A ladle furnace is an essential part of the secondary steelmaking process. After the primary melting in an electric arc furnace (EAF) or blast furnace, the molten steel is transferred to a ladle furnace for refining. Here, alloying elements can be added, impurities can be reduced, and the temperature of the steel can be precisely
Both terms refer to steel in its liquid state, typically at temperatures of around 1,600°C. Whether referred to as "molten" or "liquid," it's the state of steel that allows for further refining and casting.
Steel scrap is a crucial feedstock in EAF steelmaking. It provides the raw material that is melted down to produce molten steel. Utilizing scrap metal in steelmaking is also an environmentally friendly way to recycle used steel.
EAF slag is a by-product of the EAF steelmaking process. It's formed from the impurities in the steel scrap and the fluxes added to refine the steel. EAF slag can be processed and used in various applications, such as in construction or as an aggregate.
An AC Electric Arc Furnace (AC EAF) produces molten metal by melting scrap metal using alternating current passing through graphite electrodes. The heat generated by the electric arcs melts the scrap, resulting in molten metal.
The main products of EAF steelmaking are molten steel and EAF slag. The molten steel is further refined, while the slag, a by-product, can be processed and utilized in various applications.
A blast furnace uses iron ore as its primary feedstock, combined with coke and limestone.
EAF steelmaking primarily uses steel scrap as its feedstock and melts it using an electric arc. In contrast, a blast furnace uses iron ore, coke, and limestone to produce pig iron.
EAF steelmaking involves melting steel scrap in an electric arc furnace. The molten steel is then refined and can be poured off to produce liquid steel, suitable for further processing or casting.
DC (Direct Current) Arc Furnace: Primarily used for steelmaking, it uses a direct electrical current to produce heat to melt the steel scrap. A DC arc furnace typically has a single electrode and a bottom electrode. AC (Alternating Current) Electric Arc Furnace: This is the more traditional type of EAF and uses alternating current to
