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Bessemer converter. Photo by Chemical Engineer.

Top 10 Facts about the Bessemer process

The Bessemer process was the first industrial process to be established for the huge production of steel before the open hearth furnace was developed. The process was relatively inexpensive and made steel from molten pig iron. The key principle that the entire process incorporated was removing the impurities from the iron through oxidation by blowing air through the molten iron. The oxidation process also helped to increase the mass of the iron and to keep it in a continuous molten state. Decarburizing with air process had also been used early in Europe about a hundred years ago but still had not been used in the industrial environment.

The present process has been named after Henry Bessemer who was its inventor after taking out a patent on the process in 1856. William Kelly was also said to be an American inventor who claimed to have discovered the process though the claim is controversial. Percy Gilchrist and Sidney Gilchrist Thomas were responsible for discovering the basic Bessemer process or Gilchrist-Thomas process. Other several steel production technologies have been invented which are more environmentally friendly and use less fuel energy.

Below are the top ten facts about the Bessemer process

1. Sir Henry Bessemer was the Inventor of the Bessemer Process

Henry Bessemer. The author is unknown.

According to his autobiography which was written in 1890, Henry Bessemer is described as the original inventor of the Bessemer process. Bessemer claimed that he received inspiration through a conversation with Napoleon III in 1854 concerning the steel which was required for better artillery. He also said that he tried all he could do to bring improvements in the quality of iron to manufacture guns.

2. A Different Process Existed Before the Bessemer process

There was a different system that existed earlier before the Bessemer process which was in use in the 11^th century in East Asia. Between 960 and 1279 CE, the Chinese of the Song Dynasty invented partial decarbonization which was a way of forging cast the iron under a cold blast. Partial decarbonization was a predecessor to the Bessemer process of making steel. This process was majorly used along the Henan-Hebei district during the 11^th century.

3. The finery Process Shared the Same Principle as the Bessemer process

Bessemer converter components. Photo by Pearson Scott Foresman.

The finery process was also invented for the iron production purpose that used the basic principle of operation as the Bessemer process. The process was developed in Europe during the 15^th century. The process however had several impacts on the quality and quantity of steel production. The production process that was incorporated was relatively different from the Bessemer process since the process employed decarburization.

4. Bessemer Process is Claimed to have been used Earlier in Japan

According to the adventure Johan Albrecht de Mandelslo who was a European traveler claimed that the same process may have been in use in Japan. Johan claimed that Japan had an invention that melted the iron without the use of fire. However, Donald Wagner who was a historian claimed that Johan had not visited Japan and thus made his conclusions from the accounts of the Europeans who had visited Japan.

5. William Kelly Experimented Similar Method to Bessemer Process

William Kelly. Photo by

William Kelly was a popular American Inventor who experimented with a similar method as the Bessemer process in the early to mid-1850s. Kelly hired some Chinese ironworkers in 1854 who are said to have greatly inspired him with the techniques they introduced. There is still some controversy that both Kelly and Bessemer invented the same process.

6. There are Controversies about who Discovered the Process

When Kelly William heard about the Bessemer process reported by Scientific American, he responded by writing a letter in a magazine. In the letter, he claimed that he had already experimented with the same process and Bessemer had learned about his discovery. He claimed that his discovery might have been known about 3 to 4 years early as people from England visited to see discoveries. It is however said that Kelly’s process was less developed compared to the Bessemer process.

7. Bessemer Experienced Problems with the Steel Quality

After discovering the Bessemer process Henry still encountered problems with the quality of steel that was being produced. He later realized that there was an issue with the impurities that were in the iron. He concluded that there was a need for timely turning off the flow of the air to ensure that the impurities were completely burnt. The problem proved difficult until a solution was found by Robert Forester an English metallurgist.

8. Manchester Firm was the First to License the Process

Bessemer converter at Högbo Bruk. Photo by

Manchester firm of W & J Galloway became the first company to license the Bessemer process. They licensed the process even before the inventor had officially announced it at Cheltenham in 1856. Among the companies that Bessemer refunded their license fees, Manchester firm is however not one of them.

9. Alexander Lyman Holley Contributed to the Success of Bessemer Steel

Alexander Lyman Holley significantly contributed to the success of Bessemer steel in the United States in 1862. This was after he visited Bessemer’s Sheffield work and became so interested in licensing the process in his country. Upon returning to the United States he met two iron producers who asked him to return and negotiate with the Bank of England on their behalf. He later secured a license to use Bessemer’s patent process in 1963 and he return to the United States during the same period.

10. Bessemer Process Revolutionized Steel Manufacture

The Bessemer process had a significant economic effect as it increased the supply of cheap and quality steel. It also led to a reduced cost of other goods that depended on steel as the raw material. It revolutionized steel manufacturing through the reduced cost from 40 Euros per long ton to 6-7 Euros per long ton. The process also reduced the various labor requirements for steel production.

The Bessemer process has had tremendous significance in the speed of production of this vital raw material. The process of making the steel has also been enhanced making it fast, efficient, and relatively inexpensive. However, since the process was discovered, it has since been enhanced in order to increase the output and meet the increasing demand.