Influence of joule heat and heat of electric arc on the vortex flow in DC arc furnace

Abstract

The paper devoted to the numerical simulation of processes in DC electric arc furnaces with the bottom electrode. These furnaces have shown higher efficiency, low heat loss, lower components wear and higher quality of steel production. The biggest disadvantage of such furnaces is a high rate of fettle wear near the bottom electrode that connected with electrovortex flow. Electrovortex flows appearing under electromagnetic forces as a result of non-homogeneous distribution of the current density through the liquid conductor. This effect can be observed in many technological processes: Electro slag remelting process (including DC and AC metallurgical furnaces, electrolysis cells and submerged-resistor induction furnaces), arc welding, processes of semiconductor crystals growing, electro vortex engines etc.