Solutions to improve the energy efficiency of hot-blast stoves

摘要

The blast-heating process is one of the largest energy consumers in a steelworks and also one of the leading sources for CO2 emissions to the atmosphere. Much can be done to optimize stove performance with respect to overall blast furnace economy and energy consumption. Siemens VAI has developed several techniques that allow blast furnace operators to increase the efficiency of their stoves and thereby lower fuel costs. Reducing the consumption of expensive metallurgical coke in the blast furnace process is now more important than ever. Coal injection into the furnace through the tuyeres can reduce coke requirements by 50%. A higher blast furnace capacity can be achieved with increasingly higher blast temperatures. The challenge for the stoves plant is to provide these temperatures at acceptable capital and operational costs. A full process evaluation that looks at the entire blast furnace performance and takes into consideration various criteria such as stove capabilities, plant-energy balances and other economic factors can determine the optimum solution for each location.