A byproduct gas distribution model for production users considering calorific value fluctuation and supply patterns in steel plants

Coke oven gas (COG), blast furnace gas (BFG) and linz-donawitz process gas (LDG) are three types of byproduct gases that serve as pivotal energy carriers in steel plants. Reasonable distribution of byproduct gases plays an important role in energy management and scheduling. However, it is difficult to achieve the goal of on-demand supply due to the changeable supply patterns, which usually hinder the efficient utilization of byproduct gases and cause the environmental pollution. Additionally, the influence of calorific value fluctuation on determining the distribution time periods is a research gap. To tackle this problem, a byproduct gas distribution model for production users considering calorific value fluctuation and supply patterns is proposed in this paper. The model was divided into three linear programming sub-models with flexible objective functions and constraints determined by different supply patterns and distribution strategies. Finally, to demonstrate the performance of the proposed model, a case study was conducted on a typical steel plant, and the results highlight the excellent accuracy of the model and ensures the gases are supplied to the users based on their demand.