Energy savings thanks to a barrel full of steam in the smelter
Steam recovery in the smelter helps save energy and not let it go to waste.
During the smelting phase, which takes place 12 hours a day, the smelter produces more steam than the plant needs. This surplus is then vented or condensed because the steam or energy cannot be stored. However, when the smelter is not in the smelting phase, natural gas burners have to step in to supply steam to the plant.
The steam accumulator now compensates for this previous energy loss. Excess steam is now injected into this. It is then pressurized, causing the steam to condense into hot water, similar to a pressure cooker. When the smelter stops smelting and no longer produces steam, a valve opens to the steam network. This network operates at a lower pressure than the accumulator, so the tank literally boils off into the system.
This way, we effectively store steam for later use. Even though such valves normally make noise because gases pass through at high speeds, our sound proofing measures make sure they are not audible outside.Â
Quay wall absorbs part of road transport
The extensive renovation of the quay wall in 2014 significantly reduces freight traffic along other roads. Umicore in Hoboken processes approximately 450,000 tonnes of raw materials annually, of which about a third is supplied via container ships. The quay wall is 20 meters wide and 260 meters long, and allows greater ship transport—saving about 10,000 truck trips per year. The CO2 footprint of transport by ship is also three times lower than that of freight traffic. This project was a public-private partnership between waterway manager Vlaamse Waterweg, which is affiliated with the Flemish Ministry of Mobility, and Umicore.