnace by 50 percent in two steps: Decrease of carbon consumption by recycling most of the top gas after CO_2 removal, which requires operating the blast furnace with pure oxygen; Underground storage of CO_2. The first stage is essential to demonstrate the feasibility of this new process. It has been tested over a 6 week campaign at the LKAB experimental BF in Lulea. The facility was adapted specifically for the trials (including the erection of a VPSA plant). Different operating conditions were investigated. In conclusion, and taking into account underground storage, the CO_2 emission at the blast furnace was reduced by up to 76 percent. For the steelmaking plant, this should result in a net CO_2-savings of 65 percent at the level of the hot rolled coil.
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