Metallurgical Industry

12.5-1 10/86 (Reformatted 1/95)

At the conclusion of the cast, the taphole is replugged with clay. The area around the base of the
furnace, including all iron and slag runners, is enclosed by a casthouse. The blast furnace
byproduct gas, which is collected from the furnace top, contains CO and particulate. Because of its
high CO content, this blast furnace gas has a low heating value, about 2790 to 3350 joules per liter
(J/L) (75 to 90 British thermal units per cubic foot [Btu/ft
3
]) and is used as a fuel within the steel
plant. Before it can be efficiently oxidized, however, the gas must be cleaned of particulate.
Initially, the gases pass through a settling chamber or dry cyclone to remove about 60 percent of
the particulate. Next, the gases undergo a 1- or 2-stage cleaning operation. The primary cleaner is
normally a wet scrubber, which removes about 90 percent of the remaining particulate. The
secondary cleaner is a high-energy wet scrubber (usually a venturi) or an electrostatic precipitator,
either of which can remove up to 90 percent of the particulate that eludes the primary cleaner.
Together these control devices provide a clean fuel of less than 0.05 grams per cubic meter (g/m
3
)
(0.02 grains per cubic foot [g/ft ]). A portion of this gas is fired in the blast furnace stoves to
preheat the blast air, and the rest is used in other plant operations.

12.5.1.3 Iron Preparation Hot Metal Desulfurization -
Sulfur in the molten iron is sometimes reduced before charging into the steelmaking
furnace by adding reagents. The reaction forms a floating slag which can be skimmed off.
Desulfurization may be performed in the hot metal transfer (torpedo) car at a location between the
blast furnace and basic oxygen furnace (BOF), or it may be done in the hot metal transfer (torpedo)
ladle at a station inside the BOF shop.

The most common reagents are powdered calcium carbide (CaC
2
) and calcium carbonate
(CaCO
3
) or salt-coated magnesium granules. Powdered reagents are injected into the metal
through a lance with high-pressure nitrogen. The process duration varies with the injection rate,
hot metal chemistry, and desired final sulfur content, and is in the range of 5 to 30 minutes.

12.5.1.4 Steelmaking Process Basic Oxygen Furnaces -
In the basic oxygen process (BOP), molten iron from a blast furnace and iron scrap are
refined in a furnace by lancing (or injecting) high-purity oxygen. The input material is typically 70
percent molten metal and 30 percent scrap metal. The oxygen reacts with carbon and other
impurities to remove them from the metal. The reactions are exothermic, i. e., no external heat
source is necessary to melt the scrap and to raise the temperature of the metal to the desired range
for tapping. The large quantities of CO produced by the reactions in the BOF can be controlled by
combustion at the mouth of the furnace and then vented to gas cleaning devices, as with open
hoods, or combustion can be suppressed at the furnace mouth, as with closed hoods. BOP
steelmaking is conducted in large (up to 363 Mg [400 ton] capacity) refractory lined pear shaped
furnaces. There are 2 major variations of the process. Conventional BOFs have oxygen blown into
the top of the furnace through a water-cooled lance. In the newer, Quelle Basic Oxygen process
(Q-BOP), oxygen is injected through tuyeres located in the bottom of the furnace. A typical BOF
cycle consists of the scrap charge, hot metal charge, oxygen blow (refining) period, testing for
temperature and chemical composition of the steel, alloy additions and reblows (if necessary),
tapping, and slagging. The full furnace cycle typically ranges from 25 to 45 minutes.

12.5.1.5 Steelmaking Process Electric Arc Furnace -
Electric arc furnaces (EAF) are used to produce carbon and alloy steels. The input material
to an EAF is typically 100 percent scrap. Cylindrical, refractory lined EAFs are equipped with
carbon electrodes to be raised or lowered through the furnace roof. With electrodes retracted, the
furnace roof can be rotated aside to permit the charge of scrap steel by overhead crane. Alloying
agents and fluxing materials usually are added through the doors on the side of the furnace.
Electric current of
the opposite polarity electrodes generates heat between the electrodes and through the scrap. After
melting and refining periods, the slag and steel are poured from the furnace by tilting.

The production of steel in an EAF is a batch process. Cycles, or "heats", range from about
1-1/2 to 5 hours to produce carbon steel and from 5 to 10 hours or more to produce alloy steel.
Scrap steel is charged to begin a cycle, and alloying agents and slag materials are added for
refining. Stages of each cycle normally are charging and melting operations, refining (which
usually includes oxygen blowing), and tapping.

12.5.1.6 Steelmaking Process Open Hearth Furnaces -
The open hearth furnace (OHF) is a shallow, refractory-lined basin in which scrap and
molten iron are melted and refined into steel. Scrap is charged to the furnace through doors in the
furnace front. Hot metal from the blast furnace is added by pouring from a ladle through a trough
positioned in the door. The mixture of scrap and hot metal can vary from all scrap to all hot metal,
but a half-and-half mixture is most common. Melting heat is provided by gas burners above and at

Metallurgical Industry
12.5-2 10/86 (Reformatted 1/95)
the side of the furnace. Refining is accomplished by the oxidation of carbon in the metal and the
formation of a limestone slag to remove impurities. Most furnaces are equipped with oxygen
lances to speed up melting and refining. The steel product is tapped by opening a hole in the base
of the furnace with an explosive charge. The open hearth steelmaking process with oxygen lancing
normally requires from 4 to 10 hours for each heat.

12.5.1.7 Semifinished Product Preparation -
After the steel has been tapped, the molten metal is teemed (poured) into ingots which are
later heated and formed into other shapes, such as blooms, billets, or slabs. The molten steel may
bypass this entire process and go directly to a continuous casting operation. Whatever the
production technique, the blooms, billets, or slabs undergo a surface preparation step, scarfing,
which removes surface defects before shaping or rolling. Scarfing can be performed by a machine
applying jets of oxygen to the surface of hot semifinished steel, or by hand (with torches) on cold
or slightly heated semifinished steel.

12.5.2 Emissions And Controls

12.5.2.1 Sinter -
Emissions from sinter plants are generated from raw material handling, windbox exhaust,
discharge end (associated sinter crushers and hot screens), cooler, and cold screen. The windbox
exhaust is the primary source of particulate emissions, mainly iron oxides, sulfur oxides,
carbonaceous compounds, aliphatic hydrocarbons, and chlorides. At the discharge end, emissions
are mainly iron and calcium oxides. Sinter strand windbox emissions commonly are controlled by
cyclone cleaners followed by a dry or wet ESP, high pressure drop wet scrubber, or baghouse.
Crusher and hot screen emissions, usually controlled by hooding and a baghouse or scrubber, are
the next largest emissions source. Emissions are also generated from other material handling
operations. At some sinter plants, these emissions are captured and vented to a baghouse.

12.5.2.2 Blast Furnace -
The primary source of blast furnace emissions is the casting operation. Particulate
emissions are generated when the molten iron and slag contact air above their surface. Casting
emissions also are generated by drilling and plugging the taphole. The occasional use of an oxygen
lance to open a clogged taphole can cause heavy emissions. During the casting operation, iron
oxides, magnesium oxide and carbonaceous compounds are generated as particulate. Casting
emissions at existing blast furnaces are controlled by evacuation through retrofitted capture hoods
to a gas cleaner, or by suppression techniques. Emissions controlled by hoods and an evacuation
system are usually vented to
a baghouse. The basic concept of suppression techniques is to prevent the formation of pollutants
by excluding ambient air contact with the molten surfaces. New furnaces have been constructed
with evacuated runner cover systems and local hooding ducted to a baghouse.

Another potential source of emissions is the blast furnace top. Minor emissions may occur
during charging from imperfect bell seals in the double bell system. Occasionally, a cavity may
form in the blast furnace charge, causing a collapse of part of the burden (charge) above it. The
resulting pressure surge in the furnace opens a relief valve to the atmosphere to prevent damage to
the furnace by the high pressure created and is referred to as a "slip".

12.5.2.3 Hot Metal Desulfurization -
Emissions during the hot metal desulfurization process are created by both the reaction of
the
reagents injected into the metal and the turbulence during injection. The pollutants emitted are
mostly iron oxides, calcium oxides, and oxides of the compound injected. The sulfur reacts with
the reagents and is skimmed off as slag. The emissions generated from desulfurization may be
collected by a hood positioned over the ladle and vented to a baghouse.

12.5.2.4 Steelmaking -
The most significant emissions from the BOF process occur during the oxygen blow
period. The predominant compounds emitted are iron oxides, although heavy metals and fluorides
are usually present. Charging emissions will vary with the quality and quantity of scrap metal
charged to the furnace and with the pour rate. Tapping emissions include iron oxides, sulfur
oxides, and other metallic oxides, depending on the grade of scrap used. Hot metal transfer
emissions are mostly iron oxides.

BOFs are equipped with a primary hood capture system located directly over the open
mouth of the furnaces to control emissions during oxygen blow periods. Two types of capture


systems are used to collect exhaust gas as it leaves the furnace mouth: closed hood (also known as
an off gas, or O. G., system) or open, combustion-type hood. A closed hood fits snugly against the
furnace mouth, ducting all particulate and CO to a wet scrubber gas cleaner. CO is flared at the
scrubber outlet stack. The open hood design allows dilution air to be drawn into the hood, thus
combusting the CO in the hood system. Charging and tapping emissions are controlled by a variety
of evacuation systems and operating practices. Charging hoods, tapside enclosures, and full
furnace enclosures are used in the industry to capture these emissions and send them to either the
primary hood gas cleaner or a second gas cleaner.

12.5.2.5 Steelmaking Electric Arc Furnace -
The operations which generate emissions during the electric arc furnace steelmaking
process
are melting and refining, charging scrap, tapping steel, and dumping slag. Iron oxide is the
predominant constituent of the particulate emitted during melting. During refining, the primary
particulate compound emitted is calcium oxide from the slag. Emissions from charging scrap are
difficult to quantify, because they depend on the grade of scrap utilized. Scrap emissions usually
contain iron and other metallic oxides from alloys in the scrap metal. Iron oxides and oxides from
the fluxes are the primary constituents of the slag emissions. During tapping, iron oxide is the
major particulate compound emitted.

Emission control techniques involve an emission capture system and a gas cleaning
system. Five emission capture systems used in the industry are fourth hold (direct shell)
evacuation, side draft hood, combination hood, canopy hood, and furnace enclosures. Direct shell
evacuation consists of ductwork attached to a separate or fourth hole in the furnace roof which
draws emissions to a gas cleaner. The fourth hole system works only when the furnace is up-right
with the roof in place. Side
draft hoods collect furnace off gases from around the electrode holes and the work doors after the
gases leave the furnace. The combination hood incorporates elements from the side draft and
fourth hole ventilation systems. Emissions are collected both from the fourth hole and around the
electrodes. An air gap in the ducting introduces secondary air for combustion of CO in the exhaust
gas. The combination hood requires careful regulation of furnace interval pressure. The canopy
hood is the least efficient of the 4 ventilation systems, but it does capture emissions during
charging and tapping. Many new electric arc furnaces incorporate the canopy hood with one of the
other 3 systems. The full furnace enclosure completely surrounds the furnace and evacuates
furnace emissions through hooding in the top of the enclosure.

12.5.2.6 Steelmaking Open Hearth Furnace -
Particulate emissions from an open hearth furnace vary considerably during the process.
The use of oxygen lancing increases emissions of dust and fume. During the melting and refining
cycle, exhaust gas drawn from the furnace passes through a slag pocket and a regenerative checker
chamber, where some of the particulate settles out. The emissions, mostly iron oxides, are then
ducted to either an ESP or a wet scrubber. Other furnace-related process operations which produce
fugitive emissions inside the shop include transfer and charging of hot metal, charging of scrap,
tapping steel, and slag dumping. These emissions are usually uncontrolled.

12.5.2.7 Semifinished Product Preparation -
During this activity, emissions are produced when molten steel is poured (teamed) into
ingot molds, and when semifinished steel is machine or manually scarfed to remove surface
defects. Pollutants emitted are iron and other oxides (FeO, Fe
2
O
3
, SiO
2
, CaO, MgO). Teeming
emissions are rarely controlled. Machine scarfing operations generally use as ESP or water spray
chamber for control. Most hand scarfing operations are uncontrolled.