Introduction
Steel making is a complicated process that typically takes place in a blast furnace or electric arc furnace. The process typically starts with a raw material, typically scrap steel or iron ore, along with a variety of other substances. The process requires a great deal of control to successfully produce high quality steel with desirable properties. In order to maintain this level of control, the process is typically controlled by a combination of manual and automated methods.
Blast Furnace Steel Making
The blast furnace steel making process begins with the loading of raw materials into the furnace. At this point, a variety of materials are added to the furnace in order to provide the necessary chemical elements and conditions for the steel making process. These materials include coking coal, lime, and other flux materials. The coking coal acts as the fuel and source of heat, while the additional materials act to create the correct chemical conditions for the steel making process.
Once the materials have been loaded into the furnace, the furnace is heated to a high temperature in order to initiate the steel making process. The temperature is typically between 1200 and 1400 degrees Celsius. As the temperature rises, the molten steel is slowly formed. At this point, the process of refining and controlling the properties of the steel begins. This includes controlling the carbon content, slag formation, and other conditions.
In order to maintain the desired conditions and controls, various manual and automated methods are typically employed. Manual methods involve a variety of tasks such as opening and closing furnace ports and reversing draft fans. Automated methods are typically used to control the introduction of materials, furnaces pressures, and temperatures.
Electric Arc Furnace Steel Making
The electric arc furnace is another popular method for producing steel. This method is typically used when high-grade steel is needed, as the process can produce a much cleaner, higher quality product than the blast furnace process.
The process starts with the loading of raw materials into the furnace. These materials could be scrap steel, or a combination of scrap steel and other materials such as iron ore. As the process proceeds, an electric arc furnace is used to produce heat, typically between 1600 and 1900 degrees Celsius. At this temperature, the steel is melted and the process of refining and controlling the properties of the steel begins.
In order to maintain the desired control over the process, the electric arc furnace is typically operated with a combination of manual and automated techniques. Manual techniques involve a number of tasks such as controlling furnace levels, adjusting power conditions, and monitoring slag formation. Automated techniques are typically used to control the introduction of raw materials, furnace temperatures, and pressures.
Conclusion
As one can see, the control of the steel making process is a complex and challenging task that requires a combination of manual and automated methods. Each process has its own unique challenges and must be managed carefully in order to produce high quality steel with the desired properties. With the correct combination of manual and automated techniques, the steel making process can be effectively controlled and high quality steel can be produced.
