Slag Engineering for Development of a Continuous Steelmaking Process

This section presents an example of the practical use of process metallurgy fundamentals in determining the optimum process conditions for a novel continuous steelmaking technology. In this technology, direct reduced iron is continuously melted and refined in a stationary electric arc furnace. The major challenges against the continuous operation of the electric furnace were identified to be minimizing the corrosion of the refractory in order to achieve uninterrupted operation and, at the same time, satisfying the oxidizing conditions required for sufficient decarburization. It will be discussed how these process requirements were addressed through proper theoretical analysis, the use of prior knowledge, bench scale experiments, and pilot trials.