Low-carbon and emission-reduction are the most urgent issue that the steel industry is facing. How to turn the large amount of CO2 emitted into wealth? How to reduce the intensity of CO2 emissions? Northeastern University is conducting a great cause...
On August 27, the first major research platform for the smelting technology of low-carbon steel in universities across China, the Institute of Frontier Technology of Low-Carbon Steel, was established at Northeastern University.
The Institute of Frontier Technology of Low-Carbon Steel focuses on the key technologies of the revolutionary transformation and upgrading of green steel production in the future. Centering on the major demands of the steel industry for low-carbon intelligence, through the integration of advantageous disciplines, the institute will collaboratively build a new technological system, and focus on the breakthroughs in the key and common technologies of low-carbon steel. Relying on the cutting-edge technologies such as hydrogen metallurgy, capture and utilization of carbon dioxide and intelligent coupling and co-production of steel and chemical industries, it will accelerate the development and application of low-carbon cutting-edge technologies with IIPR, cultivate innovative new-type engineering talents, and lead the low-carbon steel industry to develop towards the green and intelligent innovation.
Zhao Ji, President of Northeastern University
The Institute of Frontier Technology of Low-Carbon Steel is the first professional research institute in universities across China focusing on cutting-edge technologies such as hydrogen metallurgy, co-production of steel and chemical industry. Moreover, the institute is a major initiative taken by Northeastern University to implement the national strategy of innovation-driven development. The Institute will endeavor to improve the capability of independent innovation in the steel industry, accelerate the research, development and application of the cutting-edge and common technologies of low-carbon steel smelting with IIPR, cultivate high-level innovative new-type metallurgical talents, and provide an all-round technical support for innovation and development of low-carbon, green and intelligent steel industry.
In order to quickly seize the forefront of the low-carbon and intelligent development of the steel industry, the institute should adhere to the future direction of the low-carbon and revolutionary technology of steel, firmly grasp the two key targets i.e. “green and smart”, and deeply promote the integrated innovation of the three issues i.e. the chain of “fundamental research-technological innovation-pilot test and R&D-results transformation and industrialization”, talent training and team building, and interdisciplinary integration. Focusing on the features of low-carbon steel technology such as guiding the industry, urgency, interdisciplinary and coordination, it will finish the five specific tasks such as the planning and implementation of major tasks, the construction of pilot test bases, etc., effectively help to support the university’s construction of “worldwide first-class university”, promote the innovation and development of the industry and region, and serve China’s major strategic demands.
Wang Guodong, Academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering
Low-carbon and emission-reduction are the most urgent issue that the steel industry is facing. Effectively reducing the emissions of CO2 and realizing the transformation and upgrading towards the low-carbon and green development are the common problems urgently needed to be resolved in the steel industry, as well as the major strategic demand of China. Prof. Wang Guodong pointed out that the institute must adhere to the principles of collaborative innovation, green grow-up and intelligent development, and endeavor to build a “nationwide pioneering and worldwide first-class” base for the transformation of the collaborative innovation results of the generic technology of low-carbon steel through the industry-university-research-application collaboration and interdisciplinary integration.
Tang Lixin, Vice President of Northeastern University
The establishment of the institute is a significant measure taken by our university to meet the major national strategic needs and face the transformation and upgrading of steel industry. The institute must adhere to our university’s concept of scientific and technological development i.e. “systematically planning, fine management, engineering control and efficient innovation”, systematically implement the “E” plan of the HSEV strategy of scientific research and focus on the construction of interdisciplinary “E”-type ecosystem including metallurgy, chemical engineering, new energy, environment and material in the steel and petrochemical industries. Prof. Tang emphasized that the institute should strengthen the innovation of mechanism and system, integrate effective resources, and allocate them scientifically, so as to make full use of the existing resources effectively. It should firmly grasp the research projects, give full play to the disciplinary advantages, gather talents and guide the development in order to provide a strong support for the transformation, upgrading and high-quality development of steel industry.
It is reported that the Institute of Frontier Technology of Low-Carbon Steel is the first professional research institution for the research, development and application of the integrated key technologies for hydrogen metallurgy, steel-chemical engineering-energy integrated network in universities around the country. It brings together the resources of Northeastern University’s preponderant disciplines including metallurgy, chemistry, new energy, heat, environment, materials, material processing, mineral processing, control science and engineering, etc. The institute will center on the major needs of low-carbon intelligence in steel industry, focus on the frontiers of industrial development such as hydrogen metallurgy, capture and utilization of carbon dioxide and co-production of steel and chemical engineering and follow the trend of in-depth and cross integration of steel-chemical engineering-information-materials-energy. It will conduct collaborative research and development of cutting-edge technologies such as hydrogen metallurgy, joint production of steel and chemical engineering and whole-process intelligent manufacturing, focus on making the breakthroughs in the key generic technology of low-carbon smelting, promote environmentally-friendly steel, chemical engineering and hydrogen energy industries in order to guide the development of China’s low-carbon and green steel industry and support the coordinated development of steel and chemical engineering industries.
