Optimal allocation of surplus gas and suitable capacity for buffer users in steel plant

Byproduct gases are an important secondary energy source in the iron and steel industry. A novel mathematical programming model was established in this paper to study the optimal allocation of surplus gas in buffer users in the byproduct gas system, on the basis of which a new method for calculating the suitable capacities of gasholders and boilers was also proposed. The validity and practicability of the model and the design method were tested in an iron and steel enterprise. The results show that gas emissions were controlled, boiler efficiency was improved, and surplus gas-related power generation was increased by approximately 5 × 104 kW h in each hour compared with the actual data from the iron and steel enterprise. Finally, fitting curves of the relationship between the designed fuel load of the boiler and the capacity of the gasholder were obtained. Scientific guidance is thus provided for the improvement of buffer users in steel plants in the future.