DEOXIDATION OF MOLTEN STEEL USING A SHORT-CIRCUITED SOLID OXIDE ELECTROCHEMICAL-CELL

Deoxidation of steel melts by short-circuiting an electrochemical cell has been demonstrated. A one-end closed yttria-stabilized zirconia (Y SZ) tube, whose inner wall. is coated with a porous molybdenum-YSZ cer met, is inserted into the steel melt. A reducing gas is passed through the tube, and a short circuit is established between the cermet and t he melt. The deoxidation process has been analyzed and mathematically modeled by dividing the external short-circuit current into regions ch aracterized by total resistance control and mass transport control. Th e kinetics are enhanced by increasing the oxygen mass-transfer coeffic ient in the melt (increasing melt stirring) and decreasing the total s hort-circuited cell resistance.