New transformers for increasing EAF productivity and improving electrode and energy consumption

In order to reduce operation costs and to increase liquid steel production capacity, a team "Ugine-Ardoise" and "UCAR Technical Assistance" has redime nsioned new transformers for the electric arc furnaces and has pushed the i nstallation to its maximum limits while maintaining the existing power inpu t voltage infrastructure. The new transformers reactance has been considera bly increased in order to allow operation with "high power factors" (long a rcs). This modification has been done thanks to the fast investment returns , resulting from considerable gains in productivity, electrode consumption and energy consumption. The installation is not yet utilized at its full po wer, but after some additional transformations (electrode circle diameter r eduction on furnace No.2 and modification of electrode arms and electrode h olding grips on the two furnaces), one more heat could be realized per day.