Slag Freeze-Lining for Electronic Arc Furnace
An improved method of operating an arc furnace is provided. The sidewall of the furnace includes a refractory lining. A charge of scrap metal is added to the furnace. The charge is melted and a slag layer is formed on the top of the melting charge. The furnace is tapped at the bottom to remove a portion of the melted charge. After tapping the furnace, the slag is splashed onto the sidewall to thereby coat the sidewall with a frozen slag layer.
1 . A method of operating a 3-phase electric arc furnace having a lower bowl, sidewall, and a roof, the method comprising:
providing a refractory lining for the sidewall;
adding a charge of scrap metal to the furnace;
melting said charge;
forming a slag layer as said charge melts;
tapping at least a portion of the melted charge; and
after said tapping step, splashing said slag onto said sidewall to thereby coat said sidewall with a frozen slag layer.
2 . The method of claim 1 wherein said furnace includes at least one lance and said step of splashing said slag further comprises blowing a gas out of said lance to splash said slag.
3 . The method of claim 2 wherein said gas is substantially comprised of nitrogen.
4 . The method of claim 1 wherein said refractory is comprised of substantially carbon.
5 . The method of claim 1 wherein said refractory is comprised of substantially ceramic.
6 . The method of claim 1 wherein the thermal conductivity of said refractory is from between about 10 and about 100 W/m-K.
7 . The method of claim 6 wherein the thermal conductivity of said refractory brick is greater than about 20 W/m-K.
8 . The method of claim 6 wherein the thermal conductivity of said refractory brick is greater than about 50 W/m-K.
9 . The method of claim 1 further comprising providing a refractory lining for said roof.
10 . The method of claim 1 wherein said refractory lining causes less than about 30 kW/m 2 of energy loss averaged over a heat.
11 . The method of claim 1 wherein said frozen slag layer is greater than about 1.0 cm.