In the oxygen-steelmaking process, large quantities of hot gas are released from the LD (BOF) converters which contain high concentrations of dust and carbon monoxide. The thermal energy of the hot converter gas can be recovered by a boiler-type cooling stack suitable for steam generation.
In a dedusting facility, both coarse and fine dust particles are efficiently removed. In a second step, the CO-rich gas is recovered and stored in a gasholder for subsequent energy applications.
Siemens VAI’s dry-type dedusting system based on Electrostatic Precipitator technology is the most advanced environmental solution available for LD (BOF) steelmaking plants.
It features highly efficient gas cleaning and a very low energy demand, meeting high environmental and safety standards with reduced operating costs. As a major benefit, no water and sludge treatment is required.
In the DDS process, the converter offgas is ducted from the cooling stack into an evaporation cooler where water and steam are sprayed into the gas stream by means of dual-flow nozzles. Coarse dust is also removed from the off-gas in the evaporation cooler.
Fine dust is removed in a round-type electrostatic precipitator by means of four high-voltage fields. The cleaned converter offgas is exhausted through the system by an axial induced-draft fan. The precipitated dust can be recycled to the steelmaking process as a substitute for iron ore or scrap.
The DDS reduces the dust content of the raw converter gas to a minimum in order to meet the most stringent environmental requirements.
The Siemens VAI wet-type dedusting system is a very efficient environmental solution available for emission control and energy recovery.
Wet-type dedusting systems have a long history in Oxygen steelmaking. The cleaning of the waste gas is performed in two stages. In the quencher, coarse dust is precipitated by injection of water into the gas stream. The fine cleaning is effected by high turbulent mixture of gas and scrubbing water in a specially designed scrubbing unit. The draft of the gas through the plant is maintained by a radial ID fan.
SIEMENS VAI offers two kinds of wet-type dedusting systems:
Siemens VAI successfully developed and implemented the innovative annular gap technology, which is an alternative to the well-proven venturi BAUMCO® system. Siemens VAI’s annular gap technology features very low clean gas dust contents and is the most energy efficient solution in the field of wet-type dedusting. However, wet-type gas cleaning systems are associated with lower cleaning efficiency than dry-type dedusting systems.
Siemens VAI provides advanced technologies for recovering the high-energetic converter gas. The energy recovery technologies allow for substitution of fossil fuels and significantly reduce the energy costs for steel making.
With Siemens VAI’s gas recovery technology, the composition of the converter gas is analyzed continuously. Depending on the CO content, a switchover station directs the cleaned converter gas either to the flare or to a gasholder for subsequent use in a steelmaking or power generation plant. Before the gas can be fed into the gasholder, it is cooled down in a gascooler.
Siemens VAI’s gas recovery technology features an advanced process control system and allows for maximized, reliable and safe gas recovery.
Siemens Metals Technologies
Steelmaking