How does a electric arc furnace work?
The electric arc furnace is used to reduce iron from iron ore. Heat is generated from an electric arc between electrodes. Oxygen is blown into the furnace, and lime and other materials are added to combine with the impurities and form slag. Molten iron is extracted and poured out via a tapping spout.
Do electric arc furnaces run continuously?
Moreover, EAFs can be operated intermittently, while a blast furnace is best operated at very constant rates. The electric power used in EAF operation, however, is high, at 360 to 600 kilowatt-hours per ton of steel, and the installed power system is substantial.
What are the three major ingredients for an EAF?
Structure of an Electric Arc Furnace The furnace consists of a spherical hearth (bottom), cylindrical shell and a swinging water-cooled dome-shaped roof. The roof has three holes for consumable graphite electrodes held by a clamping mechanism.
What are the types of arc furnace describe the operation of them?
The arc furnaces are used to produce mini steel structural bars and steel rods. There are mainly two types of electric furnaces. They are alternating current (AC) and direct current (DC) operated electric furnaces.
What is arc in electric arc furnace?
Unlike the more primitive blast furnace, the electric arc furnace uses an electric arc to heat metals rather than induction from a secondary heat source. An electric arc is an electrical breakdown of a gas that produces electrical discharge between two electrodes with a large heat by-product.
How do you power an electric arc furnace?
How does an Electric Arc Furnace Make Steel?
- The furnace is charged with the material.
- The roof is lowered and closed.
- Electrodes are lowered onto the material to form the arc between the material and the electrodes.
- Arc is struck at a lower voltage which is thereafter increased to speed up the melting process.
How many watts does an electric arc furnace produce?
Energy consumption varies from 350-700 kWh/ton of steel produced. The “typical” EAF without oxyfuel burners uses 475 kWh/ton.
What is electric arc furnace slag?
EAF slag is a rock-like material generated during the steel-making process. EAF slag is used as an alternative to rock fragments, both in encapsulated uses (e.g., contained in concrete) and unencapsulated uses (e.g., loose ground cover material). It is commonly used as road base material.
What do you understand by arc heating?
The heating of matter by an electric arc. The matter may be solid, liquid, or gaseous. When the heating is direct, the material to be heated is one electrode; for indirect heating, the heat is transferred from the arc by conduction, convection, or radiation.
What is the principle of arc heating?
The main physical principle of an electric arc furnace is the transfer of energy from the electricity line to the furnace through heat radiation and conduction generated by an electric arc.
What is the voltage of an electric arc furnace?
A mid-sized modern steelmaking furnace would have a transformer rated about 60,000,000 volt-amperes (60 MVA), with a secondary voltage between 400 and 900 volts and a secondary current in excess of 44,000 amperes.
How much electricity does an electric furnace use?
We pay for electricity in kilowatt-hours (kwhs). One kilowatt-hour is the equivalent of using 1,000 watts for one hour or using a 100-watt light bulb for 10 hours….How much electricity does your appliances use?
| Appliance | Typical Wattage | Estimated Average Cost |
|---|---|---|
| 15 kw Central Electric Furnace | 15,350 | $1.5323/hr |
| 20 kw Central Electric Furnace | 20,490 | $2.00/hr |
What is the operation of an arc furnace?
Electric Arc Furnace Working Principle and Operation. Electric arc furnaces work on the principle of the electrode forming an arc between itself and the top layer of metal to be melted. The operation begins with a delivery of steel scrap to the scrap bay, located at one end of the EAF building.
How are fumes extracted from an arc furnace?
Fume extraction ducting is arranged around the EAF operating area, drawing the fumes and particulates away to a treatment plant, lessening the operators’ health effects at electric arc furnaces. Please see page 2 for details on an Electric Arc Furnace Operation and some Electric Arc Furnaces diagrams.
How many volts does an electric arc furnace have?
This is the third of the series of EAF for steelmaking. It focuses on the operation part of EAF production. A mid-sized modern steelmaking furnace would have a transformer rated about 60,000,000 volt-amperes (60 MVA), with a secondary voltage between 400 and 900 volts and a secondary current in excess of 44,000 amperes.
How is P reduced in an electric arc furnace?
Generally P is reduced by 20 % to 50 % in the EAF. Sulphur is removed mainly as a sulphide dissolved in the slag. S partition between the slag and metal is dependent on slag chemistry and is favored at low steel oxidation levels.