Fluidized bed pilot plant

With our advanced fluidized bed pilot plant we are in a position to offer large pilot-scale development of metallurgical processes and energy conversion and gasification processes.

The fluidized bed process provides excellent conditions for using increasingly complex raw materials with a higher content of impurities effectively. It is also proving to be an interesting process for recycling various waste products. For example, the process can be used to separate fluoride or other undesirable components from dust and dried sludges through calcination.

Our pilot plant provides scope for pilot-scale research promoting the further development of metallurgical processes and energy conversion and gasification processes. Another important area is developing new methods of heat recovery. Customers include the steel and metal industries, the forestry industry and energy producers.

Examples of metallurgical applications include the pretreatment of metal concentrates prior to smelting, e.g. through roasting or thermal treatment. The metal concentrate can then be smelted and refined further on a pilot scale.

Fluidized bed as a tool for using residual products

One interesting area of development is extraction of base metals from mineral concentrates containing undesirable elements such as arsenic, for example. Others are increased use of residual products from metallurgical processes, and the increased utilization of residual heat from the steel, metal and mining industries for electricity and heat production or refining forest fuels.

The capacity is 20-50 kg material/hour up to 970°C. The plant is equipped with advanced and flexible gas cleaning.

Our test and demonstration facilities

Metal powder gas atomization

The test bed enables development of new alloys for metal powder applications and process development trials. The test bed offers development along the complete value chain, from idea to validation of the final product or process.

Measuring thermal conductivity, thermal diffusivity, and specific heat capacity

Understanding thermal conductivity and thermal diffusivity is fundamental for comprehending and optimizing heat transfer processes in a variety of applications, from industrial manufacturing to high-tech devices and renewable energy production. Specific heat capacity describes a material's ability to store energy. These measurements help ensure that materials and systems operate efficiently, safely, and energy-efficiently.

Product development of metals

Swerim provide the expertise and resources for advanced product development, from idea to finished product. Depending on your preferences, we can take on all or parts of the product development chain. When you want to increase your company's competitive strengths through innovative products, we can give you the support you need.

Joining for lightweight technologies

The test facility for lightweight technologies enables the industry to resolve issues affecting multi-material-based lightweight and high-strength structures. The test facility is flexible and combines many different technologies and methods, making it an important national resource within the field.

Pilot plant – pyrometallurgy

Our metallurgical pilot plant provides a unique testing environment where we, together with you, the customer, improve existing manufacturing processes or develop new ones. Our environmental permit also allows the handling of complex materials, while our environmental facility enables us, for example, to study both the metallurgical process and exhaust cleaning in parallel.

Pilot plant – heating and metalworking technology

Our pilot plant for heating and metalworking provides a unique testing environment where we, together with you, the customer, improve existing heating and metalworking processes or develop new ones. The facility is perfect for developing equipment and measurement methods within the steel and metal industries. It is also useful for studying reduced energy use and climate impact.

Analytical process monitoring

The test bed for analytical process monitoring develops and provides new technology for process monitoring, data analysis and optimization. Collaboration between Swerim and Swedish ICT has enabled unique skills and technologies to be developed, which are now being offered to both companies and academia.

Laboratory process simulation for steel and metal production

Swerim’s test bed for process simulation is a useful resource when it comes to simulating all critical processes in the manufacture of advanced metallic materials on a laboratory scale, from casting to finishing (final heat treatment).

Agglomeration

Our agglomeration lab provides the industry with research and development facilities within agglomeration and pretreatment. This includes everything from product development of fine-grained raw materials to recycling of metal-bearing residual products such as sludges and dust. Higher material efficiency is becoming ever more important.

National Hydrogen Research Center for Metallic Materials

Hydrogen as an energy carrier has great potential to transform the metallurgical, automotive and energy industries towards carbon neutrality. In order to support the industry, Swerim has started the National Hydrogen Research Center for Metallic Materials at Swerim.