Basic Oxygen Furnace VS Electric Arc Furnace Differences

Basic Oxygen Furnace (BOF) vs Electric Arc Furnace (EAF) are two main types of steel production equipment. They differ significantly in terms of raw materials, energy, processes and product applications, and are mainly used in the smelting process of different metals.

The converter is mainly used for the production of steel, especially high-quality steel. It promotes the oxidation of carbon and other impurities by blowing oxygen into molten iron, thereby improving the quality of steel.

The electric arc melting furnace is mainly used for the smelting of steel and the production of other alloys. The electric arc furnaces generates high temperatures through electric arcs to melt scrap steel or ferroalloys, and is widely used in the production of recycled steel.

Basic Oxygen Furnace vs Electric Arc Furnace

1. Raw Materials

BOF

• Main raw materials: liquid pig iron (blast furnace iron, accounting for 70-80%), scrap steel (20-30%) and a small amount of flux (such as lime).

• Dependence on iron ore: It needs to be equipped with a blast furnace to produce iron water, and it is highly dependent on iron ore resources.

EAF

• Main raw materials: scrap steel (accounting for more than 90%) or direct reduced iron (DRI).

• No need for molten iron: not dependent on blast furnaces, suitable for areas lacking iron ore resources.

2. Energy & fuel

Basic oxygen furnace

• Energy: relying on the physical heat and chemical heat of molten iron (such as carbon oxidation heat release), no external energy heating is required.

• Auxiliary fuel: a small amount of oxygen or gas may be required for combustion.

Electric arc furnace

• Energy: mainly electric energy (arc heating generated by graphite electrodes), supplemented by chemical energy (such as oxygen blowing to assist melting).

• High power consumption: about 350600 kWh of electricity per ton of steel, requiring a stable power supply.

3. Process characteristics

BOF

• Oxidation reaction: blowing high-pressure oxygen to oxidize impurities such as carbon, silicon, and phosphorus in molten iron to produce molten steel.

• Basic lining: used for dephosphorization and desulfurization, suitable for processing high-phosphorus molten iron.

• Rapid smelting: one furnace of steel takes about 3050 minutes.

EAF

• Melting & refining: First melt the scrap steel, then refine it by blowing oxygen or adding additives.

• High flexibility: can produce a variety of steel grades (such as stainless steel, alloy steel), flexible start and stop.

• Long smelting cycle: about 60-90 minutes (including scrap preheating can be shortened).

4. Environmental protection & emissions

Basic oxygen converter

• High carbon emissions: dependent on the coke blast furnace process, CO₂ emissions per ton of steel is about 1.8-2.5 tons.

• Dust & waste gas: converter gas and smoke need to be treated.

Electric arc furnace

• Low carbon emissions: using scrap steel as raw material, CO₂ emissions per ton of steel is about 0.4-0.6 tons (lower if green electricity is used).

• Noise & dust: arc noise is large, and scrap impurities (such as heavy metals) need to be controlled.

5. Products & applications

BOF

• Large-scale production: suitable for bulk steel (such as plates and long products) such as low-carbon steel and ordinary carbon steel.

• Stable quality: suitable for steel grades with strict composition control requirements.

EAF

• Special steel: good at producing high value-added products such as alloy steel, tool steel, stainless steel, etc.

• Small batch customization: adapt to flexible order requirements.

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