Tertiary metallurgy

Leybold vacuum solutions are used in the wide field of metallurgy, refining and in all the production steps.

Soluciones de vacío fiables y duraderas, eficiencia energética, diseño compacto

Traditional steam-ejector vacuum systems have been progressively replaced by more energy-efficient and environmentally-friendly mechanical vacuum systems. Through the development of extremely robust dry compressing screw vacuum pumps (DRYVAC) along with booster pumps (RUVAC WH Line), mechanical vacuum systems are currently the best choice for the producing the highest quality steel with the lowest energy requirements and the most modern industry 4.0 control technology!

Leybold provides mechanical vacuum solutions for secondary metallurgy degassing processes to tertiary metallurgy refining steps and final heat treatment processes of machined metals in all vacuum-required processes. (RH; VIT; RHO; VID; VD; VCD; VMD; VAD; VD-OB; VOD; VODC; AOD-Metallurgy)

Secondary steelmaking involves refinement of the crude steel resulting from primary metallurgical production steps. The various operations are normally performed through the use of ladles. In secondary metallurgy, alloying agents are added, dissolved gases in the steel are lowered, carbon content is reduced and inclusions are removed or chemically altered to ensure that high-quality steel is produced after casting. Many process steps are performed under vacuum which is necessary for ensuring the highest quality steel.

We are a supplier of vacuum pumps, systems and accessories for nearly every application. Our vacuum solutions are used in metallurgy, refining and all production steps. Using standard Leybold components such as DRYVAC-, RUVAC WH serial vacuum pumps guarantee robust and long-lasting pump performance. Leybold’s modular and compact steel degassing system design offers the most optimal footprints, service requirements and modern 4.0 Industry standards! The use of just three pump sizes for producing fore-vacuum and high-vacuum reduces service costs and allows an easy exchange or extension of system modules! Three powerful pump stages produce vacuum performance in the lowest pressure range (< 1 mbar) and the use of additional high vacuum pumps such as oil-booster pumps enable approximate pressures of < 0.01 mbar!

Our vacuum solutions feature a durable and reliable design. Their proven performance makes them perfect for demanding tertiary metallurgy applications.

Variaciones del proceso de desgasificación de cucharones, procesos de vacío y purga, procesos cinámicos y estáticos

RH (RHO) - Ruhrstahl-Heraeus or Ruhrstahl-Heraeus-Oxygen
VIT - Vacuum Ingot Teeming
VD - Vacuum Degassing
VAD VHD - Vacuum arc (Heating) Degassing
VCD - Vacuum Carbon Deoxidation
VD - Vacuum Deoxidation
VMD - Vacuum Metal Distillation (Removal of volatile metals)
VD-OB - VD-Oxygen Blowing
VOD - Vacuum Oxygen Decarburization

RH (RHO) - Ruhrstahl Heraeus o Ruhrstahl Heraeus-oxígeno

The melt is suctioned via an immersed up-pipe into the evacuated reactor vessel and flows back into the ladle via a down-pipe. The injection of argon into the up-pipe accelerates the melt and maintains its circulation, which gives the RH-process its alternative name of “Vacuum Circulation Process”. “RH Process”, however, was more commonly used due to its optimal use argon which resulted in better degassing as well as efficient decarburization without requiring the special performance of the vacuum pumps. Leybold-Heraeus produced the first mechanical vacuum system for carrying out this innovation process in the 1960s!

VIT - Colada de lingotes al vacío

The process in which the degassed stream jet is collected in an ingot mold. Vacuum Ingot Teeming is still used for the largest forge ingots of 150t to 600t. Besides hydrogen, nitrogen and oxygen are removed, the latter via the formation of CO.

VD - Desgasificación al vacío

A boundary layer phenomenon which occurs at the interface between the molten steel and the reduced-pressure atmosphere. Effective vacuum degassing depends upon sufficient exposed surface area of the molten steel. Vacuum degassing systems employ various methods to maximize this surface area.

VAD VHD - Desgasificación por arco al vacío (calentamiento)

Arc heating is only possible under rough vacuum (> 600hPa). At lower vacuum pressures, the arc becomes too long. The VAD or VHD plants with arc heating combine both processes, i.e., heating and degassing within same station. This compact layout has since been replaced by the combination of LF and VD.

VCD - Desoxidación de carbono al vacío

Degassing and natural decarburization of semi-killed melts. Metallic deoxidization a is method of deoxidization which involves adding specific metals to the steel. These metals react with the unwanted oxygen, forming a strong oxide which, compared to pure oxygen, reduces the steel's strength and quality by a lesser amount.

VD - Desoxidación al vacío

A method which involves using a vacuum to remove impurities. A portion of the carbon and oxygen in the steel reacts, forming carbon monoxide. CO gas floats up to the top of the liquid steel and is removed by a vacuum system.

VMD - Destilación de metales al vacío

VMD technology is a metallurgical process under conditions of lower than 1 (NOTE: MEASUREMENT UNIT SEEMS TO BE MISSING HERE?) atmospheric pressure to ultra-high vacuum. It essentially uses the difference of the boiling point and saturated vapor pressure between elements to separate, purify and refine the matter to a certain temperature and vacuum.

VVD-OB - VD-Soplado de oxígeno

Degassing and forced decarburization or chemical heating. Oxygen blowing is a method of steelmaking where oxygen is blown through pig iron to lower the carbon content. Oxygen forms oxides with the unwanted elements, such as carbon, silicon, phosphorus and manganese, which appear from various states of the manufacturing process. A VD/VD-OB plant produces steel with low hydrogen and low sulphur content, e.g., for pipeline applications (HIC resistant steel) and high strength steels as well as for ultra-low carbon (ULC) steels.

VOD - Descarburación de oxígeno al vacío

Forced decarburization of high chromium melts. The VOD process (Vacuum Oxygen Decarburization) is a decarburization process for RSH steels in which the carbon dissolved in the liquid steel is converted into carbon monoxide by inflated oxygen. This rises to the surface of the bath, leaving the liquid steel due to low pressure. The vacuum environment is created in this way by further treating the ladle with the liquid steel alloy in a vacuum vessel. Burn-off of the alloying elements is minimized under these conditions, and the lowest harmful hydrogen contents are achieved.

Bombas de vacío para procesos de fusión por VIM y VAR

VIM - Vacuum Induction Melting
VAR - Vacuum Arc Remelting

VIM - Fusión por inducción al vacío

Used to produce stainless steels, VIM involves the melting of metal via an electromagnetic induction field under vacuum. The induction furnace is located inside a vacuum chamber, and the melted metal is refined under vacuum until the precise melt chemistry is achieved. Impurities are then removed via chemical reactions, flotation, disassociation and volatilization. The VIM process is used to produce stainless steel, superalloys and magnetic and battery alloys.

VAR - Refundición por arco al vacío

Continuous remelting of a consumable electrode via an arc under vacuum to remove impurities and prevent from oxide formation. High vacuum is maintained during the melting process to remove impurities and prevent oxide formation. The VAR process is used to improve standard air-melted or vacuum induction melted ingots in order to produce clean, homogeneous metals with improved fatigue resistance and fracture strength.

Sistemas DRYVAC y RUVAC para vacío previo

DRYVAC/RUVAC systems are robust, reliable, durable and ready to meet the most stringent process requirements. They’re ideally suited for demanding industrial applications and consist of a smart system with integrated power electronics and monitoring devices for the purge gas system. Standard systems, equipped with state-of-the-art mechanical pumps, feature the following:

Pumping speeds of 450 to 7,000 m³/h
Ultimate pressures as low as 10^-3 mbar
Flexible modular systems
Easy adaptation to customer needs
Energy efficient, cost effective
Long lifetime of seals, bearing and gear oil via an intelligent purge gas system
Minimized annual maintenance
World-wide service support

Alto vacío para procesos de VIM y VAR

Oil Booster high vacuum pumps provide the best vacuum performance in their class with a pumping speed 6,000 to 18,000 l/s and an operating range of 10^-1 to < 10^-4 mbar. They feature optimum pumping speeds in the pressure range of 1 to 10^-3 mbar. The EEC (Energy Efficiency Control) unit guarantees optimized power consumption in relation to perfect conditions for pump performance and oil temperature.

Highly robust and reliable
Modular design
Easy to service
The modern EEC communicates with PLC and
Achieves reductions in cost of up to 30% through energy savings and increased lifespans for oil and heating cartridges