A waste heat recovery strategy for an integrated steelworks

Williams, Christopher Lloyd 2015. A waste heat recovery strategy for an integrated steelworks. PhD Thesis, Cardiff University. Item availability restricted.

Preview	PDF - Accepted Post-Print Version Download (8MB) | Preview
	PDF - Supplemental Material Restricted to Repository staff only Download (770kB) | Request a copy

Abstract

UK energy prices have doubled over the last decade, which has driven the UK Iron and Steel Industry to invest in energy efficient technologies. However, even with these relatively high prices the industry still finds it difficult to build a business case to justify waste heat recovery projects. The Steel Industry has large quantities of waste heat and there are technologies readily available for its capture, but often the issue has been finding a cost effective ‘end use’. Individual schemes incorporating both capturing and an ‘end use’ for the waste heat often incur high capital costs with resulting long payback times. This thesis defines the development and modelling of a strategy and methodology for the utilisation of waste heat recovery in a UK based Steelworks. The methodology involves the utilisation of the existing steam distribution circuit to link the possible waste heat schemes together with a single ‘end user’ thus limiting the capital requirement for each subsequent project. The thesis defines the development of a numerical model that is initially verified through extensive comparison to actual plant data from a series of pre-defined operational scenarios. The model is used to predict the pressure and temperature effects on the steam distribution system as the waste heat recovery boilers from various areas of the case study steelworks are connected up to it. The developed strategy stimulated significant capital investment for the CSSW and has generated over 100,000 MWh and is therefore saving over £7m and 50,000 tonnes of indirect CO2 emissions per annum. The thesis discusses and recommends further research and modelling for low, medium and high grade waste heat as well as the potential of a partial de-centralisation of the steam system. The output of the thesis is referenced by the DECC as an example of waste heat recovery in UK industry.

Item Type:	Thesis (PhD)
Status:	Unpublished
Schools:	Engineering
Subjects:	T Technology > TA Engineering (General). Civil engineering (General)
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Waste Heat, Steel works, steam, modelling, energy, carbon dioxide
Funders:	EPSRC
Date of First Compliant Deposit:	30 March 2016
Last Modified:	21 Oct 2016 05:33
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/87146

Actions (repository staff only)

Edit Item