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Code of Practice to Reduce Fugitive Emissions of Total Particulate Matter and Volatile Organic Compounds from the Iron, Steel and Ilmenite Sector

2. Sources of Fugitive TPM and VOC Emissions

Fugitive emissions are often uncontrolled, and sources can be distributed spatially over a wide area. Table 2.1 provides an overview of activities or equipment where emissions of fugitive TPM and VOCs may be released into the atmosphere. These sources of emissions may vary between sub-sectors and between facilities within the same sub-sector.

Fugitive emissions can result from process leaks and spills that are associated with certain activities related to raw material storage and material handling, cokemaking, ironmaking, steelmaking, and some related process operations. These emissions can also result from leaks from pipes, ducts, valves or pumps.

Table 2.1 Common Sources of Fugitive Emissions

Common Sources of Process Fugitive Emissions
ActivitySub-sector (integrated mills, mini-mills, ilmenite smelting facility)TPM SourceVOC Source
Materials handlingAll
  • Disturbing granular material
  • Unloading/loading materials
  • Transferring materials to conveyors or transfer points
 
Materials movementAll
  • Conveying systems
  • Transporting materials using vehicles
 
Materials storageAll
  • Piling
  • Leaking from buildings

 

Excluding the ilmenite smelting facility

  • Leaking from buildings
  • Storing of drums, containers and tanks
Materials preparationAll
  • Crushing
  • Grinding
  • Blending
  • Screening
 
CokemakingIntegrated mills
  • Charging of coal
  • Leaking from coke oven battery doors, lids, tops and gas off-takes
  • Pushing of coke
  • Quenching of coke
  • Charging of coal
  • Leaking from coke oven battery doors, lids, tops and gas off-takes
  • Pushing of coke
Coke by-product plantsIntegrated mills 
  • Storing, handling, transferring and separating organic compounds (mostly benzene), ammonia and sulphur from coke oven gas
  • Associated equipment such as pumps, compressors, valves and control devices
  • Separating tar
  • Separating naphthalene
  • Recovering light oil
  • Leaking of heat exchangers at cooling towers
Blast furnace ironmakingIntegrated mills
  • Charging of materials to the furnace
  • Tapping molten metal from the furnace
  • Transporting molten metal
  • Crushing and screening of slag
  • Incomplete combustion of coke in the furnace
  • Tap-holes, runners, skimmers and the ladle charging area
  • Runner systems where tar-based binders are still used
Direct reduction ironmakingMini-mills
  • Charging iron oxide to the top of the shaft furnace
  • Handling the iron oxide and the direct reduced iron
 
Ilmenite reduction furnaceIlmenite smelting facility
  • Charging of materials to the furnace
  • Tapping molten metal from the furnace
  • Cleaning cars
  • Crushing and screening of slag
  • Tapping of slag
 
Basic oxygen furnace steelmakingIntegrated mills, ilmenite smelting facility
  • Charging of the furnace
  • Blowing oxygen
  • Handling of flux
  • Tapping of molten metal and slag

Excluding the ilmenite smelting facility

  • Hydrocarbons contained in the oils, wire casing, foam and plastics found in the steel scrap feedstock can vaporize when the iron is charged
Electric arc furnace steelmakingIntegrated mills, mini-mills
  • Charging of the furnace
  • Tapping of the molten metal and slag
  • Transporting molten metal
  • Hydrocarbons contained in the oils, wire casing, foam and plastics found in the steel scrap feedstock can vaporize when melting takes place
  • Combusting auxiliary fuel
  • Decarburization of scrap
  • Charging of the furnace
  • Tapping of the molten metal and slag
Continuous castingAll
  • Transferring molten metal to the tundish
  • Cutting steel
 
Hot formingIntegrated mills, mini-mills
  • Scarfing or grinding of the feedstock
  • Removing scale formed during hot rolling
  • Straightening and shearing of hot formed products
  • Rolling and lubrication oils
  • Combusting fuel in the reheat furnaces
Cold formingIntegrated mills, mini-mills 
  • Rolling and lubrication oils
  • Combusting fuel in the annealing furnace
CoatingIntegrated mills, mini-mills
  • Straightening and shearing
  • Spraying, immersion, rolling or brushing of non-metallic coatings (e.g., powders, paints and liquids containing organic compounds)
TransportationAll
  • Paved and unpaved roads (vehicular traffic)
 

 

Common Sources of Non-Process and Fuel Combustion Fugitive Emissions
Sub-sector (integrated mills, mini-mills,
ilmenite smelting facility)
Source of VOC (excluding the ilmenite smelting facility) and TPM
All
  • Pumps
  • Compressors
  • Pressure relief devices in gas/vapour service
  • Sampling connection systems
  • Valves
  • Lines
  • Pressure relief devices in liquid service
  • Flanges and other connectors
  • Product accumulation vessels
  • Closed vent systems
  • Control devices
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