Back to results
US 2006/0272447 A1Published application
Continuous steel production and apparatus
AssigneesThe Curators of the University of Missouri, The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois
InventorsKent Peaslee, Jorg Peter, David Robertson, Brian Thomas, Lifeng Zhang
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A process for continuous refining of steel via multiple distinct reaction vessels for melting, oxidation, reduction, and refining for delivery of steel continuously to, for example, a tundish of a continuous caster system, and associated apparatus.
Claims21
An apparatus for continuous refining of steel comprising:
- a melting furnace for melting iron-bearing material into molten metal, the furnace comprising a heat source, a melting furnace inlet for continuously receiving the iron-bearing material, a melting vessel in communication with said inlet for melting the iron-bearing material into molten metal and holding the molten metal, and a melting furnace outlet for discharging the molten metal continuously from the melting vessel simultaneously with the melting furnace inlet's continuously receiving the iron-bearing material;
- an oxidizer for oxidizing oxidizable elements in the molten metal, the oxidizer having a chemically oxidizing environment and comprising an oxidizer inlet for continuously receiving molten metal discharged from the melting furnace outlet, an oxidizing vessel in communication with the oxidizer inlet for holding molten metal, and an oxidizer outlet for continuously discharging the molten metal from the oxidizer simultaneously with the oxidizer inlet's continuously receiving the molten metal discharged from the melting furnace outlet;
- and
- a reducer for deoxidizing and desulfurizing the molten metal, the reducer having a chemically reducing environment and comprising a reducer inlet for continuously receiving the molten metal discharged from the oxidizer outlet, a reducer vessel in communication with the reducer inlet for holding molten metal, and a reducer outlet for continuously discharging the molten metal from the reducer simultaneously with the reducer inlet's continuously receiving the molten metal discharged from the oxidizer outlet.
1 more element
A process for continuous refining of steel comprising:
- continuously feeding iron-bearing material into a melting furnace and melting the iron-bearing material into molten metal therein, wherein the melting furnace comprises a heat source, a melting furnace inlet for continuously receiving the iron-bearing material, a melting vessel in communication with said inlet for melting the iron-bearing material into the molten metal and holding the molten metal, and a melting furnace outlet;
- discharging the molten metal continuously through the melting vessel outlet simultaneously with the melting furnace inlet's continuously receiving the iron-bearing material;
- continuously receiving the molten metal discharged through the melting vessel outlet into an oxidizer for oxidizing oxidizable elements in the molten metal, the oxidizer having a chemically oxidizing environment and comprising an oxidizer inlet for the continuously receiving molten metal discharged through the melting furnace outlet, an oxidizing vessel in communication with the oxidizer inlet for holding molten metal, and an oxidizer outlet;
- oxidizing oxidizable elements in the molten metal in the oxidizer vessel;
- discharging the molten metal continuously through the oxidizer vessel outlet simultaneously with the oxidizer inlet's continuously receiving the molten metal discharged through the melting furnace outlet;
- continuously receiving the molten metal discharged from the oxidizer vessel outlet into a reducer for deoxidizing and desulfurizing the molten metal, the reducer having a chemically reducing environment and comprising a reducer inlet for continuously receiving the molten metal discharged through the oxidizer outlet, a reducing vessel in communication with the reducer inlet for holding molten metal, and a reducer outlet;
- and
- discharging the molten metal continuously through the reducer vessel outlet simultaneously with the reducer inlet's continuously receiving the molten metal discharged through the oxidizer outlet.
5 more elements
A process for continuous refining of steel comprising:
- continuously feeding iron-bearing material having an oxygen content below about 0.5% and flux into an electric arc melting furnace and melting the iron-bearing material into molten metal therein, wherein the melting furnace comprises a heat source, a melting furnace inlet for continuously receiving the iron-bearing material, a melting vessel in communication with said inlet for melting the iron-bearing material into the molten metal and holding the molten metal, and a melting furnace outlet;
- discharging the molten metal continuously through the melting vessel outlet simultaneously with the melting furnace inlet's continuously receiving the iron-bearing material;
- continuously receiving the molten metal discharged through the melting vessel outlet into an oxidizer for oxidizing oxidizable elements in the molten metal, the oxidizer having a chemically oxidizing environment and comprising an oxidizer inlet for the continuously receiving molten metal discharged through the melting furnace outlet, an oxidizing vessel in communication with the oxidizer inlet for holding molten metal, and an oxidizer outlet;
- oxidizing oxidizable elements in the molten metal in the oxidizer vessel;
- discharging the molten metal continuously through the oxidizer vessel outlet simultaneously with the oxidizer inlet's continuously receiving the molten metal discharged through the melting furnace outlet;
- continuously receiving the molten metal discharged from the oxidizer vessel outlet into a reducer for deoxidizing and desulfurizing the molten metal, the reducer having a chemically reducing environment and comprising a reducer inlet for continuously receiving the molten metal discharged through the oxidizer outlet, a reducing vessel in communication with the reducer inlet for holding molten metal, and a reducer outlet;
- discharging the molten metal continuously through the reducer vessel outlet simultaneously with the reducer inlet's continuously receiving the molten metal discharged through the oxidizer outlet;
- continuously receiving the molten metal discharged through the reducer vessel outlet into a finisher for alloying the molten metal, the finisher comprising a finisher inlet for continuously receiving the molten metal discharged from the reducer outlet, a finisher vessel in communication with the finisher inlet for holding molten metal, and a finisher outlet;
- continuously discharging the molten metal through the finisher outlet simultaneously with the finisher inlet's continuously receiving the molten metal through the reducer outlet;
- feeding flux into the electric arc melting furnace, oxidizer, reducer, and finisher and feeding alloying elements into the finisher;
- and
- continuously removing slag from the oxidizer vessel at the oxidizer inlet, continuously removing slag from the reducer vessel at the reducer inlet, and continuously removing slag from the finisher vessel at the finisher inlet.
9 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.