Potential of nuclear energy for steelmaking

The prospects of applying nuclear heat to steelmaking processes are reviewed. The high-temp. gas-cooled reactor can heat He gas to 14000F which can then be used for endothermic chemical processes. Steam reforming of a light hydrocarbon, such as natural gas, naptha or liquefied coal, will provide a reducing gas, composed of CO and H. This gas could be used to reduce iron oxide which in turn could be melted in an electric furnace powered by the energy of the reactor. A second system utilizes H which could be obtained by either the electrolysis of water or chemical conversion of water. The H could be heated to approximately 12000F (6490C) in the reactor for the direct reduction of Fe ore. The third system involves the use of nuclear energy to generate electricity and steam for the coke-oven-blast-furnace-B. O. F. plant. The activities in Europe and Japan, as well as various studies and research programmes, are reviewed