Hydrogen Oxyfuel Combustion for Energy-Intensive Industries

Abstract

Hydrogen has been seen as a decarbonization enabler for the last few decades, and in the last couple of years, there have been many investments in its production through renewables and use in different industrial applications. It is often researched for energy storage, and combustion is an excellent alternative to recover the energy stored in hydrogen. It might be the most viable alternative, especially when it comes to energy-intensive metal and glass production processes. The utilization of hydrogen as a fuel in these processes would reduce greenhouse gas emissions significantly, considering their share in total emissions. Since these industries already benefit from oxyfuel combustion with traditional fuels for fuel savings, part of the infrastructure already exists for hydrogen oxyfuel combustion. Fuel change is expected to require some minor adjustments other than simply changing the oxidizer; however, each industry has specific points to consider. This chapter investigates metal and glass production processes based on their needs and challenges in using hydrogen oxyfuel combustion for heating. Additionally, possible exhaust gas stream improvements are suggested to recover energy and reduce emissions. Finally, safety aspects of hydrogen and oxygen use are discussed together with the community acceptance of hydrogen use.