Ductwork system ensures dedusting of electric arc furnace gases

In the steelmaking industry, a specialized ductwork system is responsible for collecting process gases and routing them for cleaning. This entire dedusting system is a vital component of industrial air pollution control and a fundamental element of emission reduction. We are currently installing such a dedusting line at the Linz site for our new electric arc furnace.

Reducing emissions

The offgases from the electric arc furnace (EAF) are collected in the raw gas main along with other secondary gas streams. This main duct connects various process gas streams of different temperatures. There the gases are mixed, cooled down and subsequently transported to the filter unit.

Dust collection line: Foundry extension

The diameter of the dust removal pipeline above the foundry extension of the new electric steelmaking plant is 5.6 meters, and the pipe is approximately 270 meters long. The piping components with a total weight of 760 tons were delivered in 5-part shells with lengths of up to 12 meters. These individual parts are pre-assembled in a bay located at Lunzerstraße and will be transported to the north construction site on special transport vehicles. It will take 17 trip to complete all of the transports. The pre-assembled pipeline segments will then be positioned in their final location.

Status and outlook

The assembly of the component on the roof of the foundry extension has already been completed, and the further dust removal piping, including the substructure, will be completed by August 2026.

To greentec steel

The greentec steel project of voestalpine is an ambitious step-by-step plan that makes a valuable contribution to the achievement of the climate goals. As a first step, the voestalpine Group plans to replace two blast furnaces with two electric arc furnaces (EAFs) by the year 2027. The investment volume amounts to roughly 1.5 billion euros.   

Carbon emissions can be reduced by up to 30% as early as 2029 by making this switch from the blast furnace to the EAF. This corresponds to a savings of nearly 4 million tons of CO2 per year, amounting to nearly 5% of the carbon emissions in Austria. This makes greentec steel the largest climate protection program in Austria. 

The two electric-arc furnaces will enable voestalpine to produce roughly 2.5 million tons of carbon-reduced steel by the year 2027, roughly 1.6 million tons in Linz and 850,000 tons in Donawitz. Learn more about greentec steel here.