Environmental Evaluation for Three Typical Steel Pipe Production Processes Based on Energy Materials and Life Cycle Assessment

Abstract

Steel pipe applications are more widely used, but there are no comparative analysises about the environmental impact and energy consum of steel pipe and its production processes. This article investigated the environmental implications of three typical steel pipe production processes based on energy materials and life cycle assessment perspective. We modeled scenarios, calculated energy consumed and six aspects which classified as GWP, ODP, AP, EP, POCP and DUST. The rank of energy consumed in descending order is C-Pipe> H-Pipe> W-Pipe. Welded steel pipe is the best energy-friendly material in term of energy consumption. The rank of impact potential according to normalized results in descending order is GWP>AP>DUST>EP>POCP>ODP. The rank of impact potential according to weight factor in descending order is AP>DUST>GWP>ODP>EP>POCP. Acid Potential is the most significant factor. The weight factor of AP is almost twice as much as that of GWP. In environmental terms, the environmental depletion index of welded pipe production process is lowest with minimal environmental impact and the cold drawn pipe production process the highest with largest environmental impact. Welded steel pipe is the best environment-friendly material in term of environmental impact. Utilization of green energy and waste heat can effectively reduce the environmental implications for both hot rolling pipe and cold drawn pipe production processes.