The project aims to decarbonize bright annealing process through hydrogen recovery and reuse in an industry first
Launched in July 2024, the EU-funded LIFE H2Reuse project is a pioneering initiative focused on reducing emissions and boosting energy efficiency in seamless stainless steel and nickel alloy tube production. This project, coordinated by DMV (Cogne Group), a leader in precision tube manufacturing, is driven by a consortium including Tenova. Together, the partners are working to innovate the bright annealing process by recovering and reusing hydrogen.
In the bright annealing process, hydrogen is essential in high-temperature furnaces in order to produce tubes with exceptional surface quality, corrosion resistance, and durability. However, the current process flares hydrogen after each cycle, resulting in substantial waste. LIFE H2Reuse aims to change this by developing a unique solution that captures and reuses hydrogen in the furnace. This breakthrough approach introduces the first commercial method to recover and reuse atmospheric gas in industrial processes.
While hydrogen burners exist on the market, they remain in the early stages of industrial application. LIFE H2Reuse will enhance burner efficiency, advancing their performance in real-world manufacturing. Expected outcomes include significant reductions in carbon emissions, energy consumption, and material waste. The project will rigorously test and verify these benefits from technical, environmental, and socio-economic perspectives.
The LIFE H2Reuse project could revolutionize high-hydrogen-content gas processes across industries, providing practical solutions to reduce carbon footprints, optimize resources, and lower costs.
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