| An arc furnace, also known as an electric arc furnace (EAF), is an installation using an electric arc to heat materials, typically metals, to melting point. A typical arc furnace melts the material, or "charge" as it is known, by passing an electrical current through the charge via a set of electrodes. A combination of the heat generated by the current passage and the arcing on the charge surface melts the material. EAFs are found in research and dental prosthesis laboratories, cast iron foundries, and steel production plants and may have internal capacities ranging from a couple of pounds to 400 tons or more. Arc furnaces have several distinct advantages over other furnace types.
An electric arc furnace typically consists of a shell with side walls and a dished bowl at the bottom. A retractable roof section, through which the graphite electrodes are lowered, covers the furnace. The bowl section of the shell is lined with a layer of refractory material known as the hearth. The tap or spout used to drain off the molten metal is either mounted on the side of the shell or at the bottom of the bowl. The electrodes are generally round in cross section and made up of threaded sections which allow new sections to be added as the electrode burns away. |
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