Patent ID: 6238453
Filing Date: 2001-05-29
Classification: C21C,Y02P

Abstract:
A process for smelting and refining stainless steel in a smelting arrangement having electrodes and at least two vessels for supplying a steel foundry, comprising the steps of:a) melting using electrodes, in a first vessel, a first charge substantially including at least one of solid and liquid metallic iron-containing raw materials, and partially including carbon-containing alloy carriers, so as to produce a melt covered with slag;b) decarburizing the melt after reaching a temperature of 1460.degree. C., to a carbon content of less than 0.3% by injecting one of oxygen and oxygen mixtures;c) heating the melt to a tapping temperature of 1620.degree. C. to 1720.degree. C.;d) subsequently bringing the melt to a final carbon content of less than 0.1%, steps a)-d) being carried out in the first vessel; ande) melting a second charge in a second vessel during the decarburizing of the first charge in the first vessel by pivoting the electrodes from the first vessel to the second vessel, and repeating steps b) through d) in the second vessel whereby all the process steps for smelting and refining are carried out respectively in each of the vessels so that the vessels function in a parallel, staggered fashion.