In a steel manufacturing facility, iron ore and other raw materials are heated to extreme temperatures to produce molten steel. This molten steel is then processed into various products, such as sheets, coils, and structural beams. Critical processes within the plant, such as coke quenching, the intensive nitrogen bottom ash (INBA) system at blast furnaces, and laminar cooling at the hot strip mill (HSM), rely on water's high heat capacity and efficient cooling properties to maintain process control, ensure product quality, and optimize operational efficiency. 

As steel and other materials are heated to extreme temperatures during production, significant amounts of water are used to absorb and carry away this heat, preventing equipment from overheating and ensuring the integrity of the final products. Once the water absorbs heat from these high-temperature processes, it becomes too hot to reuse directly and is cooled in cooling towers. These towers cool the water by exposing it to air, facilitating heat exchange and evaporation, and the cooled water is recirculated back into the plant's operations.  

However, the extensive use of cooling towers results in significant water loss through evaporation. Few other applications like INBA, also include direct water quenching on very hot products (for granulating the slag) which convert to steam at that very instant, this converted steam is directed to atmosphere though chimneys. Notably, approximately 60-70% of the water used in the cooling towers evaporates annually. Addressing water vapor losses from the cooling towers and from the processes mentioned above represents a significant opportunity for water recovery. This recovery would not only save substantial amounts of water annually but also reduce the energy required for water treatment and related processes. Implementing a recovery system would enhance water conservation, lower operational costs, and contribute to the sustainability goals of the plant.