Principle chemical reactions

Hot metal contains      and . Oxygen is blown from top and the following reactions occur:

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Note the following:

• No heat is supplied from outside. The heat produced due to chemical reactions is sufficient enough to raise the temperature of hot metal from around  to molten steel tapping temperature of  . 
  
  
• Except carbon which is removed as a gaseous phase rest all other elements form slag. Slag formation of desired chemistry and physico-chemical properties is vital for the successful operation of converter steelmaking technology.
  
  
• Typically converter steelmaking technology allows to tap liquid steel in approximately every 50 to 60 minutes with specified steel chemistry and 500-1000ppm dissolved oxygen.
  
  
• Typically oxygen blowing time is independent of converter capacity i.e.  is blown for 15 to 20 minutes irrespective of the converter capacity.   

b Electric Arc furnace (E A F)