DEGASSING

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Objectives

To understand & analyze the limitation of BoF


processes to limit gas dissolution, requirements to
control gas dissolution in BoF and mechanisms to
achieve it.
Sources of Gases in steel
ž During the process of Steel Making
— BoF Process
— Lancing process
— Agitation or Purging
ž During Pretreatment and Post treatment
— External processes for removal of impurities
— Affinity of specific gases with melt
ž During Teeming
— Form BoF to Ladle
— From Ladle to Mold, Ladle to Tundish
— From Ladle to CCP
Challenge & Remedy
ž The gases dissolved in steel, beyond a
certain limit, are undesirable because
their presence finally leads to several
defects in steel products.

ž The processes that have been


developed to treat such steel are known
as ‘Vacuum Degassing Processes’
Vacuum Degassing
ž Vacuum Degassing was originally meant to
reduce hydrogen from steels that were prone
to hairline cracking.

ž It was soon realized that de-oxidation of steel,


by way of carbon-oxygen reaction, could also
be carried out under vacuum to produce
steels of much better cleanliness since the
product of de-oxidation, being gas, escapes
out of the melt.
Functions of Degassing Plant
ž To remove hydrogen from steel so that the prolonged
annealing treatment is not required, particularly in forging
quality steels.
ž To improve cleanliness by removing oxygen in the form of
CO gas.
ž To produce steels of a very low carbon content by
transferring part of the refining from furnace to the
degassing unit.
ž To bring about desulphurization of steel by reagents carried
along with an inert gas like argon bubbled through the
bath.
ž To ensure better control of chemical composition of steel
by adding the requisite amount of additions under vacuum.
Degassing Processes
ž Ladle Degassing
ž Liquid steel is held in a ladle which is put inside a vacuum
chamber.

ž Stream Degassing
ž Liquid steel flows down in the form of a stream from the
furnace or ladle to another ladle or mould during its
exposure vacuum.

ž Circulation Degassing
ž Liquid steel is either continuously or intermittently
circulated during its exposure to vacuum.
Teeming
ž The teeming ladle, after tapping, is kept in a
vacuum chamber which is then evacuated.

ž The ladle is removed after a predetermined


time when the correct teeming temperature
of steel is reached.

ž Teeming is carried out in open atmosphere.


1. Ladle Degassing
ž Ladle degassing is the simplest of all the
degassing processes and hence is very widely
adopted.

ž The ladles are generally lined with high alumina


bricks at the top level while for the lower portion
the usual fire bricks are employed.

ž Similarly, the chamber bottom is also lined to


protect it against any accidental failure of ladle
stopper rod or the side gates.

ž The vacuum chamber cover is lined to protect it


from direct radiations.
ž Steel may be stirred by bubbling an inert gas
or by an electro-magnetic stirrer while being
exposed to vacuum.

ž Stirring is essential for homogenization of the


bath composition.

ž The teeming ladle is kept in the tank, the


cover is replaced and evacuation is started.
2. Stream Degassing
ž Molten steel is exposed to vacuum in the form of
a stream of metal flowing from one vessel to
another.

ž Sudden exposure to vacuum results in in such a


rapid rate of degassing that the stream explodes
into thin droplets.

ž The large increase in surface area of steel in the


form of falling droplets lead to very efficient
degassing and surface reactions.
The following processes are used in practice
wherein degassing is accomplished by pouring
steel from one vessel to another :-
ž Ladle-to-mould degassing
ž Ladle-to-ladle degassing
ž Tap degassing
ž Gero vacuum casting process
ž Therm-I-Vac process
ž In stream degassing steel is exposed, drop by
drop, to vacuum.

ž The size of the drop is important as it


determines the efficiency of degassing.

ž Although it hastens degassing it also increases


temperature losses during the process.

ž The geometry of the system is therefore


important and should be such as to keep the
heat-losses to a minimum.
ž The rate of pouring and the level of vacuum
are yet other parameters of interest to
investigate the economics of these processes
for degassing.

ž Unlike the other stream gassing processes


the Gero process is not meant to accomplish
significant amount of carbon-oxygen reaction
in addition to removal of hydrogen.
3. Recirculation Degassing
ž Molten metal is exposed to vacuum in the
form of either a circulating stream or a small
portion temporarily lifted from the rest of the
metal pool.

ž In commercial practice the former system is


known as R-H process and the latter system
is known as D-H process.
Compare the
efficiency of
degassing and
the time it takes
R-H Degassing Process
ž During degassing metal enters the cylindrical
vacuum chamber through one snorkel and flows
back under gravity through the other.

ž Lifter gas like argon is introduced in the inlet


snorkel at the point where alumina tubular tip is
attached to it.

ž The lifter gas bursts in the chamber and likewise


steel also explodes on meeting vacuum as in a
steam degassing process.
ž The net result of all this is that degassing takes
place very efficiently.

ž Gravity causes the steel to flow back in the ladle


via the other snorkel.

ž Degassed steel is slightly cooler and denser than


that in the ladle and hence it forces the lighter un-
degassed steel upwards thereby ensuring
adequate mixing and homogeneity of the bath.

ž Degassing is quite efficient and more than 90%


gas is removed by exposing the metal twice only
to vacuum.
D-H Degassing Process
ž A small portion of total steel is treated at a time
under vacuum.

ž The process is repeated until required


degassing is achieved.

ž It is also known as a lifter degassing process.

ž A layer of slag is deliberately kept on the steel


bath in the ladle to minimize heat losses.
ž The D-H process possesses most of the
advantages of R-H process and in addition it is
possible to work with much less superheat
because heating device like graphite resistor rod
is provided in this process to compensate part of
the heat losses during degassing.
Take away of the session
ž How gas makes it way to Steel making process of
OH and BoF?

ž What controls are exercised during process of SM


to limit its dissolution?

ž What if specifications are stricter than the


achieved by exercising the control during process?
THANK YOU !!!

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