The main difference between Bessemer and open-hearth process is that the Bessemer process is a rapid and efficient batch process that is suitable for making steel from pig iron, while the open-hearth process is a continuous process that offers more flexibility in raw materials and composition adjustments but is less efficient.
Both the Bessemer process and the open hearth process are methods used to produce steel from raw materials. Both processes are vital contributors to the growth of steel production during the 19th and early 20th centuries. In fact, they played significant roles in the industrialization and infrastructure development of their respective eras.
Key Areas Covered
1. What is Bessemer Process
– Definition, Features
2. What is Open Hearth Process
– Definition, Features
3. Similarities – Bessemer and Open Hearth Process
– Outline of Common Features
4. Difference Between Bessemer and Open Hearth Process
– Comparison of Key Differences
Key Terms
Bessemer Process, Open Hearth Process
What is Bessemer Process
The Bessemer process was a groundbreaking industrial technique that enabled the cost-effective mass production of steel from molten pig iron. Sir Henry Bessemer invented it. This method predates the open hearth furnace and operates on a fundamental principle of purifying iron by introducing air through the molten iron. The introduction of air not only removes impurities from the iron but also increases its temperature, ensuring that the iron remains in its molten state throughout the process.
The Bessemer process involves the use of a pear-shaped vessel called the Bessemer converter, made of steel and lined with refractory material to withstand high temperatures. Molten pig iron, often high in carbon content and impurities, is charged into the converter obtained from the blast furnace. The converter is then tilted, and the air is blown through small holes at the bottom. The high-pressure air causes the oxygen in the air to react with the impurities in the pig iron, resulting in their oxidation and formation of slag, which is removed from the surface. The most critical reaction is the removal of excess carbon as the air blows through the molten pig iron, converting it into steel and achieving the desired steel properties.
The Bessemer process was incredibly fast compared to traditional steelmaking methods. It could convert large batches of pig iron into steel within minutes. The speed and efficiency of the Bessemer process dramatically reduced the production costs of steel. Moreover, the Bessemer process allowed precise control over the carbon content of the steel, resulting in consistent and high-quality products.
What is Open Hearth Process
The open hearth process was a significant advancement in steelmaking during the 1860s. It was independently developed by Sir William Siemens in Britain and Pierre-Émile Martin in France.
This process involves an open hearth furnace lined with refractory materials. Gas or coal-fired flames pass over the steel, converting raw materials into molten steel. This process allows for continuous production, making it adaptable to varying demands and diverse steel compositions. The steps involved include charging the furnace with raw materials, melting and refining to form molten steel, decarburization, and alloying to achieve specific properties. The process also involves sampling and quality control to ensure consistent quality. The open hearth process significantly transformed steel production, meeting the needs of industrial development effectively.
The open hearth process revolutionized steelmaking due to its versatility, precise composition control, efficient impurity removal, and continuous production capability. Unlike the Bessemer process, it could utilize a wide range of raw materials, adapting to varying availability and costs. The process allowed for precise adjustments in steel composition, enabling the production of diverse steel grades with specific properties. By effectively removing undesirable elements through slag formation, it improved steel quality. Moreover, the ability to achieve continuous steel production made it highly efficient in meeting the demands of a rapidly growing industrial economy. These advantages contributed to the open hearth process’s widespread adoption and its significant impact on industrial development.
Similarities Between Bessemer and Open Hearth Process
- Both the Bessemer process and the open hearth process are methods used to produce steel from raw materials.
- Both processes involve the use of pig iron as one of the primary raw materials.
- These processes employ methods to remove impurities from the raw materials, enhancing the quality of the resulting steel.
Difference Between Bessemer and Open Hearth Process
Definition
The Bessemer process is a batch steelmaking process involving blowing air through molten pig iron in a Bessemer converter suited for rapid mass production in discrete batches. In contrast, the open-hearth process is a continuous steelmaking process in an open-hearth furnace, using a variety of raw materials and allowing precise composition control and flexible production to meet changing demands.
Principle and Operation
The batch process involves blowing air through molten pig iron in a Bessemer converter. It is rapid and suitable for mass production in discrete batches. On the other hand, the open-hearth process is a continuous process in an open-hearth furnace. It utilizes a mixture of pig iron, scrap steel, and iron-rich ores, allows for precise control, and adapts to varying demands.
Raw Materials
The batch process primarily uses pig iron. It requires low phosphorus and sulfur content for optimal results. In contrast, the open hearth process uses a wider range of raw materials, including pig iron, scrap steel, and various iron-rich ores, making it adaptable to changing economic conditions.
Carbon Content Control
In the Bessemer process, carbon removal through air blowing may lead to variations in steel quality. But the open hearth process provides better control over carbon content by adjusting combustion in the furnace atmosphere, allowing for more precise composition control.
Furnace Type
The Bessemer process uses a Bessemer converter for rapid oxidation, whereas the open hearth process uses an open hearth furnace, allowing for continuous production and flexibility in raw material selection.
Production Scale and Efficiency
The Bessemer process is known for rapid production rates and mass-producing large quantities of steel quickly, whereas the open hearth process enables continuous production, meeting industrial demands over extended periods.
Alloying Capability
The Bessemer process has limited capability to incorporate alloying elements into the steel, restricting its ability to produce specialized steels with specific properties. The open hearth process allows for the introduction of alloying elements into the molten steel, making it suitable for producing a wider range of steel grades with specific properties.
Conclusion
The Bessemer process is a rapid and efficient batch process that is suitable for making steel from pig iron. However, open-hearth process is a continuous process that offers more flexibility in raw materials and composition adjustments but is less efficient. Thus, this is the main difference between Bessemer and open hearth process.
Reference:
1. “Bessemer process | Dates, Definition, & Facts.” Encyclopedia Britannica.
2. “Open Hearth Process – An Overview.” Science Direct.
Image Courtesy:
1. “Schéma Bessemer métallurgie” By Borvan53 – Own work (CC BY-SA 4.0) via Commons Wikimedia
2. “Práce na martinské peci” By Viktor Mácha – Own work (CC BY-SA 4.0) via Commons Wikimedia
Leave a Reply