Chapter 259 As long as you wield your hoe well, you can dig out any wall!
Independent smelting!
Whether it is manufacturing 75mm artillery or 105mm howitzers, independent production of materials must be achieved, and buying alone will never solve the problem.
Others can choke you whenever they want. If they sell you a ton for 30,000 silver dollars in peacetime, you have no choice in the face of such a high price. In wartime, you can directly cut off the supply, and you have nothing to do.
And this is the top problem currently faced by the three major domestic arsenals of Gongxian, Hanyang, and Taiyuan. The Taiyuan arsenal can manufacture 105mm howitzers and artillery shells, and Gongxian and Hanyang can manufacture 75mm mountain field guns and artillery shells. The gun steel used in their barrels
, 100% dependent on imports.
With the outbreak of the all-out Anti-Japanese War, China's external connection channels will be quickly interrupted. Once the arsenal's gun steel is consumed, it will fall into the embarrassing situation of having no steel available.
By then, not to mention the high price, even if you can buy gun steel, how much can you buy?
One thousand tons or ten thousand tons?
You must know that high-strength gun steel is a type of special steel, which is very different from the steel used in mortars. For any country that can produce gun steel, this high-end metal is an absolute top strategic resource. In the event of an emergency
This situation will most likely interrupt the flow of gun steel.
China can never become strong by buying, independent production is the only option.
This is why Yuhua must develop oxygen blowing furnace and electroslag remelting technology.
We cannot give up independent research and development just because it is temporarily available, let alone be afraid of research and development because of the potential threat from the Japanese.
Of course, Yu Hua is not prepared to hand over oxygen blowing furnaces and electroslag remelting to Nanjing. Currently, the only targets suitable for these two technologies are base areas.
The base area can put oxygen blowing furnace and electroslag remelting technology into use as quickly as possible and put them to good use.
If it is handed over to Nanjing, there will only be one final result: it will be leaked to the Japanese.
"Oxygen top-blown converter technology? Let me think about it. If I remember correctly, the steel industry has eliminated the converter steelmaking process. At present, the mainstream steelmaking methods in the world are all open-hearth steelmaking. Only a few backward countries such as the Soviet Union and
Franchise countries use converter steelmaking technology, Yu Hua, you should understand the shortcomings of converter steelmaking." When Zhuang Qianding heard the words of independent research and development, his face showed a brief expression of astonishment, and then he reacted and felt the seriousness and seriousness in Yu Hua's eyes.
Seriously, he responded immediately.
Zhuang Qianding is not an ordinary person who can be fooled by just using professional words. He is a top expert across many fields. Regarding the fields of metallurgical engineering and steelmaking, Zhuang Qianding's academic level is not as high as that of top European and American metallurgists.
level, but as a senior metallurgist there is no problem.
It is second to none in the country.
He is extremely familiar with converter steelmaking, a steelmaking process that has been eliminated.
The earliest modern steelmaking method in the world was converter steelmaking. In 1856, Besmer invented the bottom-blown acid converter steelmaking method, which could produce a large amount of steel, transforming steel from a noble luxury product to a cheap consumable, promoting Europe's second
Second industrial revolution.
However, this Besmar converter has huge flaws. Since sulfur and phosphorus cannot be removed, the raw material requirements are extremely strict, and they must be high-quality low-phosphorus and low-sulfur iron ore.
The question is, where can we find large amounts of low-sulfur and low-phosphorus iron ore in Europe?
As a last resort, people could only continue to pursue new steelmaking methods. Soon after, metallurgist Thomas invented the alkaline converter. Through the alkaline refractory brick lining and quicklime, the entire smelting process was carried out in an alkaline environment. Iron ore
The phosphorus is combined with limestone and incorporated into steel slag to solve the problem of high phosphorus in iron ore, which drastically reduces the raw material requirements. Eventually, the development of the second industrial revolution reaches its climax and becomes the mainstream steelmaking method in Europe and even the world.
However, the Thomas alkaline converter still has fatal problems. This alkaline converter has strict requirements on the composition of pig iron and cannot use a large amount of scrap steel.
Yes, scrap steel cannot be used in large quantities.
As a result, there were more and more scrap steel on the market, so much that people had to pay attention to it and solve it. In 1888, the Frenchman Martin used the principle of heat storage to create an alkaline open-hearth furnace.
Open-hearth steelmaking has low raw material requirements, large capacity, and many types of production. Both in terms of production process difficulty and production cost, it is much higher than that of an alkaline converter.
Once the open-hearth steelmaking came out, it quickly replaced the alkaline converter and became the mainstream steelmaking method.
For now, the shortcomings of converter steelmaking have not been solved. Scrap steel cannot be used in large quantities. The converter must use an alkaline furnace. Otherwise, low-sulfur and low-phosphorus iron ore must be used.
No matter which one it is, it is not in line with the domestic situation.
The sulfur content of China Iron Ore is not particularly high, but it definitely does not meet the raw material requirements of the Besmer converter. Use an alkaline converter. The problem is that you cannot use a large amount of scrap steel.
When Yu Hua heard Zhuang Qianding's words, he looked troubled. He quickly picked up the pen and paper and started writing. This is the change law and reaction process within the entire oxygen steelmaking, a process calculated through mathematical simulation.
As the saying goes, if you can speak with mathematics, never talk too much.
After a few minutes.
"Professor, this is the change pattern and reaction process of metal components inside the converter oxygen blowing calculated by students. It can be used as a reference. Using the oxidizing property of oxygen, not only the carbon content and impurity components of the molten iron will be quickly reduced to the standard range, but also
And a large number of oxidation reactions are exothermic reactions, which can not only promote fuel combustion but also accelerate steelmaking efficiency."
Yu Hua handed the draft paper full of chemical symbols and Chinese characters to Zhuang Qianding in front of him: "Oxygen steelmaking can make up for all the defects of the converter steelmaking method."
Zhuang Qianding nodded, with a solemn expression, and took the draft paper with a series of data written on it. His eyes revealed an unprecedented look of scrutiny, and he treated the draft paper from a professional academic perspective.
Rigorous and demanding!
This new steelmaking method must pass the most rigorous demonstration and testing.
The changing rules and reaction processes of metal components inside the converter oxygen blowing:
Assume that the raw materials for steelmaking are: molten iron, scrap steel, pig iron and ferroalloys.
The temperature of molten iron is: 1250 degrees Celsius.
The composition of molten iron contains silicon, manganese, carbon, phosphorus, and sulfur.
Slagging materials: lime, dolomite, fluorite.
The oxidizing agent is oxygen and iron ore.
Coolant: scrap steel.
The oxidation rule of silicon: In the early stage of blowing, due to the high affinity between silicon and oxygen, it will be oxidized in large quantities, releasing heat during the oxidation reaction and becoming one of the main heat sources in the furnace.
As long as the oxygen supply is ensured, the silicon element in the furnace will be oxidized to a very low level within 5 minutes, and there will be no reduction of silicon until the end of blowing.
The reaction formula is as follows:
2(Cao)+(2FeO·SiO2)=(2CaO·SiO2)+2(FeO)
2(FeO)……
"It's interesting..." Zhuang Qianding raised his eyebrows and continued reading.
Manganese will oxidize rapidly in the early stage of blowing, but the oxidation rate is lower than silicon. The oxidation heat is one of the secondary heat sources in the furnace. The reaction equation is as follows.
Carbon generates carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide in the early stage of blowing, and the carbon content of molten iron decreases rapidly. The reaction equation is as follows.
The oxidation law of phosphorus is represented by the dephosphorization speed during the blowing process. Heat is released during the oxidation reaction and is one of the main heat sources in the furnace. The dephosphorization reaction equation is as follows...
Time passed slowly, and Zhuang Qianding's expression changed from solemn to dignified.
Yu Hua looked at Professor Zhuang who was deep in thought without disturbing him. He knew that the content recorded on this draft paper was as powerful as a bombshell for the steel industry and metallurgists of this era.
To be precise, it should be nuclear weapons.
The concept of using oxygen to make steel has long been spread in the metallurgical community. Oxygen has unparalleled advantages over air. This is the steelmaking method that all metallurgists dream of. In fact, as early as 1856, when Besmer invented the converter steelmaking,
Pioneering the idea of using oxygen to make steel.
The reason why it could not be realized is simply that the technical conditions did not allow it.
From the idea of oxygen steelmaking to the first industrial application, it took a full 150 years in history.
After fifteen minutes, Professor Zhuang finally put down the draft paper and looked at Yu Hua with an expression as if he had seen a ghost.
shocking,
surprise,
incredible,
There are still doubts.
He couldn't imagine how Yu Hua did it.
"Professor Zhuang?" Yu Hua asked promptly.
"I have known the benefits of oxygen steelmaking for a long time. I never expected that the efficiency of oxygen steelmaking would reach this level. The reaction in the furnace only takes 20 minutes. This is a big step in the industrial application of oxygen steelmaking. Yu Hua, with his
With this scratch paper, you can immediately become a hot metallurgist." Zhuang Qianding sighed: "I really don't know how you did it."
As a theoretical senior metallurgist, Zhuang Qianding is certainly aware of the idea of oxygen steelmaking. However, this idea has been ignored by many people in the metallurgical community. Without solving the problem of large-scale production of oxygen, talking about oxygen steelmaking is just a waste of time.
Delusion.
In the entire metallurgical community, only a handful of people are adhering to the path of oxygen steelmaking.
Yu Hua's change rules and reaction processes in oxygen steelmaking are very detailed and comprehensive in theory, the reaction equations are extremely rigorous, and every data is correct. Even Zhuang Qianding can't find fault with it.
This piece of scratch paper can be called a breakthrough in the industrial application of oxygen steelmaking.
"After listening to your talk about the development of open hearth steelmaking in steelmaking, the students went to the library to look for books on metallurgical engineering. Finally, they used mathematics to simulate the process based on Mr. Besmer's idea of oxygen steelmaking," Yu Hua explained.
.
After Zhuang Qianding sighed in his heart, he immediately returned to a rational state. If he wants to realize oxygen steelmaking, there are still two core problems that need to be solved: "Yu Hua, oxygen steelmaking is good, but what should you do if oxygen steelmaking is used?
How to solve the problem of oxygen production and blowing? At present, there are no basic conditions for producing large amounts of oxygen, and an effective oxygen blowing method has not been found in engineering. According to the 2T converter on this paper, the supply of oxygen per ton of metal per minute is
The oxygen intensity must meet the requirement of 1.5 cubic meters, which is a strict test for oxygen blowing."
How to achieve the production and blowing of oxygen?
Preparation and blowing are a dynamic process. Once steelmaking starts, it means 24-hour operation. The total amount of oxygen produced must meet the total demand for steelmaking, and the blowing of oxygen needs to ensure safety and flow at all times.
Everyone knows the working principle, but technically it is a huge problem.
"Professor, students use air separation equipment and oxygen guns to solve the problem of oxygen production and blowing." Yu Hua looked serious and gave answers to the two key questions given by Professor Zhuang Qianding: "At present, these two technologies
The development progress is very impressive. Students have developed an oxygen lance that meets the requirements, which can eject oxygen at supersonic speed and enter the furnace to achieve oxygen blowing. This is a simplified diagram of the oxygen lance and converter."
After finishing speaking, he held the pen in his right hand and sketched a simplified diagram of the three-hole nozzle oxygen lance and the converter on the draft paper. The oxygen lance included the internal structure.
Zhuang Qianding took the oxygen lance diagram and looked at the internal structure. Years of mechanical engineering experience told him that this oxygen lance could meet the requirements for oxygen blowing.
The structure is ingenious, the top-blowing method is simple and convenient, and the entire design is perfect.
"There is no problem from the mechanical engineering point of view. This is a very excellent design. What about the air separation equipment? How much oxygen can it produce per hour?" Zhuang Qianding spoke highly of it and praised it. He looked at Yu Hua and asked quickly
.
There was a hint of eagerness in his words, wanting to know if Yu Hua had made any breakthroughs in air separation equipment.
It is common sense that pure oxygen is produced from air separation equipment and laboratory electrolysis.
However, Zhuang Qianding knew very well that all air separation equipment around the world could not meet the standards of oxygen steelmaking. Of course, if you had more money, you could use stupid methods. One unit would not be enough to produce ten units, as long as you could get enough converters.
Total oxygen demand for steelmaking.
Assuming that the industrial-grade oxygen converter is 30 tons, each ton of metal consumes 3 cubic meters of oxygen per minute, and the total oxygen demand per hour is 5,400 cubic meters. Calculated based on the current most advanced air separation equipment producing 15 cubic meters of oxygen per hour, only
360 air separation equipment is enough.
Although this is a disaster in terms of investment cost, it can at least be managed, right?
"This is the problem faced by students. I used a turbocharged air intake structure to achieve a compressor air intake volume of 1014 cubic meters per hour. However, the piston compression structure cannot handle such a large amount of air, and a new compression structure must be used.
"The student's knowledge reserve is not enough. I haven't thought of which compression structure meets the requirements for the time being, so I can only come here to ask for help." Yu Hua revealed the difficulties he faced, and then bowed and saluted.
"Do you remember the content of my fourth-period mechanical engineering elective course?"
Upon hearing this question, Zhuang Qianding was stunned for a moment, a faint smile appeared on his face, and he said to Yu Hua.
"The fourth period of mechanical engineering elective course..."
Yu Hua fell into thinking, and his mind quickly came up with the relevant knowledge points of this lesson, and he suddenly reacted: "Professor, you mean, steam turbine?"
"Yes, steam turbines are essentially turbines, and the types are distinguished by the working fluid. Water turbines are called water turbines, steam turbines are called steam turbines, and gas turbines are called gas turbines.
Flat machine.”
Zhuang Qianding nodded and said: "Since you have used turbocharging as the air intake structure, why not use a turbine with a similar structure as the compression structure."
"Students have been taught. I made a mistake of rigid thinking and not using knowledge flexibly." Yu Hua was stunned when he heard this and instantly realized his problem.
It wasn't that there was no suitable compression structure, but that his brain didn't respond and was still stuck at the level of relying on reference materials. When he lost or even had no reference materials, he suddenly felt at a loss.
This reaction of rigid thinking is extremely normal for an ordinary time traveler, but for Yu Hua, who is engaged in basic science and applied scientific research, it is a completely low-level mistake.
"Haha, this is normal, because you are still in the learning stage, but only now do I feel that you are a student and I am a professor. Otherwise, I would have thought that you are a senior scholar who has been engaged in mechanical research for many years."
Looking at Yu Hua paying the student etiquette, 35-year-old Zhuang Qianding laughed heartily and said, "What are you going to do next?"
"The students would like to ask you to join the research project on new air separation equipment. The air separation equipment should be completed as soon as possible to lay the material foundation for oxygen top-blown converter technology. Compared with the current open-hearth steelmaking, the oxygen converter has all-round rolling. A 2T-level oxygen converter steel
The theoretical annual output can reach 30,000-35,000 tons. This technology is extremely important to China." Yu Hua looked respectful and serious, bent down, saluted Professor Zhuang Qianding again, and expressed his thoughts.
Invite Zhuang Qianding to join the air separation equipment project and the subsequent oxygen blowing furnace project.
This is Yu Hua's idea.
However, the whole idea is not complete.
In fact, Yu Hua's final thought is...
Poaching!
Undercut your alma mater!
Professor Zhuang Qianding's academic level and comprehensive strength are terrifying. He spans important fields such as machinery, chemical industry, metallurgy, and aviation power. He has dual master's degrees, and is the head of the Department of Mechanical Engineering at National Tsinghua University. Such a cutting-edge scientific research talent
The importance is self-evident. If the base area is dug, it will be of great help to the establishment and development of industry in the base area.
The reason why Yu Hua revealed the secret of the oxygen converter to Professor Zhuang Qianding was because of this calculation.
As the old saying goes: As long as the hoe is wielded well, there are no walls that cannot be dug down.
The oxygen converter is Yu Hua's golden hoe.
As for the failure of poaching and whether there was a leak of oxygen converter secrets, Yu Hua was not worried. He believed in his own judgment and even more in Professor Zhuang.
Sorry, my alma mater and base area need Professor Zhuang more.
"Join the air separation equipment project?" Zhuang Qianding was startled for a moment, glanced at Yu Hua, and fell into thinking.