Evaluation of a large energy intensive site to detemine if centralised electricity generation and steam distribution is preferable to local generation

Completed

Energy Efficiency(Residential and commercial)
Other Power and Storage Technologies(Electric power conversion)
Other Power and Storage Technologies(Electricity transmission and distribution)
Energy Efficiency(Industry)
Fossil Fuels: Oil Gas and Coal(Oil and Gas, Oil and gas combustion)

Basic and strategic applied research
Applied Research and Development

PHYSICAL SCIENCES AND MATHEMATICS (Metallurgy and Materials)
ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY (Electrical and Electronic Engineering)
ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY (Chemical Engineering)

Systems Analysis related to energy R&D (Other Systems Analysis)
Sociological economical and environmental impact of energy (Technology acceptance)
Sociological economical and environmental impact of energy (Other sociological economical and environmental impact of energy)

Dr T O'Doherty
Engineering
Cardiff University

Standard

EPSRC

01 October 2009

31 March 2013

42 months

£639,673

Materials processing

Wales

Energy : Energy

Dr T O'Doherty, Engineering, Cardiff University

Professor P Bowen, Engineering, Cardiff University
Professor A Griffiths, Engineering, Cardiff University
Dr R Marsh, Engineering, Cardiff University
Professor KP Williams, Engineering, Cardiff University

Project Contact, Corus Strip Products UK

Steelmaking generates a range of combustible gases, generally of a low calorific value. Historically the cost of capturing, conditioning and storing these gases significantly exceeded the cost of natural gas. Process equipment developments over time have replaced gas by-product use with natural gas supply.Lowering the Carbon Footprint of steel production and rising energy prices demands a thorough review of energy use on site. Currently the site operates gas fired boilers mainly fired by process gas, generating high pressure steam for electricity generation and feeding a low pressure steam ring main for use across the steelworks. Additional package steam boilers supplement low pressure steam on site.Over decades the steel plant has developed with many changes introduced. Steam use is ubiquitous but it may not be the best option. The purpose of this research is to map current steam use on site and to determine other sources of low grade heat. The current monitoring and controlof steam generation and use will be considered and improved control methodology proposed for any chosen system.Corus has commenced investment in excess of 60m to capture, condition and store more process gas, this research is key to determining how best this gas can be utilised on site.Combustible gases produced on site will be researched to determine optimum combustion characteristics, whether conventional combustion or gas turbine. Methods of generating electricity and or steam using low grade heat or process gases will be examined to determine whether these new methods would be preferable and use less energy than the current steam ring main. Alternative thermal cycles, for example Kalina, will be researched to utilise low grade heat for electricty generation and steam or heat raising.If beneficial uses cannot be found for the low grade heat on site, other uses for example district heating will be investigated

16/04/09