November 27, 2025
Main Functions of Ladle Refining Furnaces
1. Heating and Temperature Maintenance
The ladle refining furnace (LRF) provides supplementary heating via electric arcs, supplying additional thermal energy to the molten steel. This heating capability supports alloy additions and composition adjustments during refining, as well as the introduction of slag-forming materials to facilitate deep desulfurization and deoxidation. Moreover, it ensures the molten steel reaches the precise temperature required for continuous casting, contributing to improved slab quality.
2. Argon Stirring
Argon gas is injected into the molten steel through permeable bricks installed in the ladle bottom. This stirring action promotes homogenization of temperature and chemistry, enhances slag-metal reactions, and assists in the removal of non-metallic inclusions.
3. Vacuum Degassing
When integrated with a vacuum system, the ladle can be placed inside a vacuum chamber where steam ejector pumps create a low-pressure environment. Combined with argon stirring from the ladle bottom, this vacuum treatment effectively removes hydrogen and nitrogen from the steel, further reduces oxygen and sulfur levels, and ultimately yields higher-purity molten steel with enhanced mechanical properties.
Overall Benefits
For the steel plant, the adoption of ladle refining furnaces delivers several key advantages:
- Accelerates production rhythm by separating refining from primary melting;
- Improves overall metallurgical efficiency and process flexibility;
- Enables the production of higher-quality steel grades.
Application Areas
Ladle refining furnaces are widely employed in industrial, steelmaking, and metallurgical sectors for the production of various carbon, alloy, and specialty steels.
In summary, the ladle refining furnace serves as a critical secondary metallurgy unit, providing heating, stirring, and vacuum treatment capabilities that enhance steel cleanliness, composition control, and overall production efficiency.
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