Energy Used Smelting and Rolling Steel

Fastest answer from an old guy: Integrated steel process Ore, coke limestone, bof, etc etc...

data circa 1981 57.5 billion kwh used to make 109,590,000 metric tons (120,828,000 net tons) average power consumption per ton of RAW steel in 1981 was 524.6 kWh per metric ton, (475.8kWh per net ton).

Now some sensemaking: since 1981 industry has improved tremendously on energy reduction, efficiency and new technology.

So you could probably reduce by 25-33% and still be realistic in my mind.

If you are only talking about the extrusion process(not smelting, semifinish etc,) then the data I have for a bar mill is kWh consumed per ton of product (1981 data) 132-165 per metric ton of product; 120-150 per net ton of product. This covers power for motors in mill auxilliaries (tables, fans, lighting) but not pumps, compressors, cranes just process power.

I'll see if I have fresher data in the morning at work.

gotta run.

milo

Thank you Milo that's great, if I were to say on the high side, 600 kWh/tonne for 0.4mm sheet, would that be in the ball park? Would you know the energy cost of galvanising 0.4mm sheet?

Maybe it doesn't matter, from my previous information, excluding the cost of extruding the aluminium then: 15,000,000/600,000 = 25 times more power to produce aluminium than steel!!!

Since writing the above I've got some new numbers 63mWh/Tonne for extruded Aluminium and 9.7mWh/Tonne for Steel sheet, a ratio of about 6.5. Still significant.

Sorry if this rambles, it was written over an hour.

Thanks Tony

You are looking at from raw ore (bauxite) to finished extrusion.

If you looked at just remelt from existing scrap that might more closely match the actual finances in your case, just as an electric furnace minimill remelts existing scrap. however, the above info reflects true cradle to initial product power requirements.

milo