Thermoelectric power generation driven by blast furnace slag flushing water

Focusing on the low recycling rate of low temperature waste heat in China's iron and steel industry, this study presented a technical solution recycling blast furnace slag flashing water sensible heat based on thermoelectric power generation. The physical and numerical models are established. The effects of some key parameters such as slag washing water temperature, the thermoelectric element length, the packing factor of the thermoelectric module and heat exchanger flow passage length on the performance of the thermoelectric power generation device are analyzed. The results showed that for blast furnace slag flushing water at 100 degrees C, water temperature drops 1.5 degrees C per meter, about 0.93 kW electrical energy can be produced per area and conversion efficiency of 2% can be achieved. The cost recovery period of the equipment is about 8 years. (c) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.