Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1884-02-01
AarggAllrla Ua=R'Etf.
gEIpA> EVENING, FEBRUARY !, 1884.
THE BESSEMER PROCESS.

For the benefit Of such Of our readers rs
may not he conversant with the require
1nenus oc ores and irons suitable for The man
ufacture ci steel Ivy the Besscner process,
aud Of the manner OF converting the iron
into steel. we give short description Of the
r,ouiremcnts, as stated. and the process 0!
conversion. The ores necessary to make
irou for Bessemer purposes should be pric'
,!cally free from sulphur and phosphorus
aud rs low as possible III silica: ores COL
tanning sulphur can be used By previous
prc;aration Of thorooeh celebration, BY
which tue sulphur IS eliminated from the
ore, but the presence of phosphorus dchars
an ore from use for steel purposes.
The pig iron obtained from smelling pro-
nerlv selected ores contains about two per
cent of silicon and four per cent O. carbon
a, steal must be practically free from SIN
con and have only about four per cent OIL
carbon, tte silicon and carbon Is hrSt entire
ly removed. ,.o1
To accomplish this, the pig iron Is melted
in cupolus similar 10 those used III icundries
and than run into converierS-iarSe cSs
shaped vessels, hanging on piNots enaoiinS
the mouths to bc turned up and down, ihe
motion which is controlled by powerful ny
draulic machinery. These conVerters are
lined with fire bricks. those III the bottom
being perforated 10 admit the blast 10 De
blown into them at !. very nigh pressure ps
powerful engines. As soon rs Inc iron 10
run from the cupola into the converter, 1ne
blast is introduced through tcese periola-
tOns-called tuyers-into the Molten mass
The intention of the admission Of this air,
or oxygen, into the mass At PIE sure sutt-
Gent 10 penetrate he mass isay 25lbs. 10 the
SQUARE inch IS TO consume the carbon and
silicon that the iron contains, and this blast
is continued until that end is effected, which
point is distinguished by the manipulating
expert by the color Of the flames thrown
off. aud wien !ecaChid .he blast i with
drawn.
The iron j. now practically tf,e from sill.
coz. sad cari<,n. bu; - Become steel must
contain the small proportion OF! carbon he
fore stated. Consequently 10 rc-csrbcnizc
the iron 10 the extent required t. con-
vert k into steel. III" carbon must
be introduced This is accomplished
by TIE introduction OF ,pcgeesen. me
tallic combination II iron ana mauganes.
with carbon the proportion contained in
the Sp.cg1ielseu being know. sufficient Of
that metal is melted 10 contain the neceSsa-
ry amount Of carbon required tile weight
OF the contents OF The converter being know.
The manganese and carbon contained in
The spiegeleisen combine with the metal in
the converter and the charge at once be-
comes steel Tue converter i then turned
and the metal poured Into large ladle,
which is swung round by hydraulic power,
and from which ii is poured into mods,
and when cooled ard the mold removed,
has becone an ingct. each ingot containing
steel sufficient for several rails, or to be used
;or other purposes Tor which the steel may
hc required.
To 80 convert Il charge, where proper
equipment is employed, occupies from tif-
teen 10 twenty minutes time, and Is the
steel establishments always contain two or
more couverterS,o one is always ready Tor use,
and -. process is continuous