Inert Gas Stirring in Electric Arc Furnaces: Metallurgical Benefits with a focus on medium- and high-alloyed steelmaking.

13 May 2026, 12:20
20m
Porta room

Porta room

Oral Presentation EEC 2.A Energy efficiency and consumption reduction strategies Energy Efficiency and Consumption Reduction

Speaker

Matthias Höck (RHI Magnesita)

Description

To minimise production costs for alloyed steel production in an electric arc furnace (EAF), optimal mixing of the molten metal is required during the melting and refining process. Improved heat transfer accelerates the melting of larger scrap pieces, resulting in time and energy savings. A homogeneous distribution of alloy elements and carbon in the melt reduces the unwanted oxidation of alloys, e.g. chromium, leading to better metal yield and improved slag properties.
Inert gas stirring is a proven method for improving process control, energy efficiency, metal yield, melting time, and metallurgical properties in such areas of EAF steelmaking as oxygen control and dephosphorisation. To support these benefits and meet the increasing demands of larger EAFs in integrated steel plants, the range of purging plugs has been expanded to accommodate the higher flow rates. The improvements in EAF process efficiency and metallurgy achieved with inert gas stirring are presented in industrial case studies.

Speaker Company/University RHI Magnesita
Speaker Country Austria

Author

Marcus Kirschen (RHI Magnesita)

Co-authors

Daniel Sipos (RHI Magnesita) Matthias Höck (RHI Magnesita) Michael Freiler (RHI Magnesita) Sumit Sundaram (RHI Magnesita) Uxia Dieguez Salgado (RHI Magnesita)

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