Damian Keenan Summerhill College Producing Iron & Steel Damian Keenan Summerhill College

Blast Furnace

Iron ore is smelted Iron ore, coke and limestone fed in at the top Hot air is blown in through nozzles called tuyeres As coke burns it produces heat and carbon monoxide gas Carbon monoxide combines with oxygen in the ore leaving iron The molten iron falls to the bottom Limestone combines with earthy impurities to form a slag Slag floats on top of iron because it is lighter Slag is tapped off and used as fertiliser Iron is tapped off and brought to the steel-making furnaces

The Pig Iron now goes to other furnaces to turn the Iron into good quality Steel

Electric Arc Furnace Arc

Used to produce high quality steels Charge scrap metal, lime and mill scale or iron ore Heat is generated by electric arcs between the carbon electrodes and the charge Lime and mill scale combine with the unwanted elements, producing a slag Time to time samples are taken to check composition When correct slag is removed Steel is then tapped off from the furnace

Electric Arc Furnace Operations 1 2 3 4

Basic Oxygen Process

Major method of producing bulk steel Scrap is placed in the furnace first Molten pig iron poured in on top of it Lime is added A water-cooled lance blows oxygen into the furnace The impurities become oxidised and forms a slag The molten steel is now tapped off and cast into ingots Slag is now poured out by turning the vessel upside down