Optimization of the electric arc furnace process at Deutsche Edelstahlwerke

During stainless steel production in the electric arc furnace, oxygen is injected to oxidize unwanted tramp elements, mainly carbon and silicon. Unfortunately, oxygen also oxidizes elements valuable to the process, e.g. iron and chromium which causes an economical loss and a bad environmental impact. An off-gas analysis was introduced at Deutsche Edelstahlwerke GmbH to monitor the decarburization process so that element oxidation, not only decarburization, and oxygen consumption can be well controlled. This paper presents a new strategy to control the element oxidation as well as to increase the efficiency of the oxygen injection. For the investigated heat, a well-controlled decarburization would decrease the oxygen consumption by about 10 %.