Modeling of a DC Electric Arc Furnace—Heat Transfer from the Arc

Abstract

A mathematical model describing heat and fluid flow in an electric arc has been developed and used to predict heat transfer from the arc to the steel bath in a DC Electric Arc Furnace. The arc model takes the separate contributions to the heat transfer from each involved mechanism into account, i.e. radiation, convection, condensation and energy transported by electrons. The model predicts heat transfer for different currents and arc lengths. Model predictions show that arc efficiency is higher for lower power input. The model also predicts shear stresses and current density distribution at the steel surface. This information can be used as boundary condition input to simulate the effect of heating with electrodes in a DC EAF on the heat and fluid flow in the steel bath.