the open hearth furnace

An open hearth furnace is a large steel-making device where scrap metal and raw materials are melted together to produce steel. It is a shallow, oval-shaped furnace with a roof that can be moved, allowing for the addition of materials and control of heat. The furnace operates by blowing in air or oxygen to raise the temperature, melting the metals over several hours. Once melted, impurities are removed, and alloying elements may be added. The resulting molten steel is then tapped out for casting into various products. This method was widely used before being replaced by more modern, efficient techniques.