Functions of Secondary Refining in Steelmaking

Functions of Secondary Refining in Steelmaking

In modern integrated steel production, secondary refining (or ladle metallurgy) fulfills several critical roles between primary steelmaking and continuous casting. Its main functions are:

1.  Process Offloading and Optimization: It assumes specific refining tasks originally performed in the primary furnace (e.g., BOF or EAF). By completing these reactions under optimized thermodynamic and kinetic conditions, it enhances the overall efficiency and productivity of the entire steelmaking line.

2.  Composition Homogenization and Precision Control: It ensures uniform molten steel composition and enables precise, narrow-range control of alloying elements to meet strict product specifications.

3.  Accurate Temperature Control: It allows for exact adjustment and stabilization of molten steel temperature to meet the stringent thermal requirements of continuous casting.

4.  Enhanced Steel Cleanliness: It further improves steel purity by deeply removing dissolved gases (degassing), sulfur, and non-metallic inclusions, and can modify the morphology of remaining inclusions to improve product properties.

5.  Production Buffer and Synchronizer: It acts as a vital buffer between the discontinuous steelmaking and continuous casting processes, coordinating rhythms and improving overall workshop logistics and efficiency.

To accomplish these tasks, secondary refining equipment is generally designed to provide the following core capabilities:

1.  Bath Stirring: To homogenize steel composition and temperature, promote inclusion flotation, and enhance steel-slag reactions.

2.  Heating and Temperature Control: To reheat or precisely adjust the temperature of the molten steel.

3.  Refining Functions: Including slag washing, degassing, decarburization, desulfurization, inclusion removal, and inclusion morphology control.

4.  Alloying Function: To allow for accurate and efficient addition of alloying elements for precise final chemistry.

5.  Production Regulation: To provide operational flexibility and balance the production rhythm between steelmaking and continuous casting.

 We are a professional electric furnace manufacturer. For further inquiries, or if you require submerged arc furnaces, electric arc furnaces, ladle refining furnaces, or other melting equipment, please do not hesitate to contact us at  susan@aeaxa.com