Advantages of the Carbon-Oxygen Lance

Advantages of the Carbon-Oxygen Lance

The term "carbon-oxygen lance" primarily refers to equipment used in electric arc furnace (EAF) smelting. It most commonly denotes a furnace door carbon-oxygen lance, although furnace wall-mounted versions also exist.

A typical furnace door lance is equipped with two water-cooled nozzles. These can be configured as two separate water-cooled oxygen lances or as a single, combined unit.

In a common configuration, the lance features two distinct nozzles arranged concentrically: one is a Laval nozzle designed to deliver a supersonic oxygen jet, while the other is a straight-bore carbon gun for injecting carbon powder. The Laval oxygen nozzle is typically positioned to surround the carbon gun.

During operation, the lance is gradually inserted into the furnace as the scrap charge melts.

Compared to traditional smelting processes, the utilization of a carbon-oxygen lance in electric furnaces offers several key advantages:

(1) Enhanced Metallurgical Dynamics: The furnace door lance injects oxygen into the molten bath at supersonic speeds (approximately Mach 2). This dramatically alters the chemical equilibrium within the bath, significantly increasing the generation of carbon monoxide (CO).

(2) Full-Process Foamy Slag Operation: The concurrent injection of carbon creates optimal conditions for maintaining a foamy slag throughout the entire heat. This practice reduces slag splashing, improves power input efficiency, lowers furnace noise, and enhances overall steel quality.

(3) Improved Energy Efficiency and Reduced Refractory Wear: The process elevates off-gas temperature as the injected oxygen efficiently reacts with carbon. Compared to traditional systems where free oxygen is used for CO combustion during decarburization, this method results in a less oxidizing atmosphere inside the furnace. Consequently, it reduces the consumption of both graphite electrodes and refractory linings.

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