Chrome Ore Smelting Furnace - Submerged Arc Furnace

A chrome ore smelting furnace is a type of industrial equipment used to convert chrome ore into ferrochrome, a key raw material for the production of stainless steel and other specialty steels.

Chromium smelting typically uses submerged arc furnaces, using chromite, coke, quartz, and steel scrap as raw materials. Auxiliary materials such as silica and coke are added during the smelting process.

The main methods for smelting chrome ore include the blast furnace process, the electric furnace process, and the plasma furnace process. The electric furnace process is the primary method for producing high-carbon ferrochrome.

Types & Principles of Chrome Ore Smelting Furnace:

Blast Furnace Process:

Primarily used to produce ferrochrome with a low chromium content, typically around 30%.

Electric Furnace Process:

Currently the primary method for producing high-carbon ferrochrome. Its principle is to use electric arc heating to reduce the chromium and iron oxides in the chrome ore with carbon at high temperatures. Since the chromium produced during the reduction process is primarily in the form of carbides, the resulting product is usually high-carbon ferrochrome.

Plasma Furnace Method:

This is an emerging smelting method with advantages such as low energy consumption and high efficiency, but it is still in the development stage.

Chrome Ore Submerged Arc Furnaces Operation Process:

Raw Material Preparation:

Chromium ore, a reducing agent (such as coke), and a flux (such as limestone) are mixed in a specific proportion.

Charge Addition:

The prepared charge is added to the electric furnace in a specific order, typically coke, silica, and chromium ore, to ensure uniform mixing.

Smelting Process:

In the submerged arc furnaces, arc discharge generates high temperatures, reducing the chromium-iron oxides in the charge to form a ferrochrome alloy. Simultaneously, a series of complex chemical reactions occur, such as the reduction of iron oxide and the dissolution of carbon.

Tapping:

After smelting, the ferrochrome alloy is discharged from the industrial furnace for subsequent processing.

Applications of Chrom Ore Smelting Furnaces

• Stainless Steel Production: High-carbon ferrochrome is an important raw material for the production of stainless steel, particularly 200, 300, and 400 series stainless steels.

• Special Steel Production: Ferrochrome alloys are also used in the production of various alloy steels and tool steels, improving their hardness, wear resistance, and hardenability.

• Foundry Industry: Ferrochrome alloys can be used as additives in cast iron to improve its properties.

Chrome ore smelting furnace are indispensable equipment in the metallurgical industry and are crucial for ensuring the production of important metal materials such as stainless steel. With the continuous advancement of metallurgical technology, new smelting methods and equipment are constantly emerging to improve production efficiency and product quality.

High-carbon ferrochrome production methods include the electric furnace process, the shaft furnace process, the plasma process, and the smelting reduction process. However, the shaft furnace process is primarily used to produce low-chromium alloys, while the shaft furnace process for producing high-chromium alloys is still under research. Medium-carbon ferrochrome can be produced through a single-step smelting process in a submerged arc furnaces.