Industrial gases: enhancing steel plant operations: Fid-Bau Portal

Industrial gases: enhancing steel plant operations

Saha, Debabrata / Wells, Mark B. / Parekh, Uday N. / Bhattacharya, P.B.

Industrial gases (oxygen, nitrogen and argon) are critical inputs in the steel making process as well as in improving productivity, quality and cost-competitiveness. With on-going process innovations and associated advanced controls, cryogenic air separation plants have become more power and capital efficient. They can be designed and built to meet specific use patterns. Oxygen plant capacities range from less than 100 to over 3,000 tonnes per day, and can have capabilities of dual product lines (oxygen and nitrogen) and simultaneous generation of crude or pure argon. For improved operating efficiency, low capital, high reliability, and higher safety standards, proper selection of oxygen supply systems is required. Partnership between the industrial gas company and the steel plant helps to better understand the oxygen use patterns which could result in an optimum combination of capital and operating costs of industrial gas production. Efficiency of industrial gas usage is enhanced through gas application expertise. Newly developed processes and application technologies can upgrade current operations. The industrial gas supplier delivers the technical services to make the steel plant operations cost-competitive in the global market. This paper outlines various supply and procurement models of industrial gases and associated application technologies for better utilization of industrial gases in order to enhance steel plant operations. Industrial gas companies continue to work on new and emerging technologies that promise to bring even more productivity enhancements, thus improving the competitiveness of steel producers. The global trend of industrial gas procurement is moving steadily toward the 'sale of gas' procurement option. Conserving capital and risk transfer are key advantages of the SOG model. Industrial gas companies bring expertise gained from years of operating hundreds of ASU facilities worldwide. Capitalizing on the core competency and expertise of the industrial gas supplier through a partnership arrangement can lead to long-term mutual benefits.