Propuesta de segregación de corrientes de agua para su reúso y reciclaje dentro de una industria de galvanizado: Caso Novacero S.A.

Abstract

Hot dip galvanizing is the most used method to improve the resistance of steel against corrosion, this process is characterized by high rate of consumption of raw materials, energy and mainly water. Therefore, the aim of this work was to propose water segregation alternatives for reusing and recycling within this industry. Results showed that the main consumption of fresh water was in the rising phases with a value of around 2.4 m3/t of galvanized steel, which represents 95% of all the fresh water consumed. The wastewater reuse strategy restricted fresh water flows at values close to 1.8 m3/h (TDS as single pollutant), decreasing it by 38.4% (2.9 m3/h to 1.8 m3/h). Deviating the wastewater low-load (Sindex<0) toward intermediate treatment units reduced the supplies consumption used within treatment by around 15%. The most efficient water network was the scenario obtained by segregation (Sindex) and wastewaters reuse/recycling (Pinch), this scenario allowed 41% of savings for treatment costs, and 16.5 kg CO2eq/day of indirect emissions by energy consumption from treatment (663.5 kWh/month).