Copper-cladded Roofs for Ladle Furnaces

Standard ladle roofs often experience skull formation, which can result in an imbalanced roof and potentially cause roof arcing. This issue necessitates frequent maintenance and poses a risk to operators if the skull falls. Primetals Technologies prioritizes enhancing operator safety, improving processes, saving energy, and optimizing maintenance routines. To address these challenges, the company developed a copper-cladded roof for ladle furnaces, offering a safer and more efficient solution.

Using copper for ladle furnace roofs provides efficient heat removal in areas subjected to heavy thermal loads, making copper-cladded roofs ideal for long-term reliability. These roofs prevent skull formation due to their superior surface and thermal properties, ensuring a safer process by reducing roof imbalance and minimizing the risk of roof arcing. Consequently, maintenance frequency and duration are significantly reduced. The excellent heat removal capabilities also enhance energy efficiency.

Various types and sizes of ladle furnaces with copper-cladded roofs have been successfully installed worldwide. These roofs are available as standalone solutions, tailored to the customer's ladle furnace material supply, off-gas, and measurement design. Patented methods and components address historically problematic areas, such as furnace roof hot spots. With over 50 years of technological advancements and numerous global installations, these roofs demonstrate the expertise and leadership of Primetals Technologies.

Benefits of Copper-Cladded Roofs for Ladle Furnaces

• Avoid formation of skull at the roof and dropout into liquid steel
• No risk of roof arcing
• Minimized fault air entry between roof rim and ladle
• Reduced electrode side wall oxidation
• External side wall roof exhausting system
• Safe working conditions
• Highly efficient heat removal
• Extremely long lifetime and availability of the roof