An electric arc furnace is used to produce carbon steel and alloy steel by recycling ferrous scrap. The energy required to melt the scrap and heat it in the furnace is approximately 350 to 370 kilowatt-hours (kWh). To produce a ton of steel in an electric arc furnace, it requires approximately 400 kWh per short ton or about 440 kWh per tonne. The theoretical minimum amount of energy required to melt a tonne of scrap steel is 300 kWh.
The amount of energy necessary to power the arc depends on the mix of scrap and its composition. The electricity is supplied from transformers to the arc furnace body via copper busbars. Carbon or graphite electrodes are used during operation, and the length of the arc in the furnace is adjusted automatically. Spent electrodes are constantly replaced with new ones. The melting process takes place in a limited space, and the walls of the furnace are lined.
Electric arc furnaces have advantages in steel-making, including the ability to achieve 100 percent scrap material recycling and flexibility in starting and stopping the process when needed. However, one disadvantage is that electric furnaces consume a lot of power, which can put stress on electrical systems.
Overall, electric arc furnaces are widely used for steel-making and can reach temperatures up to 1,800 degrees Celsius in industrial settings and over 3,000 degrees Celsius in laboratory conditions.
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