oxigénkonverteres

An oxigénkonverteres, often referred to as an oxygen converter or basic oxygen furnace (BOF), is a large, tiltable vessel used in the steelmaking process to remove impurities from molten pig iron. The process begins by charging the converter with molten pig iron, which is produced in a blast furnace. Scrap steel is then added to act as a coolant and to help control the temperature.

The key element of the oxigénkonverteres is the blowing of high-purity oxygen onto the surface of the molten metal. This oxygen reacts with impurities such as carbon, silicon, manganese, and phosphorus. These reactions generate heat, which further raises the temperature of the molten charge. Carbon is oxidized to carbon monoxide gas, which escapes, while silicon, manganese, and phosphorus are oxidized to form slag-forming oxides.

Fluxes, typically lime (calcium oxide), are added to the converter. These fluxes react with the oxidized impurities to form a molten slag that floats on top of the molten steel. The converter is then tilted to pour off the slag, leaving the purified molten steel behind. The entire process is relatively rapid, typically taking between 20 to 30 minutes per batch. The oxigénkonverteres is a crucial piece of equipment in modern steel production due to its efficiency and high output capacity, enabling the mass production of steel from iron.