Assessment of stack emissions during different phases of electric arc furnace steelmaking process

الملخص EN

Electric arc furnace steelmaking is a fast growing manufacturing process in which steel scrap is re-melted and desired quality steel grades are produced.

It is considered to be a process which generates high degree of harmful gases and hazardous metal dust.

The aim of this paper constitutes the assessment of flue gases and its air environmental factor pollution to the steelmaking in different technological process phases of electric arc furnace.

The main components of the process flue gas are Carbon Oxide, Sulfur Oxide, Carbon dioxide and Nitrogen Oxide.

The flue gas concentrations were analyzed by Portable combustion and stack Emissions gas analyzer.

The overall process is divided into two phases; melting and blowing.

A comparison was carried out between both technological phases and its respective flue gas concentrations.

In melting phase, the minimum and maximum concentration of Carbon Oxide, Sulfur Oxide and Nitrogen Oxide were 75-836 mg/Nm3, 4-33 mg/Nm3 and 1-60 mg/Nm3 respectively.

During the blowing phase the minimum and maximum concentration of Carbon Oxide, Sulfur Oxide and Nitrogen Oxide were 12-415 mg/Nm3, 2-14 mg/Nm3 and 1-42 mg/Nm3 respectively.

The results were interpreted and compared with concentration of gaseous emissions existing in NEQS (National Environmental Quality Standards) of Pakistan.

According to this study, it is evident that melting phase has more negative impact on the air environment factor then blowing phase, so it is necessary to mitigate the pollutant concentration during this technological phase.

Few recommendations have offered including installation of a chemical energy package at Electric Arc furnace to reduce pollutant gases, so that the environmental impact becomes minimal and yield of the process maximizes