Interaction of the atmosphere with steel in a bubbling layer furnace

Conclusions

• 1. The gaseous atmosphere in a bubbling layer of carbon-containing particles which are fluidized by air at 700–1100°C consists mainly of the components CO₂, CO, and N₂, whose ratio depends to the a great extent on the temperature of the bubbling layer and to a lesser extent on the fluidization system. At 600–800°C the atmosphere is slightly oxidizing, at 800–1000°C it is nonoxidizing, but slightly decarburizing, and at 1000°C and higher it is carburizing.

• 2. With fluidization by neutral gases the atmosphere in the bubbling layer of carbon-containing particles is neutral.

• 3. Oxidation and decarburization of steels in the case of heating in a bubbling layer of carbon-containing particles is significantly lower than in the case of heating in an air medium.