Sustainable Power from Steel Manufacturing Off-Gases

Solar Turbines has unique experience with steel gases with dozens of coke oven gas (COG) fired gas turbines packages in combined cycle or cogeneration plants installed from 2006, reaching more than 2 million operating hours in the first decade. The lessons learned from this experience, relating to the availability and reliability of the COG fleet, eventually validated the technical solution implemented for the Solar COG gas turbines packages.

Along the steel manufacturing process, various secondary fuel gases, sometimes called process off-gases, are produced and have a calorific value that support the financial and environmental competitiveness of the modern steel manufacturing.

Gas produced in the steel manufacturing process:

Coke Oven Gas (50-70% H2, LHV 5 kWh/Nm3)

Blast Furnace gas (20% CO, LHV 1kWh/Nm3)

Converter gas (60% CO, KHV 3kWh/Nm3)

Converter gas, blast furnace gas, or COG can be used individually or in combination with one another.

COG is a byproduct of the coking process used in steel mills. It is high in hydrogen with significant dust and corrosive pollutants. This waste product is captured and treated (reducing the amount of H2S, tar, BTX and dust) before being fired in the gas turbine.

Above a certain level, the contaminants must be removed to maintain gas turbine availability. Solar provides specifications for fuel gas quality and can provide direction for contaminants removal. Over the years, Solar’s experience resulted in a significant improvement of the allowed contaminants level, aligning with the alternative technologies.

International Recognition

The Jinneng Gas Turbine COG CHP project, which Solar Turbines supported with both a Taurus 60 and Titan 130, received the International CHP Award in 2008 for the pollution reduction and energy efficiency achieved.