STEEL MANUFACTURE AND APPARATUS

摘要

A method and apparatus for using a channel induction furnace (10) in casting steel. In the method, material is charged directly into the furnace (10) to replenish a bath of molten steel therein. Preferably the material is steel scrap and the scrap is charged into the furnace (10) through a hopper located above the furnace which may also act to vent furnace gases thereby drying and preheating the scrap. Molten steel may be poured directly into a tundish (80) associated with a steel casting apparatus (12). Two inductors may be mounted on the furnace (10) and individually detachable to allow continuous operation of the furnace while one or the other inductor is being replaced. Two channel induction furnaces may be used as melting furnaces and a third used as a holding furnace fed from the melting furnaces. Preferably horizontal casting apparatus is used together with reheating and continuous rolling.