Thoughts and Prospects for Promoting Energy-Saving and Carbon Footprint Reduction in the Non-Ferrous Metal Industry

As the upstream of high-energy consumption industries such as metallurgy and chemical enterprises, the “carbon neutrality” ability of mining and mining enterprises can have a strong influence on the progress of China’s non-ferrous metal industry to achieve the “double carbon” goal. According to the Global Mining Development Report 2021, although mining occupies an important position in global economic development, it also accounts for 4% to 7% of global greenhouse gas emissions. Therefore, as an important part of promoting China’s economic development and energy structure transformation, mining will also face scale adjustment. By investigating and studying the carbon emission sources of mining enterprises at the current stage at home and abroad, the carbon neutrality method that has been implemented in mines, and the future low-carbon technologies to be developed, this paper provides the thoughts and prospects for promoting the development of green mines, as well as the reference value for the transformation of China’s mining industry.

Friction and wear behavior and mechanism of low carbon microalloyed steel containing Nb

Dry sliding friction and wear test of Nb containing low carbon microalloyed steel was carried out at room temperature,and the effect of Nb on the wear behavior of the steel,as welll as the mechanism was studied.Scanning electron microscopy(SEM) and energy dispersive spectrometry(EDS) were employed to analyze the morphology and composition of the worn surface,and the structure evolution of the plastic deformation layer.The carbide content and type in the steel were analyzed by the electrolytic extraction device and X-ray diffraction(XRD).The experimental results demonstrate that the addition of 0.2% Nb can refine the grain and generate Nb C to improve the wear resistance of the steel.By enhancing the load and speed of wear experiment,the wear mechanism of the test steel with 0.2% Nb changes from slight oxidation wear to severe adhesion wear and oxidation wear.Compared with the load,the increase in the rotation speed exerts a greater influence on the wear of the test steel.

Low Carbon Building Design Optimization Based on Intelligent Energy Management System

The construction of relevant standards for building carbon emission assessment in China has just started,and the quantitative analysis method and evaluation system are still imperfect,which hinders the development of low-carbon building design.Therefore,the use of intelligent energy management system is very necessary.The purpose of this paper is to explore the design optimization of low-carbon buildings based on intelligent energy management systems.Based on the proposed quantitative method of building carbon emission,this paper establishes the quota theoretical system of building carbon emission analysis,and develops the quota based carbon emission calculation software.Smart energy management system is a low-carbon energy-saving system based on the reference of large-scale building energy-saving system and combined with energy consumption.It provides a fast and effective calculation tool for the quantitative evaluation of carbon emission of construction projects,so as to realize the carbon emission control and optimization in the early stage of architectural design and construction.On this basis,the evaluation,analysis and calculation method of building structure based on carbon reduction target is proposed,combined with the carbon emission quota management standard proposed in this paper.Taking small high-rise residential buildings as an example,this paper compares and analyzes different building structural systems from the perspectives of structural performance,economy and carbon emission level.It provides a reference for the design and evaluation of low-carbon building structures.The smart energy management system collects user energy use parameters.It uses time period and time sequence to obtain a large amount of data for analysis and integration,which provides users with intuitive energy consumption data.Compared with the traditional architectural design method,the industrialized construction method can save 589.22 megajoules(MJ)per square meter.Based on 29270 megajoules(MJ)per ton of standard coal,the construction area of the case is about 8000 m2,and the energy saving of residential buildings is 161.04 tons of standard coal.This research is of great significance in reducing the carbon emission intensity of buildings.

Urban Pocket Park System Planning Based on Low Carbon Comprehensive Benefits: A Case Study of Chaowai District in Beijing

Low carbon landscape development is an emerging approach of landscape design,which aims to promote sustainable development,and reduce energy consumption and environmental impact by reducing carbon emissions.As an important component of low carbon landscape construction,the construction of urban pocket park system based on mini-parks plays a crucial role in improving the urban greening level,increasing the urban green space,alleviating the urban pressure,improving the living and healthy environment of urban residents,and promoting the urban ecological balance.Taking Chaowai district of Beijing as an example,this paper calculates the ecological value of trees including energy contribution,carbon sequestration,ability to improve rainfall runoff and aesthetic value by collecting the information of trees and the plot on which the trees are located through the i-Tree platform,which provides important reference value for the urban pocket park system planning to create low carbon comprehensive benefits.

Research on the Impact of Low Carbon Economy on China’s Foreign Trade

Considering the growing prominence of global environmental issues,a low-carbon economy has emerged as a crucial direction for economic development across various countries.As the world’s second-largest economy,China has also witnessed the influence of a low-carbon economy on its international trade development.This article aims to commence with an exploration of the development background,meaning,and significance of a low-carbon economy.Subsequently,it delves into an in-depth analysis of the impact that a low-carbon economy has on China’s international trade.The article concludes by proposing pertinent countermeasures and suggestions.

Research on the Development of Green Hotels in the Context of Low Carbon Tourism

With the continuous implementation of national measures related to carbon neutrality strategy,the concept of a low-carbon economy has been deeply rooted in people’s hearts.Low-carbon tourism has gradually become an inevitable trend,and the tourism industry is also undergoing orderly transformation and upgrading.To promote the sustainable development of the tourism industry,the tourism and hotel industry should also shift towards a low-carbon and green model.Hotel activities can easily bring related environmental issues,such as energy consumption,garbage generation,ecological pollution,etc.Therefore,building a green hotel will bring huge social and economic benefits to the low-carbon tourism industry.This article will address the above issues and take a low-carbon economy as the starting point,proposing sustainable development strategies and suggestions for green hotels from both the internal and external environment of the hotel,creating a low-carbon management atmosphere,and promoting the low-carbon operation of the green hotel industry.

行业脱碳不能单打独斗--访MSC海事政策和政府事务副总裁兼Low Carbon GIA主席Claudio Abbate先生

为实现国际海事组织(IMO)温室气体减排的初步战略的目标,为航运业的脱碳之路提供支持,IMO发起成立了支持低碳航运的全球产业联盟(Low Carbon GIA)。2022年,该联盟迎来成立5周年纪念日。回首这5年,联盟为行业脱碳做出了哪些贡献?展望未来,联盟还将如何助力行业脱碳?带着这些问题,本刊记者采访了地中海航运集团(MSC)海事政策和政府事务副总裁兼Low Carbon GIA主席Claudio Abbate先生。

Oxide and Sulfide Dispersive Precipitation and Effects on Microstructure and Properties of Low Carbon Steels

Electron microscopic investigation on low carbon steel strips produced by the CSP process has been carried out. Large number of oxide dispersive precipitates have been observed in the ferrite matrix of the steel strips. Dimension of them is about 10~20 nm. Electron diffraction study showed that the structure of these precipitates consists with cubic system spinel structure. Their lattice parameter is about 0.83 nm. The results implied that they should be complex oxides of Fe, Al et al. Small sulfide particles with 100-300 nm in size have also been observed. Remarkable strengthening and grain refinement effects can be obtained by the precipitations. The oxygen and sulfur in steels could play beneficial role under certain conditions.

Cleanliness of Ti-bearing Al-killed ultra-low-carbon steel during different heating processes

During the production of Ti-bearing Al-killed ultra-low-carbon(ULC) steel, two different heating processes were used when the converter tapping temperature or the molten steel temperature in the Ruhrstahl–Heraeus(RH) process was low: heating by Al addition during the RH decarburization process and final deoxidation at the end of the RH decarburization process(process-Ⅰ), and increasing the oxygen content at the end of RH decarburization, heating and final deoxidation by one-time Al addition(process-Ⅱ). Temperature increases of 10°C by different processes were studied; the results showed that the two heating processes could achieve the same heating effect. The T.[O] content in the slab and the refining process was better controlled by process-Ⅰ than by process-Ⅱ. Statistical analysis of inclusions showed that the numbers of inclusions in the slab obtained by process-Ⅰ were substantially less than those in the slab obtained by process-Ⅱ. For process-Ⅰ, the Al_2O_3 inclusions produced by Al added to induce heating were substantially removed at the end of decarburization. The amounts of inclusions were substantially greater for process-Ⅱ than for process-Ⅰ at different refining stages because of the higher dissolved oxygen concentration in process-Ⅱ. Industrial test results showed that process-Ⅰ was more beneficial for improving the cleanliness of molten steel.

Microstructure of Surface Layer Formed at Low Temperature and High Carbon Concentration Carburizing with Rare Earth Element

A suitable carburized microstructure with fine granular dispersed carbides in hypereutectoid zone,ultra fine martensite in matrix and recrystallized austenite to be refined to the grain size of 12～14 has been obtained by a new process,which is a high carbon concentration carburizing with rare earth element at low temperature(860～880℃)in a discontinuous gas carburization furnace.There was not much difference for the microstructure in eutectic zone between this and conventional process.Forming mechanism of granular carbides has been also studied in this paper.

Bainite Transformation Under Continuous Cooling of Nb-Microalloyed Low Carbon Steel

Utilizing Gleeble-1500 thermomechanical simulator, the influences of hot deformation parameters on continuous cooling bainite transformation in Nb-microalloyed low carbon steel were investigated. The results indicate that bainite starting temperature decreases with raising cooling rate and increases with increasing deformation temperature. Deformation has an accelerative effect on the bainite transformation when the specimens are deformed at 950 ℃. When the deformation temperature increases, the effect of deformation on bainite starting temperature is weakened. The amount of bainite is influenced by strain, cooling rate, and deformation temperature. When the specimens are deformed below 900 ℃, equiaxed ferrites are promoted and the bainite transformation is suppressed.

Decarburization rate of RH refining for ultra low carbon steel

The decarburization behaviors of ultra low carbon steel in a 210-t RH vacuum degasser were investigated under practical operat- ing conditions. According to the apparent decarburization rate constant （Kc） calculated by the carbon content in the samples taken from the hot melt in a ladle at an interval of 1-2 min, it is observed that the total decarburization reaction period in RH can be divided into the quick decarburization period and the stagnant decarburization period, which is quite different from the traditional one with three stages. In this study, the average apparent decarburization rate constant during the quick decarburization period is 0.306 min^-1, and that of the stagnant period is 0.072 min^-1. Increasing the initial carbon content and enhancing the exhausting capacity can increase the apparent decarburization rate constant in the quick decarburization period. The decarburization reaction comes into the stagnant decarburization period when the carbon content in molten steel is less than 14× 10^-6 after 10 min of decarburization.

Effects of Deformation on Bainite Transformation During Continuous Cooling of Low Carbon Steels

Hot deformation experiments were carried out on Gleeble 1500 thermo-mechanical simulator. The bainite transformation after deformation was investigated by optical microstructure analysis. The results indicated that the deformation accelerated the bainite transformation when the deformation was carried out at high temperature and no or little ferrite was precipitated before bainite transformation; when the deformation was carried out at low temperature, the deformation hindered the bainite transformation because a lot of ferrite precipitated before bainite transformation.

Experimental study on Ti+Nb bearing ultra-low carbon bake hardening sheet steel hot-rolled in the ferrite region

A Ti＋Nb bearing ultra-low carbon bake hardening sheet steel hot-rolled in the conventional austenite region and in the ferrite region with lubrication was experimentally studied. Subsequent cold rolling and continuous annealing processes were also conducted. The results show that microstructures of ultra-low carbon bake hardening hot strips at room temperature are basically irregular polygonal ferrites. The yield strength, ultimate tensile strength, n value, and r value of the No.2 specimen hot-rolled in the ferrite region with lubrication are 243 MPa, 364 MPa, 0.29, and 1.74, respectively, which are similar to those of the No.1 specimen hot-roiled in the conventional austenite region. The elongation rate and bake hardening value of No.2 specimen are 51% and 49.4 MPa, respectively, which are greater than those of No. 1 specimen. The No.2 specimen hot-rolled in the ferrite region with lubrication exhibits good mechanical properties and relatively excellent baking hardening performance. Therefore, the hot rolling experiment of Ti＋Nb bearing ultra-low carbon bake hardening steel in the ferrite region with lubrication is feasible and can be considered in the future industrial trial production.

Kinetics of bainite-to-austenite transformation during continuous reheating in low carbon microalloyed steel

A dilatometer was used to study the kinetics of bainite-to-austenite transformation in low carbon microalloyed steel with the initial microstructure of bainite during the continuous reheating process. The bainite-to-austenite trans- formation was observed to take place in two steps at low heating rate. The first step is the dissolution of bainite, and the second one is the remaining bainite-to-austenite transformation controlled by a dissolution process. The calculation result of the kinetics of austenite formation shows that the two steps occur by diffusion at low heating rate. However, at high heating rate the bainite-to-austenite transformation occurs in a single step, and the process is mainly dominated by shear. The growth rate of austenite reaches the maximum at about 835℃ at different heating rates and the growth rate of austenite as a function of temperature increases with the increase in heating rate.

Analysis of the formation conditions and characteristics of interphase and random vanadium precipitation in a low-carbon steel during isothermal heat treatment

The characteristics of nanosized precipitates in steels depend on the heat-treatment parameters. The effects of characteristics of vanadium precipitates formed during isothermal heat treatment on the hardness of the ferrite matrix in low-carbon vanadium-alloyed steel were investigated through analysis of transmission electron microscopy images and microhardness measurements. The results show that, during isothermal holding in the temperature range from 675 to 750℃, only interphase precipitation occurs, whereas only random precipitation occurs in the ferrite matrix during holding at 600℃. Furthermore, during isothermal heat treatment between 600 and 675℃, both random and interphase precipitates occurred in the ferrite. Nanoscale vanadium carbides with different atomic ratios of vanadium(V) and carbon(C) were the dominant precipitates in the random and interphase precipitates. The sizes of random precipitation carbides were smaller than those of interphase ones. Also, the sample isothermally heat treated at 650℃ for 900s exhibited a higher hardness with a narrower hardness distribution.

Aspects of microstructure in low carbon steels produced by the CSP process

The solidification structure, microstructure evolution during rolling andprecipitates with nanometers in dimension of the low carbon steels produced by CSP process with thinslabs have been studied in recent years. Important differences in microstructure and mechanicalproperties between the CSP products and the conventional one were observed. These differences mayarise from the much rapider solidification rate and cooling rate after casting of the thin slabs.Some aspects of the microstructure for the low carbon steels of the CSP thin slabs are summarizedand compared with the conventional one.

INFLUENCE OF HOT DEFORMATION ON CONTINUOUSCOOLING BAINITIC TRANSFORMATION IN A LOWCARBON STEEL

The influence of hot deformation conditions on continuous cooling bainitic transformation has been investigated for a low carbon microalloyed steel. The CCT diagrams show that deformation in unrecrpstallized austcnite ation can accelerate transformation process. Bainitic transformation in intermediate transformation temperature region is prominent, and the proeutectoid polygonal ferrite transformation at evelated high temperature is suppressed. According to optical and TEM analyses, low carbon bainitic ferrite is characterized by granular and lathlike ferrite, based on the cooling rate and deformation conditions. For nondeformation, groaps of coarse parallel ferrite lath form from the prior austenite grain boundaries with the same crystallographic orientation. For heavy deformaton, cell structure within the austenite grains due to the high dislocation density formed, which provides more nucleation sites for bainite ferrite. So deformation can discontinue the growth of ferrite laths and decrease the length of ferrite laths.