In January-June 2024, Turkish steelmakers increased steel production by 16.9% compared to the same period in 2023, to 18.61 million tons by data from WorldSteel. And Turkey has surpassed Germany to become Europe’s largest steel producer, according to data from January 2024.

It is projected that by 2050, the scrap ratio in India could reach 25% (currently about 20%), with major steelmakers achieving 20% (currently about 10%). In short-process EAF steelmaking, the application of Vacuum Pressure Swing Adsorption (VPSA) oxygen units is crucial for improving furnace control and production efficiency. VPSA oxygen plants employ molecular sieves to generate enriched oxygen from air. Compared to traditional cryogenic systems, VPSA oxygen systems have lower construction and operating costs, and can adjust oxygen flowrate according to demand variations during steelmaking, which helps optimize furnace atmosphere and chemical reactions in the melt to further improve furnace operation efficiency and steel product quality and contribute to substantial reductions in energy consumption and emissions, thereby lowering the overall carbon footprint.

As a leader in the vacuum pressure swing adsorption (VPSA) and pressure swing adsorption (PSA) industry, PKU Pioneer's VPSA/PSA oxygen generation technology provides a more economical solution of enriched oxygen compared to liquid oxygen supply and cryogenic air separation technologies, effectively reducing costs and increasing efficiency for downstream customers. Additionally, its PSA-CO and H2 purification technologies efficiently not only address the challenges of industrial tail gas utilization, but also contribute to carbon emission reduction. Through cycling, PKU Pioneer demonstrated its commitment to promoting a green, healthy, and low-carbon lifestyle, which effectively illustrated our dedication to environmental sustainability and determination to contribute to the industry's healthy development.

In 2023, the iron and steel industry underwent a series of significant transformations, marking world continuous innovations and adjustments in the sector. These events not only reflect the dynamic changes within the industry but also highlight the efforts of global steel companies to enhance production efficiency and reduce carbon emissions.

Industrial VPSA (vacuum pressure swing adsorption) oxygen generation equipment plays a crucial role in short-process electric arc furnace (EAF) steelmaking. VPSA oxygen equipment can economically and efficiently provide enriched oxygen, increasing the internal temperature of the EAF, accelerating the melting process, and thereby significantly improving steelmaking efficiency. Additionally, it helps to reduce fuel consumption, lower energy costs and decrease emissions of CO2 and other harmful gases, supporting environmental goals. Furthermore, the introduction of oxygen promotes slag formation, effectively removing impurities from the molten steel, thus enhancing the steel purity and quality. The application of VPSA oxygen units makes the steelmaking process more flexible and controllable, better meeting the production demands of various types of steel products.

In January 2024, the VPSA oxygen-generating unit (26,700Nm3/h, 90%) designed and built by PKU Pioneer for Maanshan Iron & Steel Co., Ltd. (Ma Steel) passed the factory acceptance tests as the second large VPSA oxygen system PKU Pioneer undertook for China Baowu Group after the previous VPSA oxygen generation unit (22,222m3/hr, 90%) for Meishan Iron and Steel. The oxygen equipment provides low-cost oxygen gas for Ma Steel's oxygen-enriched ironmaking.