What is an arc furnace?
arched furnace, also known as an electric arc furnace (EAF), is an installation using an electric arc for heating materials, usually metals, up to the melting point. A typical arc furnace melts the material, or "charging", as is known, through the passage of electric current through charging with a set of electrodes. The combination of heat generated by the current passage and the arches on the hub surface melts the material. The EAF is located in research and dental laboratories of prostheses, two -iron and steel grocery and steel plants and can have internal capacities ranging from several pounds to 400 tons or more. The arc furnaces have several different advantages over other types of furnaces.
The electric arc furnace usually consists of a shell with side walls and a bowl on the bottom. The retractable roof part through which graphite electrodes are lowered, covers the furnace. Part of the bowl of the shell is lined with a layer of refractory material known as a fireplace. The tap or outflow used to drain the molten metal is mounted either onside of the shell or at the bottom of the bowl. The electrodes are generally round in the cross -section and formed from threaded sections that allow the addition of new sections when burning the electrode.
AC power sources (AC) or direct current (DC) can be used in an arc furnace. The average arched furnace with a steel plant works on a delivery of 400 to 900 V at 44,000 amperes or more supplied from transformers with an assessment of approximately 60,000,000 volts (60 MVA). The arc furnace of this type can produce approximately 80 tons of molten steel per hour. The arc furnaces range from small units used in research laboratories holding around a pound of hub on massive installation of steel plants capable of melting hundreds of tons of material. The largest of these furnaces has capacities beyond 300 tons and use 300 MVA or more power supply.
The melting process of the arc is quite simple. OnceThe bowl or fireplace is filled with raw materials, the electrodes are lowered until the charge is contacted. The electric current is then applied, usually at lower voltages to start the process. The current charge flow in conjunction with Radiant Energy from the arch increases heat at the point where it melts. Once the charge is completely melted, its temperature and chemical composition are checked by means of remote probes or spears; If everything is correct, the molten metal can be tapped or poured.
raw materials used in furnaces are often complemented by adding iron, burnt lime and dolomite. These ingredients promote the right chemical balance in molten steel and surface slag that floats dirt and insulates the charge. The installation of an arc furnace offers much greater flexibility than the furnace types; They can use an exclusive supply of scrap material and their output can be changed to suit the demand. The arc furnaces can also be switched off quickly and restarted, which is not the case with the blast furnaces. Are also cheaper pRO installation and use of less energy to operate on a ton of finished product.