DEVELOPMENT OF DC ARC FURNACES WITH CONTR OL OF THE ARC POSITION

The major benefits of DC electric arc furnaces are the reduced power a nd electrode consumption coupled with a lesser degree of net work flic ker effects. Usinor Sacilor has developed a water-cooled steel bottom electrode that is installed in the Clecim DC arc furnace. By installin g multiple independent bottom electrodes it is possible to control the currents and therefore achieve a more uniform melt down procedure. A closed-loop control circuit was developed to control the current distr ibution, thus eliminating hot and cold spots during melting.