Explore CEMS Application with ESE Series – Flue Gas Emission Monitoring in the Steel and Metallurgical Industry

Explore CEMS Application with ESE Series – Flue Gas Emission Monitoring in the Steel and Metallurgical Industry

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Sharon Ye

Technical Sales - Energy & Environment

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Continuous Emission Monitoring Systems (CEMS) play a vital role in industrial emission control. Especially in the steel and metallurgical industries, the application of CEMS is not only to meet the requirements of environmental protection regulations but also to achieve sustainable development and improve production efficiency and economic benefits. This Blog will explore in depth Application of CEMS in the steel and metallurgical industries, including its working principle, application cases, advantages, and challenges.

As an important pillar industry for industrialization and modernization, the steel and metallurgical industries are currently in an important period of transformation and upgrading. With the recovery of the global economy and the acceleration of infrastructure construction, steel demand has rebounded, but the industry is also facing the dual challenges of resource and environmental constraints, intensified market competition, and technological progress.

Steel and Metallurgical Industry

Environmental protection and sustainable development have become important issues that the steel and metallurgical industries must face. Governments around the world are increasingly stringent in their requirements for environmental protection, and companies need to increase investment in environmental protection, reduce pollution emissions, and promote the development of green production technologies. For example, many companies are actively adopting efficient and energy-saving ironmaking and steelmaking processes, promoting the recycling of scrap steel, improving energy efficiency, and reducing carbon emissions.

As a traditional high-energy consumption and high-pollution industry, the steel and metallurgical industry involves numerous complex chemical reactions and mechanical operations in its production process and emits a wide variety of pollutants with high concentrations and large emissions. These emissions not only cause serious pollution to the environment but also have adverse effects on human health. Understanding the emission characteristics of the industry is a prerequisite for taking effective control measures. Below, we analyze in detail the main emission characteristics of the steel and metallurgical industry.

Steel and Metallurgical Industry

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1.1 Sources of particulate matter

Particulate matter is one of the main pollutants emitted by the steel and metallurgical industries. The main sources include:

  • Combustion process: smoke produced by incomplete combustion of fuel at high temperature.
  • Mechanical processing: dust generated by processes such as crushing, grinding, and screening.
  • Smelting and refining: smoke and dust produced during the smelting process of blast furnaces, converters, electric furnaces, etc.

1.2 Hazards of particulate matter

Particulate matter not only has a serious impact on ambient air quality, but also has a great harm to human health. Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) can penetrate deep into the respiratory tract and lungs, and long-term exposure may cause respiratory and cardiovascular diseases.

2.1 Sources of sulfur dioxide

Sulfur dioxide mainly comes from the combustion of sulfur-containing fuels (such as coal, oil, coke, etc.). In the steel and metallurgical industries, sulfur dioxide emissions are mainly concentrated in the following processes:

  • Sintering and pelletizing process: SO2 produced by fuel combustion and decomposition of sulfur in ore.
  • Blast furnace process: SO2 produced by fuel combustion and decomposition of sulfur-containing ores.
  • Coking process: SO2 produced during the combustion of coke ovens.

2.2 Hazards of sulfur dioxide

Sulfur dioxide is a colorless gas with a pungent odor. It has a strong irritating effect on the human respiratory system. Long-term exposure can cause respiratory diseases. At the same time, sulfur dioxide will combine with moisture in the atmosphere to form acid rain, causing soil and water acidification and damaging the ecological environment.

3.1 Sources of nitrogen oxides

Nitrogen oxides are mainly produced by high-temperature combustion processes. In the steel and metallurgical industries, the sources of nitrogen oxide emissions include:

  • Sintering and pelletizing process: NOx produced by high temperature combustion.
  • Blast furnace and converter processes: NOx generated during fuel combustion and smelting.
  • Coking process: NOx emissions during high temperature cracking and combustion.

3.2 Hazards of nitrogen oxides

Nitrogen oxides are the precursors of photochemical smog and ozone pollution, which have a significant polluting effect on the atmospheric environment. In addition, NOx will react with water vapor to produce nitric acid, forming acid rain, which damages the ecosystem.

4.1 Sources of Carbon Monoxide

Carbon monoxide is mainly produced when fuel is not completely burned. In the steel and metallurgical industry, the main sources of carbon monoxide emissions include:

  • Blast furnace process: Blast furnace gas contains a large amount of carbon monoxide.
  • Converter and electric furnace processes: CO produced by incomplete combustion of fuel during the steelmaking process.

4.2 Hazards of Carbon Monoxide

Carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless, highly toxic gas. It can bind to hemoglobin and prevent the blood from carrying oxygen. In severe cases, it can cause carbon monoxide poisoning or even death. Long-term exposure to low concentrations of carbon monoxide can also cause chronic health problems.

5.1 Sources of Volatile Organic Compounds

VOCs refer to a class of organic compounds that are easily volatile at room temperature. In the steel and metallurgical industries, VOCs mainly come from the following aspects:

  • Raw materials and fuels: VOCs produced by the volatilization of organic matter such as coal and coke.
  • Coking process: VOCs produced by the evaporation of coke oven gas and tar.
  • Paints and coatings: VOCs emitted from paints and coatings used in the steel surface treatment process.

5.2 Hazards of Volatile Organic Compounds

VOCs are harmful to human health and the environment. Some VOCs are carcinogenic, mutagenic and reproductively toxic. VOCs also participate in atmospheric photochemical reactions to form ozone and fine particulate matter (PM2.5), further exacerbating air pollution.

6.1 Heavy Metals

The production process of the steel and metallurgical industries also produces some heavy metal pollutants, such as lead, cadmium, mercury, etc. These heavy metals mainly come from impurities in raw materials and by-products in the smelting process.

6.2 Dioxins

Dioxins are a class of highly toxic organic pollutants, mainly produced during high-temperature combustion and smelting processes. Dioxin emissions from the steel and metallurgical industries are mainly concentrated in waste incineration and certain special smelting processes.

6.3 Fluoride

Some fluxes used in the steel production process may contain fluorides, which are easily volatilized under high temperature conditions and discharged into the atmosphere, causing harm to the environment and human health.

The emission characteristics of the steel and metallurgical industries determine their huge impact on the environment and health. By understanding these emission characteristics in detail, we can provide a scientific basis for taking targeted emission reduction measures.The CEMS system plays an important role in this processThrough real-time monitoring and data analysis, it helps enterprises better control pollutant emissions and achieve green development goals. In the future, with the advancement of technology and the improvement of environmental protection requirements, the steel and metallurgical industries will gradually achieve cleaner and more efficient production methods.

The application of continuous emission monitoring system (CEMS) in the steel and metallurgical industry is an important means to ensure emission control and environmental protection.

CEMS

Due to the complexity and diversity of the production process of the steel and metallurgical industry and the wide variety of pollutant emissions, the application of CEMS in different processes is also different. The following is the specific application of CEMS in the main processes of this industry.

Steel and Metallurgical Industry