Master thesis: Theoretical consideration and experimental observation on he

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 of thesis
The industry, as well as the literature, have reported that something called Ferrobergs can appear during the melting of DRI produced with traditional reduction techniques. Ferrobergs are piles of unmolten DRI, which are very undesirable as the convective heat transfer to the pellets is strongly limited, and thus increases the melting time. Ferrobergs should as such be avoided to maintain process stability and efficiency. The heat transfer in the new hydrogen reduced DRI product (H-DRI) is therefore of great interest for the melting process. In this work, a theoretical consideration, as well as experimental observations, will lay a part of the basis of which conditions that are favorable for melting H-DRI. The student is expected to plan and conduct high temperature experiments to study relevant phenomena, and to use relevant computational tools to calculate and predict the melting process of H-DRI.

The thesis work will be performed at Swerim AB in Stockholm in cooperation with HYBRIT and SSAB. You will be part of a team that works closely together, including daily discussions about both experimental setup and interpretation of results. Representatives from SSAB and HYBRIT 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 to plan and conduct high temperature experiments
* Analyze and interpret experimental results based on a theoretical basis
* Use modelling to understand the reaction kinetics relevant to the process
* 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 for employment as industrial PhD student 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.