Assessment of Environmental Practices and Technologies Associated with Electric Arc Furnace (Eaf) and Ladle Refining Furnace (Lf) Baghouse Dust

This article presents the methods associated with management EAF baghouse dust and ladle refining furnace (LF) dust. The management methods cover two broad areas: environmental management system practices and technology related factors. The management methods were determined based on professional experience of the authors, review of bibliographies and subject technical literature as well technical visits to eleven steel plants. During these visits, process mapping of the meltshop dust management methods was performed as well as collection of EAF dedusting system quantitative and qualitative data. Collectively the information was used to develop two standard evaluation matrices which provide criteria to assess environmental management system practices and technology associated with meltshop dust management. The matrices have, for each practice, three alternatives: first, the description of best practice; second, the description of intermediate quality; and third, the description that characterizes the early stages of implementing good practices or their absence. The matrices were then used by three steel plants to conduct an assessment of the dust management practices. The primary goal of the assessments was to identify and prioritize areas for potential improvement - be that in environmental management systems area or the technology area. The assessment results showed that steel plants with lower values will require greater investment of resources to achieve measurable improvement. Finally as a result of this project a rigorous and reliable assessment tool was designed to evaluate the meltshop dust generation and management process and provide a quantitative answer to the following question: Which area has achieved a higher level of development as it relates to meltshop dust management: environmental management system practices or control technology?’ The results from using this tool have shown that the performance of management practices is superior to the control technology. Furthermore, experience gained during the assessment indicate this evaluation methodology is adaptable and can be applied to other processes and/or other types of businesses.