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US 7,618,582 B2Granted
Continuous steel production and apparatus
AssigneesThe Curators of the University of Missouri, The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois
InventorsKent D. Peaslee, Jörg J. Peter, David G. C. Robertson, Brian G. 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.
Claims23
An apparatus for continuous refining of steel comprising:
- a melting furnace for melting iron-bearing material, 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 and holding molten steel, and a melting furnace outlet for discharging the molten steel continuously from the melting vessel simultaneously with the melting furnace inlet's continuously receiving the iron-bearing material;
- an oxidizer having a chemically oxidizing environment for oxidizing oxidizable elements in the molten steel including decarburization and dephosphorization, and comprising an oxidizer inlet in direct communication with the melting furnace outlet for continuously receiving the molten steel discharged from the melting furnace outlet, an oxidizing vessel in communication with the oxidizer inlet for holding the molten steel, and an oxidizer outlet for continuously discharging the molten steel from the oxidizer simultaneously with the oxidizer inlet's continuously receiving the molten steel discharged from the melting furnace outlet;
- and
- a reducer for deoxidizing and desulfurizing the molten steel, the reducer having a chemically reducing environment and comprising a reducer inlet in direct communication with the oxidizer outlet for continuously receiving the molten steel discharged from the oxidizer outlet, a reducer vessel in communication with the reducer inlet for holding the molten steel, and a reducer outlet for continuously discharging the molten steel from the reducer simultaneously with the reducer inlet's continuously receiving the molten steel discharged from the oxidizer outlet of the oxidizer having the inlet for receiving the molten steel discharged from the melting furnace 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 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 and holding molten steel, and a melting furnace outlet;
- discharging the molten steel continuously through the melting vessel outlet simultaneously with the melting furnace inlet's continuously receiving the iron-bearing material;
- continuously receiving the molten steel discharged through the melting vessel outlet into an oxidizer for oxidizing oxidizable elements in the molten steel including decarburization and dephosphorization, the oxidizer having a chemically oxidizing environment and comprising an oxidizer inlet in direct communication with the melting furnace outlet for the continuously receiving the molten steel discharged through the melting furnace outlet, an oxidizing vessel in communication with the oxidizer inlet for holding the molten steel, and an oxidizer outlet;
- oxidizing oxidizable elements in the molten steel in the oxidizer vessel;
- discharging the molten steel continuously through the oxidizer vessel outlet simultaneously with the oxidizer inlet's continuously receiving the molten steel discharged through the melting furnace outlet;
- continuously receiving the molten steel discharged from the oxidizer vessel outlet into a reducer for deoxidizing and desulfurizing the molten steel, the reducer having a chemically reducing environment and comprising a reducer inlet in direct communication with the oxidizer outlet for continuously receiving the molten steel discharged through the oxidizer outlet, a reducing vessel in communication with the reducer inlet for holding the molten steel, and a reducer outlet;
- and
- discharging the molten steel continuously through the reducer vessel outlet simultaneously with the reducer inlet's continuously receiving the molten steel 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 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 and holding molten steel, and a melting furnace outlet;
- discharging the molten steel continuously through the melting vessel outlet simultaneously with the melting furnace inlet's continuously receiving the iron-bearing material;
- continuously receiving the molten steel discharged through the melting vessel outlet into an oxidizer having a chemically oxidizing environment for oxidizing oxidizable elements in the molten steel including decarburization and dephosphorization, and comprising an oxidizer inlet in direct communication with the melting furnace outlet for the continuously receiving the molten steel discharged through the melting furnace outlet, an oxidizing vessel in communication with the oxidizer inlet for holding the molten steel, and an oxidizer outlet;
- oxidizing oxidizable elements in the molten steel in the oxidizer vessel;
- discharging the molten steel continuously through the oxidizer vessel outlet simultaneously with the oxidizer inlet's continuously receiving the molten steel discharged through the melting furnace outlet;
- continuously receiving the molten steel discharged from the oxidizer vessel outlet into a reducer for deoxidizing and desulfurizing the molten steel, the reducer having a chemically reducing environment and comprising a reducer inlet in direct communication with the oxidizer outlet for continuously receiving the molten steel discharged through the oxidizer outlet, a reducing vessel in communication with the reducer inlet for holding the molten steel, and a reducer outlet;
- discharging the molten steel continuously through the reducer vessel outlet simultaneously with the reducer inlet's continuously receiving the molten steel discharged through the oxidizer outlet;
- continuously receiving the molten steel discharged through the reducer vessel outlet into a finisher for alloying the molten steel, the finisher comprising a finisher inlet in direct communication with the reducer outlet for continuously receiving the molten steel discharged from the reducer outlet, a finisher vessel in communication with the finisher inlet for holding the molten steel, and a finisher outlet;
- continuously discharging the molten steel through the finisher outlet simultaneously with the finisher inlet's continuously receiving the molten steel 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.