Programme nominated for the Excellence in Sustainability Steelie Award 2023
China produces about 100 million tonnes of iron and steel metallurgical dust every year, including about 25 million tonnes of iron and zinc dust with a large amount of zinc, iron, carbon, and other elements.
Returning to sintering will enhance the smooth operation of the blast furnace. The direct reduction technology of the rotary hearth furnace is used to effectively recycle valuable elements such as iron, zinc, and carbon. The metallised pellets are used for ironmaking or steelmaking. Zinc oxide powder is sold to zinc smelters, and by-product steam is incorporated into the plant pipeline network or directly generates electricity. All of these enable the recycling and harmless disposal of metallurgical solid waste, helping to achieve the global goal of peak carbon and carbon neutrality.
This project has enabled the coordinated treatment of multi-source solid and hazardous waste in the steel plant, and the integration and innovation of key equipment such as a new types of powerful mixers, double-roller briquetting machines, metallised pellet cooling cylinders, and super-strong belt driers, reducing the complete machine investment and spare parts cost, and the time of maintenance. The optimised process such as oxygenenriched combustion and frequency conversion fan transformation can reduce energy consumption.
Big data, 5G and other technical means have been employed to build an intelligent operation and control platform for information interconnection and data sharing of one headquarters and multiple bases of the rotary hearth furnace, to ensure its lean, efficient, and stable operation.
In the project, nine production lines are set up respectively in Zhanjiang, Shaoguan, Guangdong, Jiangsu Yonggang, Hubei Wuhan, Shanghai, Baosteel and Jiangxi Xinyu.
It features the largest-scale rotary hearth furnace production line in the world with a cumulative processing capacity of 2 million tonnes per year, which contributes to solid waste of steel plants’ not leaving the factory, and effectively promotes the cycle of the global economy and efficient resource utilisation.