(4) Basic oxygen furnace (oxygen lance) is the newest of the steel production
methods and rapidly growing in importance because of its speed and efficiency.
Major recognition features of BOF include:
Very tall monitor roof
Multistoried steel frame with a large flue exiting from the roof
Dust catcher and exhaust stack unit
Oxygen storage tanks.
(a)
The basic oxygen furnace (BOF) is a pear-shaped or spherical steel
vessel mounted on trunnions similar to the Bessemer converter (Figure 2-66).
Figure 2-66. BOF.
(b)
Like the converter, the BOF is rotated forward for charging through an
open mouth and returned to the vertical position for operation.
However, in the
BOF, a water-cooled lance is lowered into the vessel, and a stream of pure gaseous
oxygen is directed on the molten charge.
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