Master Thesis: Preliminary study on non-isothermal hydrogen reduction of ir

The research institute Swerim provides applied research within mining engineering, process metallurgy and materials and manufacturing engineering, mainly for the mining, steel and metals industry. Swerim has 190 co-workers in two locations in Sweden - Luleå and Stockholm.

Background

Authorities all over the world have set targets to fight climate change. To prevent further global warming, a target to reach net zero CO2 emissions is set to year 2045. Steel producers, which are responsible for approx. 7% of the world’s CO2 emissions, have therefore been forced to find ways to transform their production to become fossil-free. An initiative that has been in the forefront and is leading the race towards fossil-free steel is HYBRIT, a joint venture between the three Swedish companies SSAB, a steel producer; LKAB, an iron ore supplier; and Vattenfall, an electricity distributer. Already in 2016, HYBRIT initiated a pre-feasibility study to map the different possibilities to transform the whole value chain of the steelmaking route fossil-free. It was concluded that the conventional blast furnace, run by fossil coke, must be closed and that the most promising technology to replace it is using pure hydrogen as reductant in a DR shaft furnace.
Swerim has from the start been a strategic research partner to HYBRIT. Our research laboratory and pilot plant facilities, along with our competent researchers, are a perfect match to study HYBRIT’s fundamental and practical research questions.

Scope
As of now, all laboratory experiments regarding hydrogen reduction have been conducted at isothermal conditions. In this work, you will be part of a team that takes the next step and conduct laboratory experiments in non-isothermal conditions. The scenario is closer to the real process where a pellet is introduced to a furnace at low temperature and low reaction gas concentration, before reaching a zone with high temperature and high reaction gas concentration.  
The thesis work will be performed at Swerim AB in Stockholm in cooperation with HYBRIT. You will be part of a team that works closely together, including daily discussions about both experimental setup development and interpretation of results.  Representatives from the company will also have an active role in the work and will contribute with research questions relevant to their activities.

The scope of the thesis may be adjusted depending on experimental results.
 
Objectives and learning outcome
* Learn how to plan and conduct high temperature experiments
* Analyze and interpret experimental results based on a theoretical basis
* Understanding the reaction mechanisms of non-isothermal hydrogen reduction of iron ore pellets
* Learn to organize and write a research report

Required qualifications
Student in material science, chemistry engineering, or similar fields with a good knowledge in metallic materials.  

The work will be initiated during the fall of 2022 or in the beginning of 2023.

Further information
Swerim rewards the student with 50 000 SEK for an approved master thesis (30hp).  

If the student performs well and find the topic interesting, a chance to start as PhD student connected to KTH is possible.

Contact
Johan Martinsson, johan.martinsson@swerim.se

Application
Apply by sending an email to Johan Martinsson or using the application function below. You will receive a confirmation that Swerim has received your application. Please note that we fill the thesis as soon as we find a suitable applicant, which means we can fill the position before the deadline.