Modern technologies for preheating scrap before charging it into electric arc steelmaking furnace

Abstract

There are a number of technical solutions to utilize the waste gases of electric arc furnaces (EAF) for scrap preheating thus returning back the heat into the technological process. The waste gases can be utilized also for steam or hot water production. The preliminary scrap heating before charging it into EAF is more perspective. Technical features of various types scrap heaters considered, including conveyer and shaft scrap heating technologies with continuous (Contiarc, Consteel, Comelt, BBC-Brusa) and periodic charging (Fuchs Systemtechnik, COSS, backet). It was shown that application of scrap heaters for EAF ensures saving of electric energy, increase of metal yield, decrease of dust and gases level in the shop, decrease of negative impact on environment. The disadvantages include frequent and costly repairs of the facilities, impossibility to control some factors having effect on the process of scrap heating. It was shown that when designing new EAFs with a charge exceeding 100 t, horizontal facilities are more preferrable, while for EAFs of small volumes shaft heaters suit better. At EAF modernizing it is recommended to use shaft heaters and back­et-thermos, since it is easier to construct a vertical furnace than a horizontal one with minimal length of 100 m. It was noted that hor­izontal heaters operate better in terms of technology, since ensure continuous charging by scrap, but at that occupy a considerable space in the shop. When comparing vertical heaters and backet by all the characteristics including heat-engineering and designingones, vertical shaft heaters prevail.