The global initiative to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions drives industry towards the use of hydrogen both as reducing agent and as fuel for high temperature processes.
Some knowledge on the impact of reducing gas environment with hydrogen on refractory linings is available from established industrial processes, namely glass manufacturing, ammonia or syngas syntheses or natural gas based DRI (direct reduced iron).
The use of hydrogen as a reductant for iron production is considered the main solution for the steel industry on its path to net-zero. Hydrogen can be added in small percentages as coal replacement in the blast furnace and to a much larger extend (up to 100%) instead of natural gas in the DRI process. Also, the increased demand for fossil free fuels worldwide has triggered the development of novel and optimized hydrogen and syngas generation.
The detailed conditions in new and known processes might deviate largely. In literature is few information about the impact of extended exposure of refractories to H2 rich atmospheres. Recent studies show contradicting results and differences to earlier reported ones.
It is hence challenging to distinguish between myths and facts and therefore assess the refractory performance and expected lifetime of the lining in hydrogen rich atmospheres. In this presentation we will present fact-based results of ongoing research and our experience in different industries to create insight on the impact of hydrogen on refractory linings as a function of process and testing parameters.