Waste heat recovery in iron and steel industry using organic Rankine cycles

In energy intensive industries, the Organic Rankine Cycles (ORCs), as a promising technology can remarkably enhance energy efficiency and reduce the carbon emissions by converting low, medium, and high-temperature heat source to electricity. Among the most energy-intensive industries, the iron and steel industry represents almost 5% of total world energy consumption. The most significant amounts of the waste heat are produced and being lost in the industrial and thermal processes. A better use of process excess/waste heat represents a significant source of energy savings and provides an affordable and reliable technical solution to increase the efficiency of energy intensive industrial sector by enhancing self-production of electricity. This can help in mitigating the increase of electricity consumption due to the industrial electrification and thereby reducing the load on the power grids. Moreover, waste heat recovery can substantially reduce carbon emissions and address the challenge of combat against global warming. ORC technologies for waste heat recovery, are one of the most suitable technologies to boost sustainable transition of the steel sector. This paper will provide knowledge on the design criteria, achievable performance and cost of the components paving the way for the ORCs for waste heat recovery in iron and steel industry, supporting their market penetration and enhancing their role in the fight against climate change.