Project Status: Complete
Project Participants: CSIRO, BlueScope Steel, OneSteel, Hatch
Project Leader: Dongsheng Xie (CSIRO)
Considerable quantities of high grade heat (energy) are lost through water granulation and/or air cooling of molten slags produced in iron and steelmaking processes. Recovery of this energy and its utilisation in the industry will reduce operating cost as well as greenhouse gas emission. The overall aim of this project was to determine the potentially viable opportunities in integrated and electric arc furnace steelmaking where the waste heat from cooling molten slag could be utilised.
A literature review was conducted to screen down available technologies and options for slag heat recovery. The review established that dry slag granulation is a preferred approach. Site visits were made by the project team to OneSteel Whyalla Steelworks and BlueScope Steel Port Kembla to identify and rank possible uses of waste heat at plants. Steam generation and feedback into the existing steam system at the plant is the most favourable option due to the significant economic benefit, easy integration with the existing steam system, and flexible management and matching of heat usage to demand.
The project research centred on identifying practical and economically viable opportunities for capture and use of waste heat from molten slag cooling in iron and steelmaking. The information gained from this project will possibly be relevant to other metallurgical industries handling slags, such as lead/zinc smelters.