The HYDRA pilot frame at the Castel Romano site in Rome is composed of a Direct Reduction Plant, aimed at producing direct reduced iron (DRI), and an electric arc furnace (EAF) for metallurgical operations with pre-reduced DRI.

The EAF pilot plant is a 7-ton unit supplied by Tenova. DRI (with and without carbon) and mixed scrap charges will be smelted under different conditions expected in industrial applications. The objective is to acquire the necessary know-how to manage all the metallurgical operations (e. g, decarburization, slag formation and management, process control aimed at energy efficiency, reduced use of fossil fuels).

 

The plant features and the criteria adopted for its selection are described in detail in the report where the following aspects have been detailed:

• Engineering and feasibility (compatibility of the unit with the Castel Romano site).

• Furnace scaling up and experimental strategy.

• Study and analysis of the plant auxiliary systems

• Description of the Tenova supplied unit

 

The engineering activity is ongoing, and the EAF plant will be operating by early 2026.