Modern Steelmaking Processes
Steelmaking processes are constantly evolving and becoming more efficient in order to meet the growing demand for steel and to reduce the cost of producing steel products. Modern steelmaking processes have improved substantially in recent years due to advances in technology and process engineering. New steelmaking processes offer improved safety, reduced energy consumption, increased production volume, simplified operations, less waste and improved product quality.
One modern steelmaking process is the Electric Arc Furnace (EAF) process, which is the most widely used steelmaking process in the world today. The EAF process is an energy-intensive process that uses electricity to heat scrap metal and convert it into molten steel. The process begins with a scrap metal charge (made up of various steel scrap, including cars and home appliances) heated in a furnace with a power of up to 350 V. The metal is heated and melted to temperatures of around 1600 degrees Celsius in a few minutes. As the metal melts, impurities are removed by shooting an arc of electricity between the two electrodes into the furnace. The impurities are then drawn up and out of the furnace. The molten steel is then poured into ladles and transported to the casting machine.
Another modern steelmaking process is known as the Basic Oxygen Furnace (BOF) process, which uses oxygen to reform steel scrap. The BOF process uses high-oxygen technology to burn oxygen and cleanse the metal. Once the oxygen is burned, it reacts with the metal to form iron oxide and carbon. The iron oxide is then converted to liquid steel, with the carbon reacting with the oxygen to form a slag, which is removed. The liquid steel is then poured into a ladle and transported to the casting mac
