Hyundai Steel Develops Technology to Completely Block Harmful Gas Emissions from Blast Furnaces

[Asia Economy Reporter Hwang Yoon-joo] Hyundai Steel has developed the world's first technology that virtually blocks air pollutants emitted from blast furnaces at the source and has successfully applied it to actual processes.

On the 22nd, Hyundai Steel announced, "During the re-blowing operation, which involves reintroducing high-temperature air after the regular maintenance of the blast furnace, we succeeded in purifying and then discharging the harmful gases remaining inside the blast furnace through the gas purification valve called the 'primary safety valve.'

Following the blowing stop operation (which stops the injection of high-temperature air before blast furnace maintenance) conducted in the first half of this year, the gas purification valve also operated successfully during the re-blowing process, resulting in a significant improvement in the opacity of exhaust gases compared to the existing blast furnace breather.

With this, Hyundai Steel has resolved the issue of air pollutant emissions from blast furnaces pointed out by environmental groups, reaffirming its position as an eco-friendly steelworks, a goal pursued since the construction of the steel plant.

According to Hyundai Steel, starting with Blast Furnace No. 2 on the 3rd of last month and during the re-blowing of Blast Furnace No. 1 on the 24th, they succeeded in reducing air pollutants using the gas purification valve. Notably, on that day, environmental officials from Chungcheongnam-do visited the site to verify the normal operation of the re-blowing process.

Additionally, on the 10th of this month, the Ministry of Environment visited the Dangjin Steelworks to directly inspect the normal operation of the gas purification valve during the re-blowing of Blast Furnace No. 3 and measured the opacity of the exhaust gases, confirming positive results.

When the controversy over air pollutant emissions from the blast furnace breather arose in March last year, Hyundai Steel immediately collaborated closely with a European specialized engineering technology company. After about three months of technical review, they succeeded in developing the world's first gas purification valve that drastically reduces air pollutant emissions from the blast furnace breather. They have since filed for a European patent and named it the 'primary safety valve.'

Hyundai Steel first installed the primary safety valve, made of a pipe 1.5 meters in diameter and 223 meters long, on Blast Furnace No. 3 in January this year, achieving successful test results during the blowing stop operation, and completed installation on all blast furnaces in the first half of the year.

A representative from Dangjin Steelworks said, "Hyundai Steel's 'primary safety valve' is an environmental and safety facility that also ensures operational stability. We plan to actively support the technology if domestic and international steelworks wish to install it."

Since Hyundai Steel has developed and applied the world's first equipment and solution that purifies and discharges residual blast furnace gases, it is expected to put an end to controversies regarding air pollutant emissions related to blast furnace breathers at all steelworks in the future.

Meanwhile, last October, Hyundai Steel signed an agreement with Dangjin City to pledge mutual cooperation for reducing greenhouse gases and improving the environment at the steelworks, committing to invest an additional 490 billion KRW over five years from 2021 for greenhouse gas reduction and environmental improvement at the steelworks.