Plume Analysis & CFD Modeling For Effective EAF Meltshop Environment Control

by Nils Becht, Paykan Safe, Matt Russell

Publisher - Gas Cleaning Technologies Asia LLC, Singapore, Gas Cleaning Technologies LLC, USA

Category - Engineering & IT

Process gas emissions from Electric Arc Furnace (EAF)-based operations are frequently excessive and require improvement to meet environmental regulation standards applicable to the country where the operation is located in. Gas Cleaning Technologies (GCT) has applied several techniques such as Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) and plume video analysis to quantify plume flow rates and to evaluate flow patterns and capture efficiencies. These techniques help optimize the exhaust requirements and capture efficiencies of hoods. Effective use of these techniques will result in not only emissions reductions but operational improvements which in turn lowers operating cost. Plume video analysis is an essential tool to quantify the fume release rates into the meltshop over time for dynamic processes such as furnace charging. The results can then be used to optimize canopy hood storage capacity and exhaust rate. GCT has also successfully applied CFD modeling for complex models of the entire meltshop. The modeling predicts fume and dust flow patterns through the building for various operating scenarios and wind conditions for the existing meltshop geometry and hood exhaust rates. The model can then be modified to evaluate the impact of building modifications, hood modifications, and hood exhaust rates on capture efficiencies and fugitive emissions rates. This paper presents the use of video plume analysis and CFD modeling to evaluate and optimize EAF meltshop fume capture and use of other logged and measured data to calibrate the model to real world conditions.

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