JFE Steel Completes Super-SINTER Installment in Kurashiki, West Japan

JFE Steel completed introduction of “Super-SINTER” to no.2 sinter line in Kurashiki area of West Japan works in August. Super-SINTER is JFE Steel’s technology to reduce CO2 emission largely in iron ore sintering process by utilizing hydrogen type gas fuel (city gas). The firm expects for CO2 emission reducing by approximately 200,000 tonnes per year as total when the firm finished planned adoption of the technology at domestic iron works.

Super-SINTER is a technology to blow city gas into a sinter machine, as a partial alternate for coke powder. City gas is fed on upper surface of iron ore which was put inside the sinter machine. The technology utilizes difference of combustion points between coke powder and hydrogen fuel. Thus the favorable sintering temperature can be sustained for a long time without upsurge of maximum combustion temperature. Energy sufficiency improves largely in sintering process as a result.

JFE Steel introduced Super-SINTER to one sintering line in Keihin area of East Japan iron works and started the commercial operation in January 2009. The firm confirmed reduction of CO2 emission by 60,000 tonnes per year. The firm continuously adopted Super-SINTER to no.2, no.3 and no.4 sintering lines in Kurashiki area of West Japan iron works from December 2010 to August 2011. In Chiba area of East Japan iron works, the adoption completed for no.4 sintering line in May 2011.

JFE Steel now examines additional Super-SINTER introduction in Fukuyama area of West Japan iron works and Philippine Sinter Corporation, the wholly-owned subsidiary to process sintered iron ore in the Philippines.