MIDREX®: The World's Leading DRI Production Process

The MIDREX®* process is a shaft furnace process specifically designed to convert iron oxides—in the form of pellets or lump ore—into direct reduced iron (DRI) or hot briquetted iron (HBI) using natural gas or hydrogen. The long-term performance of MIDREX® direct reduction plants typically exceeds their rated capacity. This trend will continue with new technologies such as hydrogen utilization, dry dedusting systems, process water degassing, improved slurry treatment solutions, by-product recycling, and state-of-the-art automation and digitalization solutions, such as the successful DRIpax process optimization system.

Being highly customizable, the MIDREX® process can be tailored to the specific customer's needs and is unmatched in the direct reduction industry in terms of production and flexibility to meet the needs of iron- and steelmakers and HBI producers. Adjustable product quality and the ability to produce various forms of Direct Reduced Iron (DRI), as demonstrated by some of the best production records in the industry, make MIDREX® plants highly profitable direct reduction plants. In addition, with the ability to flexibly use up to 100% hydrogen, the MIDREX® process will become one of the cornerstones of the global strategy to decarbonize steelmaking. Currently, the MIDREX® process has the highest market share for direct reduced iron (DRI) production based on a shaft furnace with approximately 80%.

MIDREX® plants produce either hot direct reduced iron (HDRI) and cold direct reduced iron (CDRI) both for use in an electric arc furnace (EAF) or electric smelter, or hot briquestted iron (HBI) for commercial purposes. Hot direct reduced iron (HDRI) adds value by directly utilizing the sensible heat of the hot direct reduced iron (HDRI) for reduced electric power consumption in the downstream processes, like the electric arc furnace (EAF) or the smelter. At the same time, the MIDREX® hot briquetted iron (HBI) plant is the first choice for safe inland or maritime transportation.

As a licensee of MIDREX Technologies, Primetals Technologies has built approximately one-third of all MIDREX® direct reduction plants worldwide with significant involvement (e.g., consortium leadership), and can supply the full range of technology packages up to turnkey solutions.

MIDREX® plants have a proven long-term performance and availability, producing more than 60% of the world’s direct reduced iron, and are known for their state-of-the-art technology and fast start-ups. 

Special Features of MIDREX®

MIDREX® plants are typically operated using 100% natural gas. In addition, MIDREX® process solutions are also available to allow steelmakers to adapt to the hydrogen economy.

MIDREX FLEX™

MIDREX FLEX™ plants can use 100% natural gas or any other combination of natural gas and hydrogen. As sufficient quantities of hydrogen become available at competitive prices, natural gas can be substituted by hydrogen up to 100%. The MIDREX® FLEX plant is designed for flexible use of hydrogen and natural gas at the highest productivity and direct reduced iron (DRI) quality.

MIDREX H₂™

The MIDREX H₂™ technology is specifically designed for 100% hydrogen operation or for majority hydrogen operation with minimal natural gas usage. It includes the latest innovation from MIDREX®, an electric heater for the recirculating hydrogen gas designed and supplied in partnership with the Tutco SureHeat business.

Carbon Capture

A carbon capture system can be installed from the beginning or retrofitted at any MIDREX® plant to further reduce CO₂ emissions.

MIDREX® Capabilities

• Efficiently reduce iron oxide pellets and lump ores of varying quality
• Produce cold direct reduced iron (CDRI), hot briquetted iron (HBI), and hot direct reduced iron (HDRI), or any combination thereof
• Flexibility in terms of multiple feed, energy sources, reducing gas, and discharge options
• Produce reducing gas from natural gas via the reliable and efficient MIDREX® reformer
• Operates on 100% natural gas, 100% hydrogen, or any mixture of the two

*MIDREX®, MIDREX H₂, and MIDREX FLEX are registered trademarks of MIDREX Technologies, Inc.