2022.08.25

Introduction to Electric Furnace Steelmaking Methods and Products

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Steel is produced by 2 types of furnaces that are Blast Furnace and Electric Furnace. Steel production using electric furnaces contributes to the SDGs, and it is ideal for people to understand how environmentally friendly it is. The issue is that the steelmaking process using blast furnaces increases the environmental burden by emitting large amounts of carbon dioxide. Also, the steelmaking process using electric furnaces is not well recognized as a positive step toward addressing the SDGs. Then, to introduce steel products that can be manufactured using electric furnaces and to let people know that these products are manufactured in line with the SDGs.

In this blog, we'll compile an easy-to-understand list of electric furnace steelmaking methods that can reduce environmental impact and how environmentally friendly they are as SDGs contributions.

Main Materials of BF vs EF

Blast furnace produces Hot metal (Liquid Iron) using Iron ore, Coke, Sinter, Pellets, and fluxes such as Lime-stone, Pyroxenite, and Quartzite reacting with oxygen from pre-heated air. This entire process of production of hot metal is associated with various safety hazards like hit/entanglement with mobile equipment, burns, fire, slip & fall, exposure to dust, smoke, noise, heat & gas, etc.

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For Electric Furnace, the raw material may be up to 100% scrap or various mixes of hot metal, pig iron, DRI (hot and/or cold), and HBI. Worldwide, scrap covers around 75% of the raw materials for EAF, while DRI and HBI cover around 15%, and the balance (10%) is covered by pig iron and hot metal.

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Carbon Dioxide Emission of BF vs EF

Blast furnaces produce a lot of carbon emissions. Averaging 1.85 tons of carbon dioxide per ton of steel produced in 2018, or around 8% of the world's carbon dioxide emissions. For instance, in Japan, this industrial sector is responsible for around 35% of the roughly 1.2 billion tons of CO2 that are released yearly. For around 40% of the emissions from the industrial sector, the iron and steel industry is responsible. Approximately 14% of Japan's entire annual output, or 160 million tons, are produced in this country. The steel sector must cut emissions in order to lower national CO2 emissions.

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However, since coal-based coke is used in iron ore-based blast furnaces as a reducing agent (to remove oxygen) and a heat source, they invariably release significant amounts of CO2. Manufacturers of blast furnaces are responsible for more than 90% of the CO2 emissions in the steel sector. Electric furnace producers emit around one-fourth as much CO2 as blast furnace producers do for every ton of steel produced. The CO2 emissions of the steel sector will be reduced by switching from blast furnaces to electric furnaces, which will help to lower Japan's emissions as a whole.

Daiwa Lance's Contribution to Steel Production by EF

There are lots of processes in steel production by Electric Furnace including Electric Arc Furnace and Induction Furnace. Below are some main processes by that lance pipes would be used as materials to support the production.

  • Thermic Lance: Cutting Scrap at scrapyard as preparation for the Steel production process as inputs materials.

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  • CA Lance: inject Oxygen and other additives from the Slag door of EAF

Blast Furnace

 

  • Converter: after pouring out liquid steel, the workers will use SC Lance pipe to clean stuck metal inside the converter after a long time using.

    SC Lance clean Converter

 

By using Daiwa Lance pipes, there are also other various impacts that could support and bring to the whole steel production process:

  • Consumption reduced: The time it takes to smelt steel is reduced, which helps to reduce fuel, oil, and gas, which are the main fuels used in steel production.

  • Heating time reduced: The heating time of the Electric furnace count as tap to tap time, measure the minutes take our produced pig iron from the tap hole of the furnace to the next take out.

Conclusion

Blast furnaces and electric furnaces are the two types of furnaces used to make steel. The Sustainable Development Goals are supported by electric furnace steel manufacturing, and it is important for people to realize how ecologically beneficial this method is. Secondly, to introduce steel goods that can be produced using electric arc furnaces and to inform people that these items are produced in accordance with the SDGs.

If you wish to know more about our new design of Thermic Lance and have a try to boost your production performance, let us support you 

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Introduction to Electric Furnace Steelmaking Methods and Products