Manolo Mattucci
Technical Sales Manager, Danieli Environment & Systems, Danieli, Italy
Topic 1: Give water a second life: municipal wastewater for industrial water applications
Abstract: In the current scenario of massive depleting of natural resources for industrial production leading to increase of pollution and hazardous substances on the water bodies, Danieli offers the optimal solution of wastewaters reuse by reducing or zeroing the demand of primary waters. Municipal and industrial wastewaters reuse combining the biological treatment with total recovery by “Zero Liquid Discharge”, is the state-of-the-art advancement, providing effective zero fresh water consumption and zero wastewater discharge, fulfilling with concept of circular economy and sustainability in metal production. From a source of pollution, Danieli transforms the waste into a new economic value.
Topic 2: Green Metals: Real commitment for a sustainable world
Abstract: In the last two decades the global energy consumption and carbon dioxide emissions have increased of ca. 55%, due to the present energy production mix. The steel and non-ferrous production covers even the 6% of total energy demand, and it accounts for up to almost 12% of global CO2 emissions. Policies on environmental issues are becoming stricter and being able to anticipate new regulations will be the key to stay in the market. The following routes are going to help make sustainable changes-
Route 1: BF/BOF – This is a very mature technology, so only a limited energy reduction is possible, mainly by improving the auxiliary equipment (e.g., gas cleaning system) and by optimizing integration of energy throughout the plant.
Route 2: DRI/EAF – The DRI plant is already close to its limits, so the ways to reduce the carbon footprint and energy use are two: (1) remove as much CO2 direct emission as possible; and (2) feed the DRI directly to the EAF at high temperature, to save on furnace electrical consumption. These features are already available on the ENERGIRON ZR technological package, which reduces significantly the environmental impact of his plant.
Route 3: Scrap/EAF – It is at less than 70% of the practical limit of energy consumption, so there is still room for improvement. Much can be done in process control: Danieli developed Q-melt, a technological package that has been proven helpful to reduce consumption at the Turkish plant of KromanÇelik, with a reduction of carbon footprint by almost 23 kgCO2/t.
In the future, savings will be possible also with scrap yard metal management; continuous charging; closed furnace; fumes control and energy recovery; slag and dust recovery; no men around.