Energy Consumption Improvement In Submerged Electric Furnaces For Ferrochromium Production

The production of high-carbon ferrochromium in a submerged electric furnace based on double-level technology has some advantages compared to close-type furnaces with one tap hole. These advantages include the reduction of the specific energy consumption for the overall process, good separation of ferrochromium from slag, an effective treatment of raw materials including lean chrome ores (low percentage of Cr2O3) etc. An outline of the operation of this furnace along with the production line of briquettes from fines of chrome ore by using organic and inorganic binders, will be followed by a description of the recent work carried out to improve the energy consumption in this furnace through a pre reduction process of Cr2O3 ores by the off-gas energy recuperated from the furnace and the use of SiC in the feed. A short theoretical analysis of the new work will also be given.