Abstract: Aiming at the problem of poor circulation of RH refining process in a steelmaking plant of WISCO, the scheme of enlarging the inner diameter of the snorkel and increase the driving gas flow rate was put forward to improve the circulation flow and refining effect of RH. The optimization effect was verified by adding a copper tracer to the steel in RH refining process. Industrial test results showed that after the RH refining cycle flow rate increased, the average carbon mass fraction of the decarburization end point reduced by 1.210-6, and the total oxygen removal rate increased to 74% from 62.33%. At the same time, the service life of refractory increased, and the refractory consumption reduced by 0.04 kg/t. The comprehensive economic benefits are significant.

Key words: RH refining, circulation flow rate, inter diameter of the snorkel, driving gas flow rate