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

2. Blast Furnace

4. 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

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

6. Electric Arc Furnace
Arc

8. 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

9. Electric Arc Furnace Operations1 2 3 4

10. Basic Oxygen Process

12. 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