How is oxygen used in the production of steel?
How is oxygen used in the production of steel?
In basic oxygen furnaces, oxygen is used for decarburization–the process of decreasing the level of carbon in metals–and the conversion of hot metal formed in a blast furnace to liquid steel. This process typically accounts for about half the amount of oxygen used in an integrated steel mill.
Which process is used in steel making?
There are two main processes for producing steel: by means of a blast furnace (= indirect reduction) in combination with a converter, or by means of an electric furnace. In the former process, iron ore is the main raw material. In an electric furnace, scrap iron is used and occasionally also sponge iron.
What are the three basic steel making processes?
Of the three major steelmaking processes—basic oxygen, open hearth, and electric arc—the first two, with few exceptions, use liquid blast-furnace iron and scrap as raw material and the latter uses a solid charge of scrap and DRI.
What is BOF process?
A basic oxygen furnace (BOF) is a vessel used to convert hot metal into steel. The process is known as the basic oxygen furnace process, basic oxygen steelmaking, or the oxygen converter process. During the process, oxygen is blown into a BOF converter containing liquid hot metal containing high carbon content.
Is oxygen required for steel production?
More than half the world’s steel is produced in the basic oxygen process (BOP), which uses pure oxygen to convert a charge of liquid blast-furnace iron and scrap into steel.
Where is oxygen used in steel plant?
Oxygen is used with fuel gases in gas welding, gas cutting, flame cleaning, flame hardening, and flame straightening. Oxygen is used in self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) and in first aid centres and steel plant hospital.
What is basicity in steel?
(in metallurgy), the ratio (in percent by weight) of basic and acidic oxides in iron ore materials (iron ore, sinter, and pellets), and also in blast-furnace and steel-smelting slag. Basicity defines the chemical composition and metallurgical properties of such materials.
Which gas is used for manufacture of steel?
Industrial gases usually used in steel industry are oxygen, nitrogen, argon and hydrogen.
What are the four methods of steel production?
The Modern Steel Production Process
- Stirring.
- Ladle furnace.
- Ladle injection.
- Degassing.
- CAS-OB (composition adjustment by sealed argon bubbling with oxygen blowing)
What is EAF route?
In the Electric Arc Furnace route (EAF) 100% scrap used. This is the remelting of steel without the use of primary raw materials. Only oxygen and lime are added to bind any impurities. Galvanized steel scrap can also be processed in the electric arc furnace. The zinc is recovered and used in the production of new zinc.
What is the difference between BOF and EAF?
In BOF steelmaking, the main raw material inputs are iron ore and coal. In EAF steelmaking, the main raw material is ferrous scrap. The coal is converted to coking coal. In a separate process the iron ore is converted to iron ore pellets.
How does oxygen affect steel?
The level of dissolved oxygen in liquid steel must be lowered because oxygen reacts with carbon during solidification and forms carbon monoxide and blowholes in the cast. In addition, a high oxygen level creates many oxide inclusions that are harmful for most steel products.
