In Steel Research Hub I, our research involved two main areas of blast furnace ironmaking: first, generating a better understanding of what flow behaviour and molten liquid properties limit furnace productivity; and second, evaluating hearth refractory and plant operational data to ascertain the condition of these refractories from a campaign life perspective. In the coming year, we will complete a comprehensive assessment of decarbonisation technologies for ironmaking that could potentially be used to minimize greenhouse gas emissions across steel manufacturing. Additionally, in Steel Research Hub II, we will complete our research work on applying new numerical techniques and experimental methodologies to understand the thermochemical behaviour and interaction of multiphase materials under more realistic furnace conditions. We will also commence a new research activity using data-driven computational techniques to assess campaign life in terms of underlying process irregularities in the furnace hearth. This is a particularly relevant issue to the two remaining blast furnaces operating in Australia: Port Kembla No. 5 Blast Furnace which has been operating since 2009 and Whyalla No. 2 Blast Furnace, since 2004.
