CO_(2)emission evaluation and cost analysis of oxygen blast furnace process with sintering flue gas injection

In order to achieve ultra-low emissions of SO_(2)and NO_(x),the oxygen blast furnace with sintering flue gas injection is presented as a promising novel process.The CO_(2)emission was examined,and a cost analysis of the process was conducted.The results show that in the cases when the top gas is not circulated(Cases 1–3),and the volume of injected sintering flue gas per ton of hot metal is below about 1250 m^(3),the total CO_(2)emissions decrease first and then increase as the oxygen content of the blast increases.When the volume of injected sintering flue gas per ton of hot metal exceeds approximately 1250 m^(3),the total CO_(2)emissions gradually decrease.When the recirculating top gas and the vacuum pressure swing adsorption are considered,the benefits of recovered gas can make the ironmaking cost close to or even lower than that of the ordinary blast furnace.Furthermore,the implementation of this approach leads to a substantial reduction in total CO_(2)emissions,with reductions of 69.13%(Case 4),70.60%(Case 5),and 71.07%(Case 6),respectively.By integrating previous research and current findings,the reasonable oxygen blast furnace with sintering flue gas injection can not only realize desulfurization and denitrification,but also achieve the goal of reducing CO_(2)emissions and ironmaking cost.

Effect of Ca/Mg molar ratio on the calcium-based sorbents

Steelmaking industry faces urgent demands for both steel slag utilization and CO_(2)abatement.Ca and Mg of steel slag can be extracted by acid solution and used to prepare sorbents for CO_(2)capture.In this work,the calcium-based sorbents were prepared from stainless steel slag leachate by co-precipitation,and the initial CO_(2)chemisorption capacity of the calcium-based sorbent prepared from steel slag with the Ca and Mg molar ratio of 3.64:1 was 0.40 g/g.Moreover,the effect of Ca/Mg molar ratio on the morphology,structure,and CO_(2)chemisorption capacity of the calcium-based sorbents were investigated.The results show that the optimal Ca/Mg molar ratio of sorbent for CO_(2)capture was4.2:1,and the skeleton support effect of MgO in calcium-based sorbents was determined.Meanwhile,the chemisorption kinetics of the sorbents was studied using the Avrami-Erofeev model.There were two processes of CO_(2)chemisorption,and the activation energy of the first stage(reaction control)was found to be lower than that of the second stage(diffusion control).

Synergistic optimization framework for the process synthesis and design of biorefineries

The conceptual process design of novel bioprocesses in biorefinery setups is an important task,which remains yet challenging due to several limitations.We propose a novel framework incorporating superstructure optimization and simulation-based optimization synergistically.In this context,several approaches for superstructure optimization based on different surrogate models can be deployed.By means of a case study,the framework is introduced and validated,and the different superstructure optimization approaches are benchmarked.The results indicate that even though surrogate-based optimization approaches alleviate the underlying computational issues,there remains a potential issue regarding their validation.The development of appropriate surrogate models,comprising the selection of surrogate type,sampling type,and size for training and cross-validation sets,are essential factors.Regarding this aspect,satisfactory validation metrics do not ensure a successful outcome from its embedded use in an optimization problem.Furthermore,the framework’s synergistic effects by sequentially performing superstructure optimization to determine candidate process topologies and simulationbased optimization to consolidate the process design under uncertainty offer an alternative and promising approach.These findings invite for a critical assessment of surrogatebased optimization approaches and point out the necessity of benchmarking to ensure consistency and quality of optimized solutions.

Nenofiltration for separation and purification of saccharides from biomass

Saccharide production is critical to the development of biotechnology in the field of food and biofuel.The extraction of saccharide from biomass-based hydrolysate mixtures has become a trend due to low cost and abundant biomass reserves.Compared to conventional methods of fractionation and recovery of saccharides,nanofiltration(NF)has received considerable attention in recent decades because of its high selectivity and low energy consumption and environmental impact.In this review the advantages and challenges of NF based technology in the separation of saccharides are critically evaluated.Hybrid membrane processes,i.e.,combining NF with ultrafiltration,can complement each other to provide an efficient approach for removal of unwanted solutes to obtain higher purity saccharides.However,use of NF membrane separation technology is limited due to irreversible membrane fouling that results in high capital and operating costs.Future development of NF membrane technology should therefore focus on improving material stability,antifouling ability and saccharide targeting selectivity,as well as on engineering aspects such as process optimisation and membrane module design.

A Design Concept and Kinematic Model for a Soft Aquatic Robot with Complex Bio-mimicking Motion

Fish mortality assessments for turbine passages are currently performed by live-animal testing with up to a hundred thousand fish per year in Germany.A propelled sensor device could act as a fish surrogate.In this context,the study presented here investigates the state of the art via a thorough literature review on propulsion systems for aquatic robots.An evaluation of propulsion performance,weight,size and complexity of the motion achievable allows for the selection of an optimal concept for such a fish mimicking device carrying the sensors.In the second step,the design of a bioinspired soft robotic fish driven by an unconventional drive system is described.It is based on piezoceramic actuators,which allow for motion with five degrees of freedom(DOF)and the creation of complex bio-mimicking body motions.A kinematic model for the motion’s characteristics is developed,to achieve accurate position feedback with the use of strain gauges.Optical measurements validate the complex deformation of the body and deliver the basis for the calibration of the kinematic model.Finally,it can be shown,that the calibrated model presented allows the tracking of the deformation of the entire body with an accuracy of 0.1 mm.

Digital Twin in biomanufacturing:challenges and opportunities towards its implementation

The domain of industrial biomanufacturing is enthusiastically embracing the concept of Digital Twin,owing to its promises of increased process efficiency and resource utilisation.However,Digital Twin in biomanufacturing is not yet clearly defined and this sector of the industry is falling behind the others in terms of its implementation.On the other hand,some of the benefits of Digital Twin seem to overlap with the more established practices of process control and optimization,and the term is vaguely used in different scenarios.In an attempt to clarify this issue,we investigate this overlap for the specific case of fermentation operation,a central step in many biomanufacturing processes.Based on this investigation,a framework built upon a five-step pathway starting from a basic steady-state process model is proposed to develop a fully-fledged Digital Twin.For demonstration purposes,the framework is applied to a bench-scale second-generation ethanol fermentation process as a case study.It is proposed that the success or failure of a fully-fledged Digital Twin implementation is determined by key factors that comprise the role of modelling,human operator actions,and other propositions of economic value.

Effect of oxygen enrichment on sintering behavior of high proportion vanadium-titanium magnesite concentrates

To achieve high-efficiency utilization of complex and unmanageable iron-containing minerals,the effects of oxygen enrichment on productivity,yield,flame front speed,exhaust gas peak temperature,and desulphurization reaction of the vanadium-titanium magnetite sintering process as well as sinter tumble index and mineralogy were clarified,with oxygen enrichment concentrations ranging from 21 to 29 vol.%.Results indicated that with increasing the oxygen enrichment concentration from 21 to 27 vol.%,the flame front speed increased from 30.3 to 40.0 mm min^(-1),the yield enhanced from 72%to 77%,and the productivity augmented from 1.83 to 2.67t m^(-2)h^(-1);in the meantime,the tumble index was improved from 73.7%to 77.9%,and the exhaust gas peak temperature rose from 376.4 to 484.8℃.The main reason for the improvement in sintering properties was the increased combustibility of fuels and the generation of proper liquid phase that improved the permeability of the packed bed.The improved sinter strength is mainly due to the increase in the phase fraction of silico-ferrites of calcium and aluminium.In addition,oxygen enrichment sintering could significantly increase the desulphurization level of vanadium-titanium magnetite sinter and the rate of desulphurization reaction during sintering process.