Thermic lances, also known as thermal lances or oxygen lances, are industrial tools designed for intense cutting and burning applications. These lances operate by pumping oxygen through a hollow steel tube packed with combustible materials, generating extreme temperatures, sometimes exceeding 4,000°C. This intense heat allows the thermic lance to cut through a variety of materials with relative ease.
Below is a comprehensive guide to the common applications of thermic lances across various industries. Understanding these applications will help to determine the thermic lance and its suitable needs.
Applications of Thermic Lances in Industrial and Construction Settings
Source: Daiwa Lance International
Cutting Hard Materials
Thermic lances excel in cutting hard and dense materials. The inner steel wires combined with high-pressure oxygen create a powerful combustion process, allowing the lance to melt through even the toughest materials. Common examples include:
- Stainless Steel: The high temperatures of the thermic lance can slice through thick stainless-steel plates and pipes, which are otherwise challenging to cut.
- Refractory Concretes: These high-temperature-resistant concretes are commonly used in industrial furnaces and kilns. The thermic lance’s heat can efficiently break them down for removal or modification.
- Fire Bricks: Used in furnaces and ovens, fire bricks can be cut and shaped using a thermic lance, simplifying the demolition, or remodeling process.
- Natural Stone: The intense heat allows the thermic lance to cut through dense stone materials, making it useful in construction and landscaping.
- Steel Pipes: In civil engineering and construction, the thermic lance can efficiently cut through thick steel pipes used in infrastructure projects.
Demolishing Buildings and Structures
Thermic lances offer an alternative to heavy machinery when it comes to demolishing buildings or other large structures. They can cut through steel beams, reinforced concrete, and other materials with precision. The benefits of using a thermic lance for demolition include:
- Precision: Operators can control the direction and depth of the cut, reducing collateral damage to surrounding structures.
- Reduced Equipment Use: By using thermic lances, there’s less need for heavy machinery like cranes or excavators, making the process more cost-effective and less resource intensive.
- Versatility: Thermic lances can be used to dismantle various structures, from high-rise buildings to mining facilities.
Removing Slags in Steel Mills
Steel mills and foundries generate slag as a byproduct of the steelmaking process. Slag has a high melting point and can be highly abrasive, posing risks to conveyor belts and other machinery. Thermic lances are ideal for removing slag due to their high-temperature capabilities. They can efficiently melt and cut through solidified slag, making them useful in:
- Plant Decks: Where slag buildup can hinder operations.
- Working Floors: Slag can accumulate on the floor, posing safety risks and reducing efficiency.
- Ladle Furnaces and Mixer Cars: These components can become clogged with slag, and the thermic lance helps clear the obstruction.
- Casting Equipment: Slag can affect casting accuracy and consistency, and the thermic lance can remove it effectively.
Cutting Scrap in Scrapyards
Scrapyards deal with a vast amount of metal waste that requires cutting and recycling. Thermic lances are well-suited for this task, offering:
- High Efficiency: The intense heat can cut through large quantities of scrap metal quickly.
- Versatility: They can handle a wide range of metal types and sizes, from large metal structures to smaller scrap pieces.
- Robust Design: Thermic lances are designed to prevent oxygen leakage, ensuring safety during operation.
Opening Tap Holes in Furnaces
In metallurgical operations, tap holes in blast furnaces and other high-temperature equipment must be opened for various processes. Thermic lances are effective for this purpose, offering:
- High Heat: The intense flame can open tap holes with minimal effort.
- Efficiency: The rapid cutting capability helps reduce furnace downtime, improving overall productivity.
- Safety: Operators can maintain a safe distance from the intense heat while using the lance, reducing the risk of accidents.
Conclusion
Thermic lances are versatile and powerful tools with a wide range of applications in industrial and construction settings. From cutting hard materials to demolishing buildings and removing slag, these tools provide a practical and efficient solution for various tasks. If you need more information about thermic lance sizes, specifications, delivery times, or warranty policies, consider reaching out to us for further guidance.
To learn more about our Thermic Lances, please feel free to contact our sales team at sales@daiwaanayasteel.com.
Daiwa Anaya Steel Private Limited is a part of Anaya Steel, LLC (US parent company). Our company has over 30 years of involvement in steel products. It mostly deals in:
- Specialized steel hardware – punched, pressed, galvanized, powder coated.
- Steel pipes and tubing – specialized, color coated, galvanized and structural.
- Our Lance pipes are produced by Daiwa Lance International in Vietnam.
