Method of making steel

A method of making steel in a steelmaking furnace, the method comprising the steps of:

• charging a steelmaking furnace with an iron source, wherein the iron source is melted and refined in the steelmaking furnace during a campaign;
• providing a source of uncompacted lime;
• conveying the lime to a first screening device, wherein the screening device separates the lime into a first size and a second size;
• conveying the lime of the first size to the steelmaking furnace;
• conveying the lime of the second size to a compacting device;
• compacting the lime of the second size adjacent to the steelmaking furnace to a predetermined size;
• charging the compacted lime to the steelmaking furnace within a short period of time after compacting to avoid degradation of the compacted lime;
• and
• adding additional fluxing agents and additives to the steelmaking furnace to produce refined steel in the campaign.

A method of making steel in an electric arc furnace, the method comprising the steps of:

• charging scrap to the electric arc furnace and melting the scrap in the electric arc furnace during a campaign;
• providing a source of uncompacted lime, wherein the lime is screened by a first screening device;
• compacting the lime adjacent to the electric arc furnace to a predetermined size to form a plurality of compacts;
• charging the compacted lime into the electric arc furnace;
• and
• adding additional fluxing agents and additives to the electric arc furnace to produce refined molten steel in the campaign.