Proposed Steel Mill Waste-to-Energy Recovery Plant Featuring GE Technology to Address Gas Flaring and Provide Production Efficiencies
Proposed Air Products’ project would mark first steel mill waste gas application for a GE gas turbine in North America.
PITTSBURGH, PA.—May 4, 2010—Reducing the practice of flaring, or burning-off of by-product waste gases from iron and steelmaking operations can be a significant step on the path toward lowering energy costs and raising energy efficiency. GE (NYSE:GE) plans to supply a gas turbine for a proposed steel mill project being developed by Air Products (NYSE: APD) in Middletown, Ohio, to demonstrate that technology exists today that uses waste gases to produce electricity and steam, providing improved energy efficiency for steel mills.
As part of the proposed facility, GE plans to provide a Frame 7EA gas turbine generator to Air Products for a new waste energy recovery plant. The facility would produce power using low BTU by-product gas from the adjacent AK Steel Corporation Middletown Works blast furnace. Offering significant environmental and energy cost benefits over current industry practices, this project will mark the first use of GE gas turbine technology for a 7EA gas turbine in a steel mill waste gas application in North America.
Typically, blast furnace gas (BFG) that is generated in iron and steelmaking operations is either recovered in low efficiency boilers or flared into the atmosphere. Instead of flaring, the process gas from the AK Steel Corporation Middletown Works blast furnace would be used to generate more than 100 megawatts of electricity and additional process steam for the steel plant.
“This proposed waste energy recovery project being developed helps address both energy efficiency and environmental improvements by producing power and steam in a more efficient process that will employ and demonstrate a core component of the BF Plus technology now being offered by Air Products and its blast furnace collaborator Danieli Corus. The new offering builds upon Air Products’ capabilities and experience in energy efficient facilities integrated with customer operations,” said David J. Taylor, vice president—Energy Businesses at Air Products.
Because of the environmental and energy cost benefits, this proposed waste energy recovery project is partially supported by funding from the United States Department of Energy for industrial energy efficiency projects.
“Operating on blast furnace gas, a very low BTU fuel, demonstrates the extensive fuel flexibility of our Frame 7EA gas turbine technology,” said John Reinker, general manager—gas turbine and combined-cycle products for GE Power & Water. “While the proposed project with Air Products is the first BFG application for our E-class 60-hertz technology, it builds on the extensive experience our 50-hertz gas turbines have achieved in other steel mill projects around the globe. We plan to build upon that technology expertise and experience as we continue to provide similar solutions for steel producers worldwide.”
The project’s regulatory review process is underway. The GE Frame 7EA gas turbine is tentatively scheduled for delivery to the project site in mid-2012, with commercial operation targeted for late 2013.
About Air Products
Air Products (NYSE:APD) serves customers in industrial, energy, technology and healthcare markets worldwide with a unique portfolio of atmospheric gases, process and specialty gases, performance materials, and equipment and services. Founded in 1940, Air Products has built leading positions in key growth markets such as semiconductor materials, refinery hydrogen, home healthcare services, natural gas liquefaction and advanced coatings and adhesives. The company is recognized for its innovative culture, operational excellence and commitment to safety and the environment. In fiscal 2009, Air Products had revenues of $8.3 billion, operations in over 40 countries and 18,900 employees around the globe. For more information, visit www.airproducts.com.
About GE
GE (NYSE: GE) is a diversified infrastructure, finance and media company taking on the world’s toughest challenges. From aircraft engines and power generation to financial services, health care solutions and television programming, GE operates in more than 100 countries and employs about 300,000 people worldwide. For more information, visit the company's website at www.ge.com.
GE serves the energy sector by developing and deploying technology that helps make efficient use of natural resources. With nearly 85,000 global employees and 2009 revenues of $37 billion, GE Energy is one of the world’s leading suppliers of power generation and energy delivery technologies. The businesses that comprise GE Energy—GE Power & Water, GE Energy Services and GE Oil & Gas—work together to provide integrated product and service solutions in all areas of the energy industry including coal, oil, natural gas and nuclear energy; renewable resources such as water, wind, solar and biogas; and other alternative fuels.
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