Feasibility of symbiotic ironworks

The concept of zero emission of waste material in the manufacturing process has been focussed worldwide for more efficient utilization of fossil fuels and environmental protection. In this study, background and feasibility of symbiotic ironworks based on this concept were discussed from the state-of-the-art technology in catalyst and heat storage/transportation. One possibility is ironworks with methanol industry, in which charged coke is partially replaced by natural gas and the hydrogen-enriched blast furnace offgas(BFG) is used as raw material for methanol synthesis. The results of systematic analysis demonstrated that this system leads to not only exergy saving but also less emission of greenhouse gas(GHG). The key technology is to develop a catalyst for BFG of CO2-CO-H-2 system. Another one is ''urban-symbiotic ironworks'', where excess outflow energy from ironworks is efficiently employed as a utility for household affairs. The use of latent heat and reaction beat is being planned in this system for thermal energy recovery and transportation. Possible energy recovery processes for the waste heat remaining in the ironmaking industry was reviewed, together with the detailed concept oi 'urban-symbiotic ironworks' as an energy supplier. In particular, the use of phase change materials(PCMs) and of hydrogen storage alloy as the new technologies was fundamentally promising.