Blast Furnace Oxygen Enrichment PSA Project

PKU Pioneer Commissions PSA Oxygen Plant for Blast Furnace Oxygen Enrichment, Slashing Steel Mill’s Annual Costs by $4.5 Million

Recently, the second-phase 14,000 Nm³/h pressure swing adsorption (PSA) oxygen generation facility, constructed by Beijing Peking University Pioneer Technology Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as “PKU Pioneer”) for Chifeng Yuanlian Iron and Steel Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as “Chifeng Yuanlian”), has successfully commissioned and achieved stable oxygen supply. With this milestone, Chifeng Yuanlian’s total PSA oxygen generation capacity reaches 28,000 Nm³/h, significantly reducing the cost of blast furnace oxygen enrichment. Technological upgrading supports energy conservation and carbon reduction goals, delivering dual improvements in economic and environmental benefits.

Chifeng Yuanlian operates one 1,200 m³ blast furnace, one 1,280 m³ blast furnace, two 110-ton converters, and multiple high-end plate production lines including medium-wide strip steel and cold-rolled galvanizing. In response to the national “Special Action Plan for Energy Conservation and Carbon Reduction in the Iron and Steel Industry” and the implementation of a comprehensive conservation strategy, Chifeng Yuanlian moved quickly to launch the second-phase project. This decision followed the significant benefits achieved from the first-phase 14,000 Nm³/h PSA oxygen generation project, which was developed in cooperation with PKU Pioneer in 2024 to further optimize blast furnace oxygen costs and the overall energy consumption structure of the plant.

It is reported that the second-phase oxygen generation plant put into operation this time has the same specifications as the first phase: 14,000 Nm³/h PSA units with 80% oxygen purity, tailored for the blast furnace oxygen enrichment process. A Chifeng Yuanlian project leader stated, “Based on the actual oxygen demand of the two blast furnaces and the operational status of multiple existing air separation systems at the plant, the company determined the technical route after comprehensive technical and economic feasibility studies.  offers distinct advantages such as short construction cycles, lower investment costs, and quick return on investment. Coupled with the stable operation and tangible benefits of the first-phase project, we have strengthened our confidence in continuing the cooperation.”

Addressing customer concerns regarding equipment operational stability and parameter detection accuracy, PKU Pioneer implemented targeted measures during the project design phase. By enhancing the redundancy of the control system and significantly improving the monitoring precision of key operational parameters, the company provided solid technical guarantees for long-term stable equipment operation. Chifeng Yuanlian designated the project as a key initiative, completing high-quality civil engineering in advance to effectively avoid cross-construction interference. Leveraging its technical advantages and engineering experience, PKU Pioneer fully committed to overcoming challenges and accelerating construction progress. Technical teams from both parties stationed on-site for joint commissioning, ultimately achieved it 20 days ahead of the original schedule.

Measured data following the project’s commissioning fully validates the core value of the upgraded oxygen generation capacity. Based on Chifeng’s industrial electricity price of RMB 0.35 per kilowatt-hour, the specific oxygen consumption cost of the plant’s original cryogenic air separation system was RMB 0.28 per Nm³. PKU Pioneer’s PSA oxygen generation equipment has reduced this cost by over 60%. With a combined pure oxygen output of 22,400 Nm³/h from both phases, the plant saves more than RMB 90,000 in daily oxygen generation costs, translating to an annual reduction of RMB 32 million (equivalent to $4.5 million). Meanwhile, the total oxygen generation capacity of 28,000 Nm³/h precisely matches the blast furnace oxygen enrichment demand. The equipment’s features of convenient start-stop and flexible load adjustment have further reduced the plant’s overall air separation emission rate, providing strong support for Chifeng Yuanlian to improve its green manufacturing system.

As a benchmark supplier in the gas separation sector for the iron and steel industry, PKU Pioneer has equipped nearly 100 iron and steel enterprises all over the world with large-scale PSA oxygen generation systems for blast furnace oxygen enrichment. Looking ahead, PKU Pioneer will continue to drive technological innovation as its core engine, helping more traditional manufacturing enterprises achieve production targets, energy conservation, and carbon reduction, and jointly building a new ecosystem for green industrial development.