Cupola Oxygen Steelmaking at Acme Steel

Operating experience for a unique hot-blast cupola — basic-oxygen jurnace steelmaking facility is described. The facility is unusual in that basic, hot-blast, water-cooled cupolas are used to produce a low-silicon hot-metal for the basic oxygen furnaces. The problems encountered in using low-silicon hot-metals are discussed. Because of the low silicon content of the cupola hot-metal, steelmaking operations at Acme are different than at other basic oxygen facilities. The various steelmaking techniques employed, including the use of an artificial slag, are described in detail.