Techno-economic Assessment of Recovery and Reuse of Low Temperature Heat (T<350°C) in the Steel Industry by Means of Process Integration

Abstract

This article presents a techno-economic evaluation of various options for recovery and reuse of low temperature heat (LTH) with temperatures below 350°C. A process integration approach has been applied to illustrate the investment strategies for a typical European integrated steel plant towards positive energy and environmental effects. The modelling results indicate a CO2 reduction potential of 0.44-1.80% of the total CO2 emissions by recovering and reuse of LTH from the flue gas in various process units. The pay-back time depends on reuse pathways and waste heat temperature, varying from 0.5 to 7.6 years. The results are only valid for the simulated generic site. For the results implementation at real steel plants, local boundary conditions should be considered.

The European Steel Technology Platform Faces Resource Efficiency in its Strategic Research Agenda

“…For instance in [18] a PI solution has been explored to improve the exploitation of process off-gases while reducing the CO 2 emissions, in [19] PI-based solutions for recovery of steel scrap through environmental-friendly technologies are investigates. In [20] PI is applied to optimal design of industrial waters management, while in [21] PI-based solutions are analyzed aimed at the recovery and reuse of low temperature heat.…”

Process integration analysis and some economic-environmental implications for an innovative environmentally friendly recovery and pre-treatment of steel scrap

“…For instance, a PI approach based on mathematical programming, i.e. mixed integer linear programming (MILP) has been applied to illustrate the investment strategies for a typical European integrated steel plant toward positive energy and environmental effects [21]. Lundkvist et al [22] plants and integrating a dedicated material upgrading process in the system.…”