Ladle Furnaces

A Ladle Furnace (LF) is used to refine molten steel into specialty grades while remaining in the Ladle. This relieves the primary steelmaking furnace of most secondary refining operations.

The main functions of a Ladle Furnace are:

Reheating liquid steel with electric power which is conducted by graphite electrodes.
Homogenization of steel temperature and chemistry through inert gas stirring.
Formation of slag layer that protects refractory from arc damage, concentrates and transfers heat to the liquid steel, trap inclusions and metal oxides, and provides means for desulphurization.
Additions of ferro alloys to provide for bulk or trim chemical control.
Cored wire addition for trimming and morphology control.
Provide a means for dephosphorization or deep desulphurization.
Act as a buffer for downstream equipment and process.
A Ladle Furnace uses three large, graphite electrodes to reheat the steel bath in the Ladle.