VD/VOD Ladle Refining Furnaces

VD/VOD Ladle Refining Furnaces

VD (Vacuum Degassing) and VOD (Vacuum Oxygen Decarburization) ladle refining furnaces are important secondary metallurgy units used to improve steel quality. Though related in design and equipment, their functions differ significantly:

- VD Furnace provides vacuum degassing and inert gas stirring, mainly used for deoxidizing bearing steel and adjusting alloy composition under vacuum.

- VOD Furnace additionally enables oxygen blowing under vacuum to achieve decarburization, making it suitable for producing ultra-low‑carbon stainless steels and electrical pure iron.

Main Configurations

VD/VOD units can be designed as single- or double-station setups. The vacuum tank may be arranged in an overhead or pit-type installation, or mounted on a movable car. The vacuum tank cover can be designed to lift vertically or move aside with the car.

Key Equipment Components

A typical VD/VOD ladle refining furnace consists of the following major systems:

- Vacuum tank and tank cover with lifting mechanism

- Ladle

- Oxygen lance mechanism

- Vacuum alloy feeding device

- Temperature measurement, sampling, and viewing systems

- Oxygen and argon supply systems

- Cooling water system

- Vacuum pump system

In summary, while VD furnaces focus on degassing and homogenization, VOD furnaces extend these capabilities with controlled oxygen injection for decarburization, catering to the specific needs of different steel grades.

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