Increasing the energy efficiency of a hot-dip galvanizing plant and reducing its environmental impact

Most industrial plants prioritize efficient, uninterrupted production, with production costs coming in second even though they are no less important. Any commitment to boosting energy efficiency while cutting pollution and energy waste is treated as an after-thought. This article presents an in-depth analysis of energy efficiency and its related emissions reduction opportunities in the context of a hot-dip galvanizing plant. This paper describes the modernization of the galvanization process in terms of the current situation with the process and possible energy efficiency improvement actions (such as operating parameters and changes at system level), which affect the overall exhaust emissions without changing current production or the technology used. Results show that the energy requirement dropped by 23%, from 399.3 MJ/tonne at baseline to 307 MJ/tonne in the improvement scenario, while emission intensity NO dropped by 96%. © 2017, Warsaw University of Technology.