Electric Arc Furnace Power Consumption Reasons

Electric arc furnace power consumption has high power consumption is a well-known problem. So what is the reason for the power consumption of electric arc furnace steelmaking? Please follow Sanrui Electric Furnace Manufacturer to understand it!

How Much of Electric Arc Furnace Power Consumption?

Features

The steelmaking electric arc furnaces is the key to producing carbon steel and alloy steel by recycling scrap iron. The electric furnace power consumption depends on many factors, including charging conditions, power supply system, and raw material composition.

The energy required to melt scrap steel and heat it in the furnace is about 350 to 370 kilowatts (kWh).

To produce one ton of steel in a steelmaking electric furnace, it usually takes about 400 kWh per short ton, or about 440 kWh per ton.

The theoretical minimum energy required to melt one ton of scrap steel is 300 kWh.

Reasons For Electric Arc Furnace Steelmaking Power Consumption

① Raw material conditions

The scrap steel used in electric furnace steelmaking requires light and thin materials, pressed blocks, etc., which often causes high material feeding and hot shutdown, resulting in large heat loss.

In the case of insufficient charging, secondary charging is required. In some cases, three charging occurs, which also increases heat loss.

Each additional charging (average charging time is 5min) increases power consumption by about 7-12KWh/t. After the raw materials are cleaned, it is found that C and P enter the oxidation period, and it takes longer time and higher energy consumption to remove C and P.

② Skills of operators

The power consumption of steelmaking furnaces during the melting period accounts for 60%-70% of the total power consumption, and the main power consumption is wasted after cleaning. Blind slag flow during the dephosphorization process during the oxidation period is a common phenomenon, which wastes a lot of energy.

③ Restrictive objective conditions

During the smelting process, due to power shortage, power outages suddenly occur. As time goes by, the cooling and solidification of molten steel need to be melted again, wasting a lot of electricity.

④ Other accidents

For example, if the operator does not operate properly, the electrode will be broken. A lot of heat will be lost in the process of processing the electrode. When entering the reduction period and taking the reduction sample, its found that the composition is unqualified and secondary oxidation must be carried out, which will also waste a lot of heat energy. During the smelting process, the coal oxygen burner leaks, causing the flux to be interrupted;

When the furnace wall is hung with materials, the furnace cover needs to be unscrewed for processing. These have delayed the smelting time to varying degrees, increased heat loss, and thus affected the electric arc furnace power consumption.

In addition, power consumption of smelting furnaces can be reduced by optimizing the power supply system or increasing the oxygen supply intensity. The above is an analysis of the reasons for the electric arc furnace steelmaking power consumption. 

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