To quote in simple words, it can be said that an electric arc furnace (EAF) is a type of furnace that is used to heart charged material put in it
. An electric are furnace is recognized as a principle furnace that is used for production of steel. Knowing the primary application of electric arc furnace, it can be said that it is used for re-melting the steel scrap. There are two types of arc furnaces. Direct furnace has three electrodes that are used to heat metal by way of arc. This generates an incredible amount of heat and the water jackets along with other cooling devices are required for operation. On the other hand, the indirect arc furnace uses one electrode and works the same way as the direct furnace works.
It is up to one who wants to keep the charging limits confined as per the nature of material to be melted. The process is used to melt the pig iron, iron scrap as well as direct reduced iron. Maximum of the steel is these days produced using this application in the arc furnace. Some mini-mills are set centered on EAF steel production that looks after the purity of steel as when 100% of charge comes from scrap, often maintaining the control over purity and quality of steel produced becomes difficult.
Using electric furnace is a perfect method used to help the bulk steel manufacturing. Unlike the basic oxygen route, the performance of electric furnace does not implement the use of hot metal. It is set charged with "cold" material that is known as normally steel scrap and may look unsightly and environmentally damaging otherwise.
The process begins where the steel scrap is first made to tip in the electric furnace with the help of an overhead crane. Then a lid is swung into position and is gently placed over furnace. The lid contains three graphite electrodes that are lowered into arc furnace. Following this, electric current is made to pass through the electrodes that lead to the formation of an arc. The heat that is generated with this arc gradually melts the scrap.
Continuing in processes of melting, there are other metals (ferro-alloys) which are added to the steel so as to give it the desired chemical composition. Along with this, oxygen is blown into the electric arc furnace so as to purify the steel.
Then certain samples are taken so as check the chemical composition featured by the steel. The arc furnace is then gradually tilted to allow the slag that is seen floating on the surface this molten steel which is to be poured off. This electric furnace is then tilted in the opposite direction where this molten steel is poured in a ladle or either undergoes secondary steel-making or is transported to the caster.
The modern electric arc furnace carries a typical chassis of 150 tons and takes around 90 minutes to perform the melting process. Steel making followed in electric arc furnace is set quite economical.