ENERGY AUDIT OF A PLATE MILL

Abstract

Energy audits may well indicate areas where energy savings are technically possible, but the practical feasibility of making the savings ultimately depend on several other factors such as economic, social etc. The need of such an audit was felt in Plate Mill of Bhilai Steel Plant, as the manufacturing cost of the plates is continually rising higher and higher. And to compete in the international steel market, the cost of manufacture of the plates must come down while maintaining stringent quality parameters. As energy costs contribute to the cost of manufacture of plates these require exhaustive . investigations and evaluation. In this audit it is intended to analyse the energy consumption in -reheating furnaces and its pipe networks. This report gives the fraction of heat being used productively and the fraction which is going to waste. The field of energy audit which concerns electricity is not touched here upon. The inputs of gaseous fuel, compressed air and steam consumption have been audited and recommendations made. Finally, it is concluded that with some measures, which can be taken to reduce energy consumption, and thereby cutting the cost of plates. At present the cost of production of plates is about Rs.I1632/ton.