Press Release | Plant Ops & Maintenance
World’s largest single module HBI plant from Midrex and Primetals Technologies completes performance guarantee test at voestalpine Texas LLC
June 8, 2017 Download
- DRI Plant will produce two million metric tons of hot briquetted iron (HBI) per year
- 14 day performance guarantee test completed with 100% achievement of performance parameters
- HBI production exceeds design criteria during the performance guarantee test period
(Charlotte, NC – USA) The 2.0 million metric ton per year MIDREX® hot briquetted iron (HBI) plant at voestalpine Texas LLC passed its performance test in early February of 2017. This MIDREX® HBI plant is both the largest single module of its kind in the world as well as North America’s first HBI merchant facility. voestalpine Texas LLC is the local presence in South Texas of the voestalpine Group and a 100% subsidiary of voestalpine Steel Division.
The performance guarantee test began on January 29th , 2017. Measurements included HBI production, HBI physical and chemical characteristics, the plant’s key natural gas and electricity consumption, water quality measurements and environmental / emissions impacts. The performance guarantee test was successfully completed on February 11th, 2017 and achieved 100% of tested performance guarantee parameters during the first attempt of the performance guarantee test.
In addition, the performance test of the fines recycling plant engineered by Primetals Technologies was successfully completed on February 10th, 2017.
Primetals Technologies and Midrex were responsible for engineering, supply of bulk materials, mechanical and electrical equipment and advisory services for the MIDREX® plant. The MIDREX® plant produces high-quality HBI from iron ore pellets using the MIDREX® Direct Reduction Process and through the use of natural gas significantly reduces the carbon footprint of the voestalpine Group. This is an important step in the achievement of the voestalpine Group’s ambitious internal energy efficiency and climate protection objectives. The price of natural gas in the USA is about one-quarter of the price in Europe. Around half of the planned two million tons of HBI will be supplied to the Austrian steel plants in Linz and Donawitz. The other half will be sold to partners interested in a supply over the long term.