PowerUsageandElectrical Circuit Analysis for Electric ArcFurnaces

Power usageinultrahigh-powered electric arcfurnaces requires considerably moreinvestigation into system parameters, furnace secondary circuit analysis, andoperating characteristics thanpreviously given tonormal powered electric arcfurnaces. Thepowerinput mustbe analyzed fromtheinfinite electric utility bustothearcattheelectrode. All interested parties mustparticipate intheanalysis toassurea mutual understanding ofeachother's problems. Various high-voltage systems are compared along withpowerfactor correction applications. An18-ft (5.5- m)80-ton (72.6-metric tons(MT))furnace hasbeenselected fordetailed analysis witha50-MVAfurnace transformer. Inaddition toelectrical considerations, thepowermelting profile andassociated refractory erosion isalsosubjected toanalysis inthis review. Theanalysis indicates thatwith properapplication, ultrahigh-powered electric arcfurnaces willprovide increased production withreasonable refractory erosion.