Hybrid oxy-coal burner for eaf steelmaking

A method comprising:

• receiving a metal in a furnace, the furnace comprising one or more electrodes and one or more hybrid burners;
• and
• melting the metal using the one or more hybrid burners, comprising:
• delivering a fluid fuel through the one or more hybrid burners, the hybrid burners comprising a combustion chamber, a fluid fuel channel, a carbon-containing fuel channel and an oxidizing gas channel;
• delivering an oxidizing gas through the hybrid burner to combine with the fluid fuel in the combustion chamber;
• combusting the fluid fuel in the presence of the oxidizing gas to achieve a first temperature;
• once the first temperature is achieved, delivering a solid carbon containing fuel through the one or more hybrid burners;
• delivering an oxidizing gas through the hybrid burner to combine with the solid carbon containing fuel in the combustion chamber;
• and
• combusting the solid carbon-containing fuel in the presence of the oxidizing gas to achieve a second temperature, wherein the solid carbon-containing fuel delivers a carbon source to the metal during combustion.

A method comprising:

• positioning an iron source in an electric arc furnace, the electric arc furnace comprising at least one hybrid burner;
• combusting a fluid fuel in the presence of an oxidizing gas inside the electric arc furnace to heat the iron source to a first temperature;
• delivering a solid carbon-containing fuel and the oxidizing gas through the hybrid burner after the iron source has locally reached the first temperature;
• combusting the solid carbon-containing fuel in the presence of the oxidizing gas to heat the iron source to a second temperature and create a melted iron source and a flat slag;
• and
• refining the melted iron source, the refining comprising:
• delivering a high velocity oxidizing gas to the melted iron source and the flat slag;
• and
• delivering a carbon source to the melted iron source and the flat slag, wherein the flat slag is converted to a foamy slag.