Thermo-kinetics, mass and heat balance in an energy optimizing furnace for primary steel making

Energy optimizing furnace (EOF) is a primary steel making reactor, where the autogenous exothermic reaction heat, associated with the solute oxidation is utilized for making the steel. The thermo-kinetic reactions of the steel making process have been evaluated in the world's largest, 65 ton EOF, at JSW Steel Ltd., Salem. The solute oxidation as a function of blow time and Si content was evaluated. The mass balance analysis showed that oxygen from the furnace atmosphere has to be entrained by the oxygen jet from the inclined supersonic lance, to completely oxidize the solutes in the melt. The heat balance showed that the power of 352 kWh per metric ton of hot metal is generated by the solute oxidation along with the post combustion. The characteristics of the inclined single hole-supersonic oxygen jet on the molten bath are brought out. Other operational aspects of the process are elaborated.