Oxygen in soaking pits and reheating furnaces

Without increase in fuel, oxygen enrichment of burner air by up to 4% has increased soaking pit output at Duport Steel Works, Llanelli, by 12·5% and at Sheffield Rolling Mills reheating furnace by 28 %, during trials initiated by BOC. While no two furnaces are the same, where ‘heat delays’ occur controlled enrichment of burner air with oxygen – aprocess industrially pioneered by BOC – can give significant increases in output. Modifications to the furnace are simple and safe, and controlled operation is easily achieved. Product quality, scaling and decarburization, and yield were not affected.