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The present study focuses on the Gemerian context of the iron industry and its enterprises based on rare, yet unexamined, recent sources and, specifically, on the legal predecessors of the Rimamurány-Salgótarján Ironworks, namely the Murány Union, the Rima Coalition, the Gemer Ironworks Association, and the Rimamurány Ironworks Association. The management of the Rimamurány-Salgótarján Ironworks, the flagship of the Hungarian iron industry, considered these to have been the direct predecessors of their company with a healthy dose of pride (Gaučík 2020). In particular, the study deals with prominent organizers, experts, and entrepreneurs active in these companies and briefly portrays their careers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There has been a rising interest in the iron and steel industry in replacing fossil-based carbon carriers in their processes because they are the main origin of the anthropogenic carbon emissions within the industry. The use of bio-based carbon carriers could be one solution to partly tackle this challenge. Conventionally, biocarbon is produced by pyrolysis with fixed heating rate, pyrolysis temperature, and retention time. Although the mechanisms behind the formation of biocarbon and the decomposition temperatures of the main compounds of biomass-based materials are known, this knowledge is rarely being utilized in the design of commercial pyrolysis reactors, even though the pyrolysis mechanism-based approach increases the biocarbon yield. In this study, the mechanistic pathway of carbonization of lignocellulosic biomass is taken into account to produce biocarbon with higher yield and quality than conventional pyrolysis with the same process time. Results show that when the process time is the same in both methods, segmented pyrolysis increases biocarbon yield up to 5.4% within a pyrolysis temperature range from 300 °C to 900 °C. Also, fixed carbon yield increased 1.5% in this temperature area. When using segmented pyrolysis, the most suitable pyrolysis temperature is 700 °C based on the characteristics of the produced biocarbon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With its high energy consumption and pollutant emissions, the iron and steel industry is a significant source of air pollution and carbon emissions in the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei (BTH) region. To improve air quality and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, a series of policies involving ultra-low emission, synergistic reduction of pollution, and carbon application have been implemented in the region. This study has assessed air pollutant and CO2 emission patterns in the iron and steel industry of the region by employing co-control effects coordinate system, marginal abatement cost curve, and numerical modeling, along with the synergistic benefits of typical technologies. The results have demonstrated that: (1) the intensive production activities pertinent to iron and steel enterprises has contributed greatly to the emission in Tangshan and Handan, where the sintering process is the main source of SO2, NOx, PM2.5, and CO, accounting for 64.86%, 55.15%, 29.98%, and 46.43% of the total emissions, respectively. (2) Among the typical pollution control and reduction measures, industrial restructuring and adjustment of the energy-resource structure have led to the greatest effects on emission reduction. Technologies exhibiting great potential in emission reduction and high-cost efficiency such as Blast Furnace Top Gas Recovery Turbine Unit (TRT) need to be promoted. (3) In Tangshan city with the highest level of steel production, the iron and steel production activities contributed to the concentration of 30.51% of PM2.5, 50.67% of SO2, and 42.54% of NO2 during the non-heating period. During the heating period, pollutants pertinent to the combustion of fossil energy for heating have increased, while iron and steel induced emissions have decreased to 23.7%, 34.32%, and 29.13%, respectively. By 2030, it is speculated that the contribution of the iron and steel industry to air quality will be significantly decreased as result of successful implementation of ultra-low emission policies and typical synergistic reduction technologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on the 2030 carbon peak target, this paper studies the top-down provincial carbon quota allocation in China's iron and steel industry. Considering the principles of fairness, efficiency, sustainability and development, three provincial carbon quota allocation schemes are constructed based on entropy method, three-stage DEA and ZSG-DEA model respectively, which make up for the gap of carbon quota allocation scheme with the total amount of carbon peak target of the iron and steel industry. The allocation results show that the allocation based on the entropy method can roughly solve the problem of uneven distribution of carbon quota of the steel industry in various provinces, and the carbon quota in the steel industry decreases from the eastern region to the western region. Considering the two environmental indicators of local government competition and urbanization level, the initial carbon quota allocation scheme can be effectively adjusted, which is conducive to promote the enthusiasm of some underdeveloped areas. The allocation scheme, which combines the entropy method with the ZSG-DEA model, can enhance the efficiency of carbon quota allocation among provinces while ensuring fairness. However, this fairness is limited and more advantageous to economically developed regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The iron industry is the largest energy-consuming manufacturing sector in the world, emitting 4–5% of the total carbon dioxide (CO2). The development of iron-based systems for CO2 capture and storage could effectively contribute to reducing CO2 emissions. A wide set of different iron oxides, such as hematite (Fe2O3), magnetite (Fe3O4), and wüstite (Fe(1−y)O) could in fact be employed for CO2 capture at room temperature and pressure upon an investigation of their capturing properties. In order to achieve the most functional iron oxide form for CO2 capture, starting from Fe2O3, a reducing agent such as hydrogen (H2) or carbon monoxide (CO) can be employed. In this review, we present the state-of-the-art and recent advances on the different iron oxide materials employed, as well as on their reduction reactions with H2 and CO. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to its tendency to increase the power of engines, improving their reliability and operational efficiency, the compression ring in combustion engine pistons is embedded in a cast iron insert, which is subjected to the process of "alfining". This involves covering the insert with an Al–Si alloy, which increases the iron content. Research has shown that the β-Al5FeSi phases crystallizing in the area of the insert–piston connection are the main cause of an unstable connection between the silumin casting of the piston and the ring insert. Their unfavourable lamellar morphology and large dimensions are the main causes of weakening in the connection between the insert and the piston, resulting in an unacceptable number of defective products. It has also been found that up to approx. 0.59 wt.% Fe, the pore volume fraction is very small (up to 3%), and there is no correlation. However, after exceeding this value, both the volume fraction of the β-Al5FeSi phase and the number of pores increase monotonically to values of approximately 18% and 14%, respectively, and the correlation between the examined features is statistically significant. These results were compared with known theories of the influence of iron on the porosity of Al–Si alloys, showing that the precipitates of the β-Al5FeSi phase are more important in the porosity fraction than the two-layer oxide films called "bifilms". This research was carried out and verified under industrial conditions in one of the largest piston foundries (Federal-Mogul Gorzyce sp. z o.o., F-MG) on a separate line intended for alfining ring inserts intended for combustion pistons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This review presented a comprehensive analysis of recent developments in research regarding the use of lignocellulosic biomass products in the iron and steel industry. The role of lignocellulosic biomass used as a source of energy as well as reducing agents in iron and steel sector in the era of energy crisis served as the foundation for this review. Attention has been paid to different biomass characteristics as well as pretreatment methods and conversion products of biomass. The present review also included some issues of energy management system in the steel industry. Furthermore, the possibilities of replacing fossil energy carriers with lignocellulosic biomass in the steel and iron industry was reviewed focusing on advantages, challenges, and future prospects. The present process and product quality criteria, which biomass-derived fuels must also meet, was discussed. This paper compiled the most current developments in biomass metallurgical research to serve as a source for the theoretical foundation as well as for the development of practical applications. The novelty of this study lies in the comprehensive discussion of the lignocellulosic biomass application in the iron and steel industry that are so far unpublished. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The conventional iron and steel industry (ISI), driven by coal utilization as its predominant feedstock, constitutes a substantial source of greenhouse gas emissions. Hydrogen metallurgy presents the opportunity to mitigate carbon emissions in ISI from the origin. Among hydrogen metallurgical approaches, the hydrogen-based direct reduction iron (H-DRI) process stands out for its substantial carbon reduction capabilities and established technological maturity. The present paper provides a comprehensive review of the development and application surrounding the H-DRI process. Firstly, the main chemical reactions of H-DRI and the relevant important parameters are introduced. Subsequently, an overview is provided of several prominent H-DRI processes, including HYL, Midrex, Midrex-H2®, HYL-III, HYL-ZR, BL, and Finmet, elucidating their characteristics through comparative analysis. Moreover, some research results of H-DRI process optimization are summarized. Leveraging insights garnered from globally representative projects exemplifying the industrial deployment of H-DRI technology in recent years, the trajectory of and prospective trends for industrial development in the field of H-DRI processes are explored. Further, prevailing challenges and impediments encountered in the adoption of H-DRI processes are identified, culminating in strategic recommendations tailored towards fostering future advancements. In the long term, the H-DRI process is expected to become a key path to achieve ISI cleaner production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polygeneration systems have significant potential for energy conservation and emission reduction and can effectively promote green and low-carbon development in energy-intensive industries, such as the iron and steel industry. However, its application faces the difficulty in technology selection under multiple objectives simultaneously, which is to determine the technology portfolio to achieve the synergy of energy conservation goals and air pollutant emission reduction goals, as well as ensure the economic benefits of the enterprises. This study investigated a case polygeneration system where the iron and steel plant are the core with four polygeneration paths and twenty polygeneration technologies. A multi-objective optimization model is developed to select the optimal technology combination of each polygeneration path under energy conservation, emission reduction, and cost control objectives, which is solved by the non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm-II (NSGA-II). The optimal results can reach significant energy conservation and emission reduction effects while obtaining economic benefits. However, synergistic and conflicting relationships among the objectives exist in both scales of iron and steel plants. The final decision scheme can achieve the mitigations equivalent to 15.9–27.1% and 16.3–42.6% of the energy consumption and air pollutant emissions of the steel enterprises with annual production of 3 Mt/a and 9 Mt/a, respectively. There are thirteen and twelve technologies that are selected as the final decision scheme in the polygeneration system in these two case enterprises. These findings demonstrate the significant roles the polygeneration system plays and provide critical insights and methodology in the technical selection of the polygeneration system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Integrating innovation and environmental responsibility has become important in pursuing sustainable industrial practices in the contemporary world. These twin imperatives have stimulated research into developing methods that optimize industrial processes, enhancing efficiency and effectiveness while mitigating undesirable ecological impacts. This objective is exemplified by the emergence of biochar derived from the thermo-chemical transformation of biomass. This review examines biochar production methods and their potential applications across various aspects of the iron and steel industries (ISI). The technical, economic, and sustainable implications of integrating biochar into the ISI were explored. Slow pyrolysis and hydrothermal carbonization are the most efficient methods for higher biochar yield (25–90%). Biochar has several advantages- higher heating value (30–32 MJ/kg), more porosity (58.22%), and significantly larger surface area (113 m2/g) compared to coal and coke. However, the presence of biochar often reduces fluidity in a coal-biochar mixture. The findings highlighted that biochar production and implementation in ISI often come with higher costs, primarily due to the higher expense of substitute fuels compared to traditional fossil fuels. The economic viability and societal desirability of biochar are highly uncertain and vary significantly based on factors such as location, feedstock type, production scale, and biochar pricing, among others. Furthermore, biomass and biochar supply chain is another important factor which determines its large scale implementation. Despite these challenges, there are opportunities to reduce emissions from BF-BOF operations by utilizing biochar technologies. Overall, the present study explored integrating diverse biochar production methods into the ISI aiming to contribute to the ongoing research on sustainable manufacturing practices, underscoring their significance in shaping a more environmentally conscious future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fine dust, represented by Fe-based fine particles and emitted from the production process of the iron and steel industry, is the primary factor causing many diseases represented by industrial pneumoconiosis, and ultra-low dust emission has always been a thorny problem to be solved urgently. To explore the magnetic coagulation effect of Fe-based fine particles in the magnetic field when removing them from industrial flue gas by the magnetic field effect in the iron and steel industry, using FLUENT software, magnetic dipole force was added between particles through user defined function (UDF) based on the computational fluid dynamics-discrete phase model (CFD-DPM) method so that the collision process of particles was then equivalent to their mutual trapping process. Next, the effects of particle size, particle volume fraction, external magnetic field strength, and particle magnetic susceptibility on the magnetic coagulation process were comprehensively studied. Meanwhile, the proton balance equation (PBE) was solved using the partition method on the basis of the computational fluid dynamics-population balance model (CFD-PBM) to compare the coagulation removal effect under random and aligned orientations of magnetic dipoles, respectively. The results showed that the magnetic coagulation strength under the random orientation of magnetic dipoles was greater than that under the aligned orientation. When the particle size of Fe-based fine particles increased from 0.5 μm to 1.5 μm, the magnetic coagulation coefficient decreased from 0.5414 to 0.2882, and the difference in the removal efficiency under the two different orientations of magnetic dipoles became smaller. When the particle volume fraction increased from 0.01 to 0.03, the magnetic coagulation coefficient increased from 0.2353 to 0.5061, and the difference in the removal efficiency under two orientations was enlarged. When the applied external magnetic field strength increased from 0.5 T to 1.0 T, the magnetic coagulation coefficient increased from 0.3940 to 0.5288, and the magnetic susceptibility increased from 0.0250 to 0.0500, the coagulation coefficient increased from 0.3940 to 0.5288, and the difference under two orientations basically stayed unchanged. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Four iron smelting related sites were discovered in Zouma Town, western Chongqing, China. Among these sites, two (Luduizi and Tieshazitu) were dated to the end of the Ming Dynasty in the sixteenth to seventeenth centuries A.D. and the other two (Gaoluchang and Nianmigou) were dated to the Late Qing Dynasty in the nineteenth century. Large amounts of smelting-related materials were excavated from these sites. Ten metallographic samples collected from excavated slags, a furnace wall, and iron ore were prepared and analyzed. This article reports the first scientific analysis of smelting-related materials in the area. The results provide a preliminary understanding of iron production technology in Chongqing in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

By the mid-second millennium A.D., Indonesians were already familiar with iron tools. One of Indonesia's main centers of iron production is the Lake Matano area in the hinterland of East Luwu, South Sulawesi, eastern Indonesia, renowned for its nickeliferous iron ore. Research in Lake Matano conducted during 2016-2022 succeeded in documenting a submerged village with remnants of an iron processing industry dating to the late first millennium A.D. In this article, we describe a second submerged site associated with processing iron, which included forged iron implements. Occupation at this site, called Pontada, is dated to between the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries A.D., before the site sank beneath the surface of Lake Matano. Written and archaeological evidence suggests that its antiquity corresponds to when the empire of Majapahit in eastern Java imported nickeliferous iron from Lake Matano and traded it throughout coastal Luwu. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Promoting energy efficiency in iron and steel production provides opportunities for mitigating environmental impacts from this energy-intensive industry. Energy efficiency technologies differ in investment costs, fuel-saving potentials, and environmental performance. Hence the decision-making of the adoption strategy needs to prioritize technological combinations concerning these multi-dimensional objectives. To address this problem, this study proposes a hybrid multi-criteria decision-support model for adopting energy efficiency technologies in the iron and steel industry. The modeling framework integrates a linear programming model that determines the optimal technology adoption rates based on the techno-economic, energy, and environmental performance details and an interactive multi-criteria model analysis tool for diverse modeling environments. A real case study was performed in which a total number of 56 energy efficiency technologies were investigated against various criteria concerning economics, energy, and environmental performances. The results examine the tradeoffs and synergies were examined with regard to seven criteria. A balanced solution shows that a total investment of 13.4 billion USD could save 2.51 Exajoule fuel consumption, cut 67.4 million tons (Mton) CO2 emissions, and reduce air pollution of 1.5 Mton SO2, 1.41 Mton NOx, and 0.86 Mton PM, respectively. The case study demonstrates the effectiveness and applicability of the proposed multi-criteria decision-making support framework. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The iron and steel industry is the largest carbon emitter in China's manufacturing sector and one of the most important fields in the country's response to climate change. This paper aims to explain the current situation, technological pathways, and future direction of green and low-carbon development of the iron and steel industry. According to the carbon emissions of the iron and steel industry, this paper analyzes the relationship between steelmaking technologies and carbon emissions, as well as the transformation trend of the world's iron and steel industry, finding that China's iron and steel industry faces both opportunities and challenges. Steel scrap recycling and electric furnace steelmaking technologies, re-electrification, hydrogen metallurgy, resource recycling and by-products, and carbon capture and utilization (CCU) are the main technologies tailored to the transformation pathways, and the optimization of energy consumption structure is an important direction for future development. Therefore, this paper believes that clean energy, as a guarantee for carbon mitigation, will play an increasingly important role in the process towards achieving carbon peaking and carbon neutrality goals (the "dual carbon" goals), in addition to the transformation of metallurgical technologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The iron and steel industry is a large emitter of CO2 globally. This is especially true for the iron and steel industries in China, Japan, and Korea due to their production volumes and the prevalence of carbon-based steel production. With few low-carbon and commercially available alternatives, the iron and steel industry is truly a hard-to-abate sector. Each of the countries of interest have committed to a net-zero future involving the mitigation of emissions from steel production. However, few studies have investigated the means by which to achieve decarbonization beyond the inclusion of price signalling policies (e.g., carbon tax or emission trading schemes). Here, we use E3ME-FTT:Steel to simulate technology diffusion in the ISI under several policy environments and we investigate the likely impacts on the wider economy. The results show that penalizing carbon intensive processes can incentivize a transition towards scrap recycling, but it is relatively unsuccessful in aiding the uptake of low carbon primary steelmaking. A combination of support and penalizing policies can achieve deep decarbonisation (>80% emission reduction compared with the baseline). Mitigating the emissions in the iron and steel industry can lead to economic benefits in terms of GDP (China: +0.8%; Japan: +1.3%; Korea: +0.1%), and employment (Japan: +0.7%; Korea: +0.3%) with China, where job losses in the coal sector would negate job gains elsewhere, as the exception. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To compare the application of two job posture load assessment methods, the Ovako working posture analysis system (OWAS) and the rapid entire body assessment (RULA), in the iron and steel industry and to understand the ergonomic load of workers, providing the basis for ergonomic intervention measures. Methods Totally 35 main work activities in an iron and steel industry were investigated, and video capture of each activity was carried out. OWAS and RULA were used to assess the postural overloads, and the results derived from the two methods were compared. Results The assessment with the OWAS method showed there were 4 low (11.4%), 20 medium (57.1%), 9 high (25.7%), and 2 extremely high risk activities (5.7%). The assessment with the RULA method evaluated showed there were 4 low (11.4%), 17 medium (48.6%), 10 high (28.6%), and 4 extremely high risk activities (11.4%); 30 work activities were assessed at the same level of risk by these two methods with a consistency rate of 85.7%, and for the remaining 5 activities, OWAS assessed a lower risk level than RULA. The Kappa statistic showed that the two methods had strong consistency (Kappa value = 0.773, P < 0.05). The results showed that the risk grade of iron-making, steel-making, and special steel divisions was higher (P < 0.05). Conclusions These two methods of risk assessment were highly consistent in the iron and steel industries. Compared with OWAS, RULA was more sensitive to the working posture with high biomechanical load on upper limbs and neck-back and could better reflect the risk level of working activities in the iron and steel industries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Maritime transport is one of the traditional alternatives for moving heavy loads around the world. Providing long ranges with high capacity and low costs are regarded to be the most important superficies of the marine transport. However, similar to the other transporting facilities some environmental impacts arise from shipping and port operations. Waste reception facilities are essential in order to minimize and manage the environmental impacts on marine ecosystems. This work aims to evaluate the practices at a waste reception plant serving for iron and steel industry. In the study, the maximum waste amounts were determined individually for all types of vessels handled at the port. The calculated quantities of ship sewage, solid waste, bilge, sludge, and waste oil were approximately 17483, 59, 616, 1715, and 123 m3 /month, respectively. The actual and calculated amounts of ship-sourced solid waste were found to be 607 and 708 m3 /year, respectively. The closer values indicate that the current disposal facility is sufficient for the management of solid wastes. On the other hand, a significant difference was found between the actual and calculated data for liquid waste. The present situation and ways to improve the overall efficiency of the plant were evaluated in detail within the study [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Slag and fly ash (FA) are mostly used as precursors for the production of alkali-activated materials (AAMs). FA is the waste discharged by power plants, while slag and steel slag (SS) both belong to the iron and steel industry. The effects of SS and FA on the strength, microstructure, and volume stability of alkali-activated slag (AAS) materials with different water glass modulus (Ms) values were comparatively investigated. The results show that adding SS or FA decreases the compressive strength of AAS mortar, and the reduction effect of SS is more obvious at high Ms. SS or FA reduce the non-evaporable water content (Wn) of AAS paste. However, SS increases the long-term Wn of AAS paste at low Ms. The cumulative pore volume and porosity increase after adding SS or FA, especially after adding FA. The hydration products are mainly reticular C-(A)-S-H gels. Adding SS increases the Ca/Si ratio of C-(A)-S-H gel but decreases the Al/Si ratio. However, by mixing FA, the Ca/Si ratio is reduced and the Al/Si ratio is almost unchanged. The incorporation of SS or FA reduces the drying shrinkage of AAS mortar, especially when SS is added. Increasing Ms increases the compressive strength and improves the pore structure, and it significantly increases the drying shrinkage of all samples. This study provides theoretical guidance for the application of steel slag in the alkali-activated slag material. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vibration in hot tandem rolling mills has been a problem in the iron and steel industry mainly due to its unpredictability. In this work, vibration data of the second finishing mill (F2) stand of a hot tandem rolling mill are collected and analyzed, and a mathematical model based on the coupling of a non-uniform deformation process, mill structure and hydraulic control system is constructed. The influence of different inlet thickness fluctuation forms, structural parameters and control parameters on the vibration behavior is analyzed. It is concluded that the low-frequency thickness fluctuation with additional skewness can cause the resonance of each subsystem of the rolling mill. The deviation angle of the roll system influences the vibration harmonic output of the rolling mill under a single low-frequency thickness fluctuation excitation. The compensation parameter in the thickness control system affects the natural frequency of the vertical system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Exploring theoretical energy consumption introduces a fresh perspective for energy-saving research within the iron and steel industry, with a primary focus on the energy expended during material transformation. Building upon the theory of theoretical energy consumption, this study meticulously investigates the theoretical energy consumption associated with each stage of the iron and steel making process, including coking, sintering, pelletizing, ironmaking, steelmaking, and hot rolling. The findings reveal that, under specific conditions, the theoretical energy consumption for each process is as follows: coking (2.59 GJ), sintering (1.36 GJ), pelletizing (1.02 GJ), ironmaking (8.81 GJ), steelmaking (−0.16 GJ), and hot rolling (0.76 GJ). Additionally, this study delves into the analysis of influencing factors on theoretical energy consumption. Using the coking process as an illustrative example, it is observed that the theoretical energy consumption in coking decreases with a reduction in both moisture and volatile content in coal. Under the specified conditions, the minimum theoretical energy consumption for each process is as follows: coking (2.51 GJ), sintering (0.98 GJ), pelletizing (0.67 GJ), ironmaking (8.38 GJ), steelmaking (−0.58 GJ), and hot rolling (0.07 GJ), respectively. This comprehensive analysis serves as a valuable resource for advancing sustainable practices in the iron and steel industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main sources of redox gradients supporting high-productivity life in the Europan and other icy ocean world oceans were proposed to be photolytically derived oxidants, such as reactive oxygen species (ROS) from the icy shell, and reductants (Fe(II), S(-II), CH4, H2) from bottom waters reacting with a (ultra)mafic seafloor. Important roadblocks to maintaining life, however, are that the degree of ocean mixing to combine redox species is unknown, and ROS damage biomolecules. Here, we envisage a unique solution using an acid mine drainage (AMD)-filled pit lakes analog system for the Europan ocean, which previous models predicted to be acidic. We hypothesize that surface-generated ROS oxidize dissolved Fe(II) resulting in Fe(III) (hydr)oxide precipitates, that settle to the seafloor as "iron snow." The iron snow provides a respiratory substrate for anaerobic microorganisms ("breathing iron"), and limits harmful ROS exposure since they are now neutralized at the ice-water interface. Based on this scenario, we calculated Gibbs energies and maximal biomass productivities of various anaerobic metabolisms for a range of pH, temperatures, and H2 fluxes. Productivity by iron reducers was greater for most environmental conditions considered, whereas sulfate reducers and methanogens were more favored at high pH. Participation of Fe in the metabolic redox processes is largely neglected in most models of Europan biogeochemistry. Our model overcomes important conceptual roadblocks to life in icy ocean worlds and broadens the potential metabolic diversity, thus increasing total primary productivity, the diversity and volume of habitable environmental niches and, ultimately, the probability of biosignature detection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Iron and steel plants emit a large amount of CO2 and SO2 in the production process, and the high concentrations of acid gases lead to serious corrosion damage of concrete structures. In this paper, the environmental characteristics and corrosion damage degree of concrete in a 7-year-old coking ammonium sulfate workshop were investigated, and the neutralization life prediction of the concrete structure was carried out. Besides, the corrosion products were analyzed through concrete neutralization simulation test. The average temperature and relative humidity in the workshop were 34.7 °C and 43.4%, and they were 1.40 times higher and 1.70 times less than those of the general atmospheric environment, respectively. Both the concentrations of CO2 and SO2 were significantly different in various sections of the workshop, and they were much higher than those of the general atmospheric environment. The appearance corrosion and compressive strength loss of concrete were more serious in the sections with high SO2 concentration, such as vulcanization bed section and crystallization tank section. The neutralization depth of concrete in the crystallization tank section was the largest, with an average value of 19.86 mm. The corrosion products gypsum and CaCO3 were obviously visible in the surface layer of concrete, while only CaCO3 could be observed at 5 mm. The prediction model of concrete neutralization depth was established, and the remaining neutralization service life in the warehouse, synthesis section (indoor), synthesis section (outdoor), vulcanization bed section, and crystallization tank section were 69.21 a, 52.01 a, 88.56 a, 29.62 a, and 7.84 a, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The heavy industry plants are focused on finding ways to minimize energy costs, which is one of the most significant costs of production. In this paper, a case study on a real oven system used in a steel strip production line is performed. Oven systems consume different types of energy simultaneously. Therefore, energy cost optimization is a good case study for the oven systems. The real oven system studied in the present study consists of two sections with eight heating zones. A natural gas burner and a recirculation fan with a power of 45 kW are installed in each zone for continuous heating of steel strips. We improved Discrete Gradient Extremum Seeking Control (DGESC) in the oven system without changing the oven structure and its built-in burner controller and optimized the fan speeds so that the total cost of the heating process is minimized. The improved DGESC was evaluated during steel strip production with the constraints related to the oven safety, measurement device characteristics, and delays for stabilization. The measure of energy consumption was obtained from the oven automated software and compared with the consumption when using the oven manufacturer's recommended settings. At the end of the production, the improved DGESC strategy showed that the same output can be produced with less cost at different operating speeds of the fans. In particular, the total cost of the electrical energy and natural gas was reduced by 3.44% when using 78% of fan speed instead of using 70% recommended by the manufacturer. The promising results of the improved DGESC can be further enhanced by upgrading the oven system for individual measurements. • A case study of Discrete Gradient Extremum Seeking Control (DGESC) is performed. • DGESC is adapted to the oven system in a steel plant. • Challenges facing the implementation of DGESC are overcome. • A real-time energy cost optimization is performed. • Sum of natural gas and electricity costs is optimized. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The iron and steel industry is an important foundation of the national economy. It is the inevitable choice, to achieve high-quality development in the new era of the iron and steel industry, to speed up the green development of the iron and steel industry. This paper studies the effect of steel industry agglomeration on regional economic growth and air pollution. Through the analysis of the characteristics of iron and steel industry agglomeration, and the empirical analysis of the relationship between iron and steel industry agglomeration, regional economic growth, and air pollution, it is found that: (1) Iron and steel industry agglomeration helps to promote economic growth; (2) Iron and steel industry agglomeration has an obvious spatial correlation effect and obviously drives the development of surrounding areas; (3) Iron and steel industry agglomeration will cause air pollution. The marginal effect of air pollution will decline rapidly with the development of iron and steel industry agglomeration. (4) The impact of green process innovation investment on air pollution presents an inverted U-shaped effect, which has a positive effect on air recovery after exceeding the critical point. (5) The air self-purification capacity represented by precipitation, helps to reduce air pollution. Based on the above conclusions, this paper puts forward some policy suggestions, such as making a scientific development plan for the iron and steel industry, accelerating green process innovation, effectively improving regional precipitation and precipitation times, vigorously promoting high-quality development of the regional economy, and comprehensively promoting coordinated development of the iron and steel industry, so as to cope with the dilemma of the coordinated development of the iron and steel industry, regional economic growth, and smog pollution, and strive for international development in the future. In the competition, we should gain the first opportunity and obvious competitive advantage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The steel making processes involves extreme and harsh operating conditions; hence, the production hardware is exposed to degradation mechanisms under high temperature oxidation, erosion, wear, impact, and corrosive environments. These adverse factors affect the product quality and efficiency of the steel making industry, which contributes to production downtime and maintenance costs. Thermal spray technologies that circumvent surface degradation mechanisms are also attractive for their environmental safety, effectiveness and ease of use. The need of thermal spray coatings and advancement in terms of materials and spray processes are reviewed in this article. Application and development of thermal spray coatings for steel making hardware from the molten metal processing stages such as electric arc and basic oxygen furnaces, through to continuous casting, annealing, and the galvanizing line; to the final shaping process such as cold and hot rolling of the steel strips are highlighted. Specifically, thermal spray feedstock materials and processes that have potential to replace hazardous hard chrome plating are discussed. It is projected that novel coating solutions will be incorporated as awareness and acceptance of thermal spray technology grows in the steel making sectors, which will improve the productivity of the industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is important to predict the sales of an iron and steel company and to identify the variables that influence these sales for future planning. The aim in this study was to identify and model the key factors that influence the sales volume of an iron and steel company using artificial neural networks (ANNs). We attempted to obtain an integrated result from the performance/sales levels of 5 models, to use the ANN approach with hybrid algorithms, and also to present an exemplary application in the base metals industry, where there is a limited number of studies. This study contributes to the literature as the first application of artificial intelligence methods in the iron and steel industry. The ANN models incorporated 6 macroeconomic variables and price-to-sales data and their results were evaluated. An ordinary least squares regression model was also used to facilitate the comparison of results, while gray relational analysis (GRA) was used to draw a comprehensive conclusion based on the ANN results. The results showed that the variables USD/TL exchange rate, product prices, and interest rates, in descending order, had the highest degree of influence in determining the sales of the iron and steel company. Furthermore, these variables are crucial for forecasting future sales and strategic planning. The study showed that the ANN outperformed classical regression models in terms of prediction accuracy. In the model applications conducted for 5 different product groups, it was observed that 3 models (models 2, 3, and 4), including model 4, which sold a higher volume of products than the total of the other products, had an overall performance above 80%. In addition, GRA was found to be a valuable tool for synthesizing insights from different ANN models based on their respective performance levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To improve energy efficiency and mitigate environmental impact, the iron and steel industry (ISI) is responsible for implementing a low-carbon transition. The renewable hydrogen-based steelmaking system (RHSS) has emerged as an innovative energy system in the pathway of reducing the carbon footprint of ISI. Nonetheless, the sustainable development requirements of RHSS emphasize the critical need for well-planned capacity investments to boost its economic viability. This study introduces a novel planning strategy for RHSS referred to as a multi-stage expansion planning (MSEP) model, which is aimed to minimize the levelized cost of crude steel over the planning horizon from 2025 to 2050 (EU climate neutrality year). The MSEP model incorporates the construction sequence and dynamic techno-economic parameters to formulate investment strategies that adapt to changing system requirements and external conditions over the planning horizon. To address the complexity of the MSEP model, a rolling-horizon approach (RHA) is proposed to solve the model sequentially while integrating updated information. The proposed approach is benchmarked against both the single-stage approach and the perfect-sight approach through case studies. The numerical results show that the proposed RHA (i) guarantees a rational capacity investment strategy for RHSS considering the construction sequence and dynamic techno-economic parameters over multiple planning stages; (ii) achieves a reduction in the levelized cost of crude steel by approximately 50% relative to the single-stage approach; (iii) resolves the convergence issues encountered with the perfect-sight approach while achieving an optimal solution in a reasonable time frame. Additionally, sensitivity analysis evaluates the uncertainties of multiple factors on the planning results, while the robustness analysis confirms the applicability and adaptability of RHA across various scenarios. • Rational capacity investments for RHSS from 2025 to 2050. • Develop a multi-stage expansion planning model for RHSS. • RHA can improve computational efficiency and achieve an optimal solution in a reasonable time frame. • Sensitivity analysis shows the discount rate as the key factor in the planning results. • The adaptability of RHA is evaluated through robustness analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The iron and steel industry is the leading industry supporting China's industrial sector. Currently, there is less assessment work on green and low-carbon technologies for the iron and steel industry. This study clarifies the overall strategy of technology assessment by researching the relevant theories and methods of technology assessment. The study further establishes a scientific and reasonable comprehensive assessment index system of green and low-carbon technologies for the iron and steel industry from the aspects of technology index, economy and promotion, and application, including factors such as 11 indexes, the amount of energy saving, carbon dioxide emission reduction, and the resource recovery rate by utilising analytical and comprehensive methods and combining with the characteristics of the technologies. By analysing and comparing the advantages and disadvantages of the commonly used assessment methods, the entropy weighting method, grey correlation analysis method, and TOPSIS (technique for order preference by similarity to an ideal solution) method are combined and optimised to construct a comprehensive assessment model. The Latin hypercube sampling method is also introduced to analyse the technical parameters in combination with the evaluation model. Finally, fourteen iron and steel green and low-carbon technologies were selected for case assessment and uncertainty analysis of technical parameters, and it was found that the comprehensive assessment result of gas combined cycle power generation technology was optimal. After determining the weights of each assessment indicator through the entropy weighting method, it is concluded that the technical performance indicator > economic indicator > promotional indicator. A comparative analysis of the results under the three preference decisions concludes that technical performance is the main obstacle to improving the comprehensive assessment score of the technology, followed by the economics of the technology. Finally, the uncertainty analysis of the technical parameters shows that the fluctuation of the technical parameters not only affects the performance of the technology, but also affects the weights of the indicators and the comprehensive evaluation results of the technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Implementing real-time carbon emissions monitoring at the enterprise level enables the detailed breakdown of carbon neutrality goals for microcosmic enterprises, which is of paramount significance in ensuring the precision of policy formulations. Grounded in China's historical electricity consumption and carbon emissions data, this study utilizes the network approach and input–output methods to compute and predict direct and indirect transmission coefficients of electricity consumption and carbon emissions in each province. We establish a methodology that enables the monitoring of real-time carbon emissions of enterprises based on corporate electricity consumption data. Using the metal smelting industry in Guangxi as an example, our findings are as follows: First, in 2020, the comprehensive carbon emissions of the ferrous metal smelting industry in Guangxi reached 58.84 million tons, marking a notable increase of 42.78% compared to emissions in 2014, indicating that emissions reductions are imperative. Second, significant regional variations in emission coefficients are observed, with values ranging from 14 g CO2/KWh to 940 g CO2/KWh among provinces. Meanwhile, the trends of direct carbon emissions and indirect carbon emissions are totally different, underscoring the importance of comprehensive carbon accounting in informing policy decisions. Third, through the carbon emissions real-time monitoring of 75 metal smelting industry enterprises using electricity big data, we identified that the distribution of emissions across industries, time periods, and regions is uneven. Overall, this method can optimize carbon emission measurement techniques to a higher spatiotemporal resolution and more microscopic monitoring subjects, providing essential numerical foundations for promoting carbon emissions reduction and sustainable development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]