The new VPSA (vacuum pressure swing adsorption) oxygen generation unit built by PKU Pioneer for Anhui Changjiang Steel Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as Changjiang Steel) was completed after more than 2 months of intensive construction. Following 2 days of debugging and connection with the existing liquid oxygen supply pipeline system, the VPSA oxygen equipment was officially put into operation recently to supply cost-effective enriched oxygen (12,500Nm³/h, 80%) to 2 blast furnaces (1080m³ and 1250m³), which will significantly reduce the client’s molten iron production costs and enhance its competitiveness in the highly competitive steel market. Following the successful construction of 3 VPSA oxygen units for Maanshan Iron & Steel and Meishan Iron and Steel from 2022 to 2023, the project marks PKU Pioneer's 4th collaboration with China Baowu Steel Group Corp., Ltd., representing yet another milestone in deepening the mutual partnership. The total oxygen production capacity of these 4 oxygen plants reaches 61,200Nm³/h, significantly enhancing blast furnace smelting intensity, reducing coke ratio, and lowering the cost per ton of iron.
The New VPSA-O2 Plant (12500/80) Built for Changjiang Steel
Before using PKU Pioneer's VPSA oxygen equipment, Changjiang Steel has a cryogenic air separation capacity of 52,000Nm³/h (with oxygen purity >99.2%). When its 2 blast furnaces operate at high oxygen enrichment rates, the oxygen shortage reaches approximately 10,000Nm³/h, and the user has been relying on purchasing liquid oxygen to meet this demand. However, the local price of liquid oxygen surged from $57 to over $114 per ton due to supply and demand fluctuations, significantly increasing the user’s production costs. VPSA oxygen generation technology is widely applied in steel enterprises, with nearly 100 steel mills having installed VPSA oxygen units to supplement their oxygen production capacity due to the fact that the VPSA oxygen generation plant has various advantages including a short construction period, rapid start-up and shutdown time for quick oxygen supply, simple process with low investment and maintenance costs, flexible and stable operation, and the ability to achieve unattended operation. Against this backdrop, the client prioritized VPSA oxygen generation technology to quickly address its cost-effective oxygen supply needs.
Changjiang Steel highly recognized PKU Pioneer's technical expertise and extensive project experience, and the two parties officially signed a cooperation agreement in July 2024. the project adopts the maturely used process of oxygen enrichment before the blast furnace blower. The product oxygen is fed into a low-pressure pipeline filled with enriched oxygen and directly delivered to the blast furnace blower inlet using the 15–20 kPa pressure from the out-of-bound area. The oxygen-enriched air after mixture is then compressed by the BF blower and sent to the blast furnace. PKU Pioneer closely cooperated with the client and optimized the process and configurations of utilities, instrument air, cooling water, etc., based on the conditions of the steel mill. After the project was initiated, the client’s Power Plant Department and Technical Improvement Department leaders worked closely with PKU Pioneer to comprehensively advance project implementation. From civil construction and installation to commissioning, the oxygen unit project was efficiently completed in just 73 days, setting a new record for the construction period of PKU Pioneer’s VPSA oxygen generation systems.
According to calculations by the project manager, the oxygen production cost of a single set (6,250Nm3/h, 80%) of the VPSA-O2 plants provided by PKU Pioneer is approximately $0.03/Nm³, with a daily production cost of only $7200. Compared to the client's air separation unit cost ($0.05/Nm³), it saves $0.02 per Nm³, amounting to a total daily saving of about $5,143. In contrast to the price of purchased liquid oxygen ($0.1/Nm³), the VPSA oxygen generation system will allow the client to save over $14,285 per day, directly reducing liquid oxygen costs by more than 70% and the overall setup investment could be recovered in only 1 year.
As a global leader in VPSA (Vacuum Pressure Swing Adsorption)/PSA (Pressure Swing Adsorption) oxygen generation technology, PKU Pioneer has delivered nearly 80 large and ultra-large VPSA oxygen generation systems with high efficiency and reliability to the steel industry worldwide, providing robust support for applications such as blast furnace, electric furnace, steel rolling heating furnace oxygen-enriched combustion, and converter blowing in steel enterprises. The oxygen production capacity of a single set of PKU Pioneer’s VPSA oxygen generation equipment has exceeded 100,000Nm³/h, with an average specific energy consumption of 0.30±0.02 kWh/Nm³ (converted into pure oxygen production).
Leveraging its leading technological advantages and strong innovation capabilities, PKU Pioneer also continuously expands the industrial applications of VPSA/PSA oxygen generation technology. It has successfully delivered over 300 high-efficiency oxygen generation solutions to more than 20 industries, including non-ferrous metallurgy, glass, fiberglass, batteries, cement, waste incineration, and chemistry (such as soda ash and SO₂ production). Looking ahead, PKU Pioneer will continue to collaborate with more clients to drive industrial production toward low-carbon, environmentally friendly, and cost-efficient development.
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