MEROS Off-Gas Cleaning System at voestalpine's Sinter Plant in Linz, Austria

The sintering process in steel production generates significant amounts of off-gas containing dust and harmful metallic and organic components. Prior to the installation of the MEROS off-gas cleaning system at voestalpine in Linz, Austria, effectively treating this off-gas in an environmentally compatible manner presented a major challenge. The wet-type gas treatment processes used at that time struggled to achieve the desired levels of emission reduction, particularly for substances like sulfur dioxide (SO₂), nitrogen oxides (NO_X), and dioxins. The need for a comprehensive and reliable solution was imperative to meet stringent environmental regulations and improve air quality in the surrounding areas.

In response to these challenges, Primetals Technologies developed the MEROS (Maximized Emission Reduction Of Sintering) process. This system is designed to tackle the complex issue of off-gas treatment through a series of successive treatment steps. The MEROS off-gas cleaning system at voestalpine in Linz, Austria, efficiently reduces the dust and harmful components in the sinter off-gas. The plant has a gas flow capacity of 650,000 Nm³/h and achieves a clean gas dust content of less than 5 mg/Nm³. The system's technical capability allows for SO₂ removal of up to 98%, and dioxin emissions are reduced to far below 0.1 ng TEQ/Nm³. The process can utilize hydrated lime or sodium bicarbonate in combination with activated carbon, ensuring high removal efficiency of acidic gases, heavy metals, and organic components.