Electric arc furnace's introduction-part 2

Working principle of electric arc furnace

Electric arc furnace melting uses the heat generated by the electric arc between graphite electrode and iron (molten iron) to melt iron and overheat molten iron. In the process of electric arc furnace smelting, when the iron is melted, the smelting operation of further increasing the temperature and adjusting the chemical composition is carried out under the condition that the molten iron is covered by the slag. According to the properties of slag and lining refractory, electric arc furnace is divided into acidic and alkaline. Alkaline electric arc furnace has the ability of desulfurization and dephosphorization.

Advantages and disadvantages of electric arc furnace

The advantage of electric arc furnace smelting is that it has strong ability to melt solid charge, and the molten iron is overheated and adjusted under the condition of slag coverage. Therefore, the suction of molten iron and the oxidation of elements can be avoided to a certain extent. This creates good conditions for melting low-carbon cast iron and alloy cast iron.

The disadvantage of electric arc furnace is that it consumes more power and is not as economical as cupola from the perspective of melting. Therefore, cupola electric arc furnace duplex method is often used in cast iron production. Due to the poor quench and heat resistance of alkaline electric arc furnace lining and the short service life of furnace lining under intermittent smelting conditions, resulting in high smelting cost, acid electric arc furnace and cupola are mostly used.

Application of electric arc furnace

1. Steel smelting and ferroalloy refining;

2. Melting of high titanium slag and welding slag flux;

3. Smelting of alumina, magnesium oxide, aluminum calcium cement and other high-temperature refractories;

4. Melting of ash and oxide scale of stainless steel grinding wheel.