With the increasing use of a variety of iron sources as the charge for many EAF melt shop operations, many steelmakers are experiencing higher sulphur levels in their steel at tap. This may result in the need to remove more sulphur from the steel at the LMF. In many cases, the need for greater continuous caster productivity does not enable a correspondent increase in the time available for desulphurization of the steel. This leaves steelmakers looking to knock down a greater amount of sulphur in the same time as before.
Desulphurization times at the LMF can be reduced by increasing the stir energy to the molten steel in the steel ladle by increasing the gas flow per unit of time through the stir plug for greater mixing. Many shops are finding that the addition of a second stir plug can improve rapid mixing when two plugs are flowing simultaneously. But increased gas flows and the use of two plugs in place of one can increase turbulence at the ladle slag line resulting in greater mechanical washing and erosion of the ladle slag line refractory for a drop in the heat life campaign for the ladle refractory working lining.
In addition to increased
gas flows through the porous plugs and an increase in the number of
plugs used per ladles, SSRC has introduced a new plug design that achieves
a more energetic stir for better mixing and reaction of desulphurization
reagents with less mechanical erosion of the ladle refractory slag line.
Introducing Fusion™ Technology
The Next Generation of Porous Plugs
Our patent pending Fusion™ Technology is the advancement of the porous plug to the next level. The Fusion™ Plug rivals the life expectancy of current directional plugs with the benefit of a next level random porosity. This next level is defined in several ways.
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The Fusion™ Plug pore structure is designed to create a smaller bubble.
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The Fusion™ Plug is designed to provide a wider dispersion of the smaller bubbles over a much larger area.
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The Fusion™ Plug is designed to provide a less violent stir.
Benefits of the Fusion™ Plug
The benefits of the Fusion™ Plug Technology are unmatched in comparison with standard random porosity plugs. The smaller bubble structure and wider dispersion of bubbles allows for more surface area contact with the molten steel. This benefits many areas such as a decrease in de-sulphurization time, increased cleansing of the steel by floating more of the impurities to the surface, and better homogenous mixture of the steel. Due to the wider dispersion of the gas bubbles this produces a larger eye opening in the slag while stirring. The Fusion™ Plug also provides a less violent stir which in turn provides a wider dispersion of finer bubbles into the melt for a wider eye at the slag metal interface and a wider distribution of the stir energy over a larger area of the ladle slag line refractory for less wear on the refractory per heat, a decrease in heat loss and an overall decrease in argon consumption.
Components of the Fusion™ Plug
Fusion™-GT is a blend of the best performance options available. We combine our high density castable with our NO-STICK™ technology to provide a reduced maintenance, longer lasting product. The Fusion™-GT is available in both our plugs and blocks. The two combined together provides a cost effective solution for increased service life.
Ask your SSRC representative or call us direct about our Fusion™ line of products.
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