Direct Reduced Iron (DRI) is a well-established iron-ore reduction technology crucial for the decarbonization of theiron and steel sector, which accounts for approximately 8 % of the world’s energy demand and 7–9 % of global anthropogenicCO2 emissions. Industry-wide efforts to reduce these emissions include optimizing and adapting currentproduction processes for energy and material savings, carbon capture and storage, recycling, and alternative fuels.One significant alternative is to leverage over 70 years of expertise in DRI technologies, offering potential emissionreductions up to 97 % when compared to the blast furnace route. To this end, leading original equipment manufacturers(OEMs) in DRI shaft furnace technologies are developing processes that incorporate increased hydrogen contentin their process gas composition, which may require revising refractory lining concepts within these units. Refractoryproviders share the responsibility to support relevant OEMs, iron and steelmakers in their transition from traditionalblast furnace route to either established DRI processes or future fully hydrogen-ready DRI shaft furnaces. Current wearmechanisms have been analyzed, along with expected changes as hydrogen content increases in the process
Gavagnin et al. (Thu,) studied this question.