Process modeling of iACRES by ASPEN Plus and evaluation of the whole system

Hayashi, Kentaro*; Suzuki, Katsuki*; Kurihara, Kohei*; Nakagaki, Takao*; Kasahara, Seiji  

Applying Active Carbon Recycling Energy System to ironmaking (iACRES) process is a promising technology to reduce coal usage and CO emissions. To evaluate performance of iACRES quantitatively, a process flow diagram of the blast furnace model with iACRES was developed using Aspen Plus. CO emission reduction and exergy analysis was predicted by using mass and energy balance obtained from the simulation results. The followings were investigated as iACRES: solid oxide electrolysis cells (SOEC) with CO capture and separation (CCS), SOEC without CCS, and a reverse water-gas shift reactor as the a CO reduction reactor powered by a high-temperature gas-cooled reactor. iACRES could provide CO emission reductions of 3-11% by recycling CO and H, whereas the effective exergy ratio decreased by 1-7%.