d64208f3-2dad-429b-9934-5a4ef0c235dcStainless steel quarto plate (304) - value of scrapgrade 304, austenitic, electric arc furnace routeproduction mix, at plant18% chromium, 10% nickelProcessesIndustry dataEuroferThis data set describes the so-called "value of scrap" - calculated according to the EUROFER recycling methodology.
The #value of scrap# approach addresses the question on how to deal with the recycling of stainless steel scrap at products# EoL in an LCA/LCI.
The principle idea behind the approach is to define the ecoprofile/LCI of stainless steel scrap, describing the so-called #value of scrap. The calculation of the #value of scrap# is based on the difference in LCI of the 100% primary and 100% scrap route (theoretical calculation) under consideration of the process yield of the recycling step.
The #value of scrap# (= stainless steel scrap LCI) is then used to account for a potential net surplus or debit of stainless steel along the life cycle of a stainless steel product.
High data quality. Data used for calculating the "value of scrap" refers to the Life Cycle Inventory Study on Stainless Steel Production in the EU, November 2009. In there data was collected on site by stainless steel industry experts in accordance with the EUROFER (as well as worldsteel) methodology. A detailed internal quality check was carried out by PE International. In addition an independent external review carried out in accordance with the ISO 14040 series to ensure the correct and consistent application of the methodology for Life Cycle Assessment.65The data set represents cradle-to-gate data based on average site-specific data (gate-to-gate) of European stainless steel producers. The electricity grid mix is representing the country specific grid situation. Other upstream data (e.g. chromium, nickel or molybdenum) are based on global averages from the specific industrial associations.The "value of scrap" is calculated on the basis of the stainless steel product cradle-to-gate LCIs.
These underlying datasets cover the following technology and background system:
Stainless steels are manufactured from mixtures of stainless scrap, carbon steel scrap and ferro-alloys of Cr, Ni and Mo. The proportions of these raw materials can vary greatly, depending upon the steel grade and other factors.
Initially, the raw materials are melted in an electric arc furnace (EAF); the liquid metal is then transferred to a decarburising vessel (usually "argon oxygen decarburising", AOD) where it is refined by blowing with various mixes of argon, oxygen, nitrogen. The liquid steel is then finished in a ladle furnace (LF), where the chemistry is fine-tuned and the temperature is optimised for subsequent processing.
The liquid steel is transformed into a solid product by continuous casting. For flat product production the section is rectangular, known as "slab".
Slabs are converted into rectangular (quarto) plates or long coils by reheating and hot-rolling. Subsequent heat treatment (annealing), acid cleaning (pickling) and flattening produces finished quarto plate or white hot rolled coil products.
Alternatively, the white hot rolled coil is used as the feedstock for producing thinner coil products, by cold rolling. The white hot rolled coil is cold rolled; then it is softened & acid pickled or bright annealed, and flattened (skinpass rolled) to form the Cold Rolled Coil product.
The background system is addressed as follows:
Electricity, Thermal energy: The electricity (and thermal energy as by-product) used is modelled according to the individual country-specific situation. The country-specific modelling is achieved on multiple levels. Firstly the individual power plants in service are modelled according to the current national grid. This includes net losses and imported electricity. Second, the national emission and efficiency standards of the power plants are modelled. Third, the country-specific fuel supply (share of resources used, by import and / or domestic supply) including the country-specific properties (e.g. element and energy contents) are accounted for. Fourth, the import, transport, mining and exploration processes for the energy carrier supply chain are modelled according to the specific situation of each power-producing country. The different mining and exploration techniques (emissions and efficiencies) in the different exploration countries are accounted for according to current engineering knowledge and information.
Steam: The steam supply is modelled according to the individual country-specific situation with regard to the technology efficiencies and energy carriers used. Efficiencies range from 84% to 94% in relation to the representative energy carrier (gas, oil, coal). Coal, crude oil and natural gas used for the generation of steam are modelled according to the specific import situation (see electricity).
Transports: All relevant and known transport processes used are included. Overseas transport including rail and truck transport to and from major ports for imported bulk resources are included. Furthermore all relevant and known pipeline and / or tanker transport of gases and oil imports are included.
Energy carriers: Coal, crude oil, natural gas and uranium are modelled according to the specific import situation (see electricity).
Refinery products: Diesel, gasoline, technical gases, fuel oils, basic oils and residues such as bitumen are modelled via a country-specific, refinery parameterized model. The refinery model represents the current national standard in refinery techniques (e.g. emission level, internal energy consumption,...) as well as the individual country-specific product output spectrum, which can be quite different from country to country. Hence the refinery products used show the individual country-specific use of resources. The supply of crude oil is modelled, again, according to the country-specific crude oil situation with the respective properties of the resources.Stainless steel scrap is the scrap produced from a stainless steel product at the end of its life and is available on the scrap market in many different forms. This stainless steel scrap product represents an average stainless steel scrap for the specific grade.LCI resultAttributionalNoneAllocation - market valueAllocation - net calorific valueAllocation - exergetic contentAllocation - massSubstitution - average, no correctionNoneAll data used in the calculation of the LCI results refer to net calorific value.NoneThe following cut-off criteria are applied:
a) Mass: If a flow is less than 1% of the cumulative mass of all the inputs and outputs of the stainless steel system, it may be excluded, providing its environmental relevance or energy relevance is not a concern.
b) Energy: If a flow is less than 1% of the cumulative energy of all the inputs and outputs of the stainless steel system, it may be excluded, providing its environmental relevance or mass relevance is not a concern.
c) Environmental relevance: If a flow meets the above criteria for exclusion, yet is thought to have a potentially significant environmental impact, it will be included. As a general rule, all measured environmental releases should be included.
The sum of the excluded material flows (upstream flows) must not exceed 5% of mass, energy or environmental relevance.NoneData on stainless steel making unit processes was collected on site. Upstream data (e.g. electricity grid mix representing the country specific grid situation) was takenout of the GaBi databases 2006. Other upstream data (e.g. chromium, nickel or molybdenum) are based on global averages from the specific industrial associations.NoneIn the case of missing data being of relevance to obtain reliable LCI results an average default value was calculated out of the delivered input or output data of all other sites related to the production amount per unit process. For missing data on CO2 and CH4, values were calculated on the basis of the carbon containing inputs and outputs.NoneGaBi databases 200681.17This data set represents an LCI for (grade specific) stainless steel scrap, calculated using the EUROFER recycling methodology. It should be used to account for the burden of using stainless steel scrap within the stainless steel making process and the credit for the End of Life recycling of stainless steel within a product. The net amount of stainless scrap should be used (recycling rate # scrap input).All relevant flows quantifiedFor details please contact the European Confederation of Iron and Steel Industries, Eurofer (European data): www.eurofer.org.For details please contact the European Confederation of Iron and Steel Industries, Eurofer (European data): www.eurofer.org.PE INTERNATIONALILCD Data Network - Entry-levelNot definedNot compliantFully compliantFully compliantFully compliantNot definedEUROFERLife Cycle Inventory Study on Stainless Steel Production in the EU, November 2009The global steel sector (worldsteel Association) was an early mover within industry, identifying the need to quantify the environmental effects of steelmaking and, in 2000, EUROFER reported a Life Cycle Inventory (LCI) study of stainless steel coil production. As a result of changes in manufacturing technology, improved efficiencies and rationalisation, EUROFER has decided to generate a new LCI database for the production of stainless steels, to enlarge the coverage of product forms as well as provide LCIs on stainless steel scrap.
The data set represents a cradle-to-gate inventory for stainless steel scrap. Combination with individual unit processes enables the generation of user-specific (product) LCAs.PE INTERNATIONAL2014-12-01T00:00:00+01:00ILCD format 1.1PE INTERNATIONALEUROFER2014-12-01T00:00:00+01:0009.00.000Data set finalised; entirely publishedEUROFERtrueOtherEurofer has provided PE International the permission to include the LCI information (cradle-to-gate) on stainless steel products as well as the LCI information (cradle-to-gate) describing the value of stainless steel scrap into the GaBi databases.
The data sets can be used free of charge by anybody to perform LCA studies. Any use of the LCI data outside of the GaBi software and databases should not considered before having received any written permission from Eurofer.
Please note also, that any modifications/omissions of the data set results in invalidity of any existing 'Official approval of data set by producer/operator'. The impression must be avoided that this would still be a complete Eurofer data set.Stainless Steel Scrap (304, from external supply)Output100010000.000Mixed primary / secondaryUnknown derivation