VOD Furnace Process Flow

Working Principle of VOD Vacuum Refining Furnace

Process Flow of VOD Furnace

1. Raw material preparation

• Raw material selection: Select suitable metal raw materials, such as low-carbon chromium-nickel alloy steel or stainless steel.
• Melting: Melt the metal raw materials in an electric arc furnace or other furnace to form molten metal.

2. Converter charging

• Casting: Transfer the molten metal from the smelting furnace into the lining of the vacuum refining furnace.
• Vacuum sealing: Start the vacuum pump, extract the air in the furnace, and establish a vacuum environment.

3. Blowing process

• Oxygen blowing: pure oxygen or oxygen mixed gas is sprayed into the molten metal through the nozzle on the top of the furnace.
• Degassing reaction: oxygen reacts with the molten metal to remove excess impurities such as carbon, nitrogen and hydrogen.

4. Refining

• Composition control: by adjusting the oxygen flow rate and blowing time, the composition of the metal is controlled to ensure that the requirements of the target alloy are met.

• Temperature monitoring: the temperature of the molten metal is continuously monitored.

5. Finishing & casting

• Vacuum venting: after the end of blowing, the pressure in the furnace is gradually restored, and finally the metal is cast into a specified shape (such as ingots, round steel, etc.).

6. Cleaning & testing

• Sampling testing: the composition and quality of the cast metal are checked.
• Equipment maintenance: routine inspection and maintenance of the VOD furnace to ensure its normal operation.