Jan. 20, 2026

An Alternating Current Electric Arc Furnace is a steelmaking device that uses an electric arc generated between three-phase graphite electrodes and the furnace charge for high-temperature heating. The arc temperature can reach over 3000℃, efficiently melting scrap steel or hot iron and achieving decarburization and other smelting processes.
Its advantages lie in its flexible process, suitability for smelting all scrap steel, and its status as a key piece of equipment in modern green steel production. Because the power fluctuations during EAF startup are drastic, potentially causing disturbances to the power grid, a power regulation system is required to ensure stable operation.
The AC electric arc furnaces uses three-phase alternating current to generate an electric arc between graphite electrodes and the metal charge (such as scrap steel).
The temperature generated by the electric arc is extremely high, typically above 3000℃ (and can even reach 6000℃). This extreme high temperature rapidly melts and refines solid raw materials such as scrap steel into molten steel.
Heat is mainly transferred to the furnace charge through arc radiation, convection, and conduction.
A typical AC electric furnace is a complex system, mainly consisting of the following parts:
Furnace Body: The furnace includes a shell and a refractory lining, serving as the container for molten steel and slag.
Electrode System: Typically consists of three graphite electrodes connected to a three-phase AC power supply.
Furnace Lid: A movable structure with electrode holes and dust collection ports.
Tilting Mechanism: Used for pouring out molten steel (tapping).
Electrode Lifting Mechanism: Used to adjust the distance between the electrodes and the furnace charge (controlling the arc length and power).
Simple Structure: No complex rectifier circuits are required, resulting in relatively low equipment costs.
Flexible Process: EAF are ideal for smelting various high-quality alloy steels and can effectively remove impurities such as sulfur and phosphorus.
Scrap Steel Utilization: One of the most economical methods for recycling scrap steel.
Unstable Arc: Due to the characteristics of AC power, the arc will continuously "start and end," resulting in less uniform heat distribution compared to DC power.
Noise & Flicker: AC electric arc furnaces are noisy during operation and can easily cause voltage flicker in the power grid.
Control Difficulty: Its a multivariable, nonlinear, and strongly coupled system, making control difficult (for example, the three electrodes can interfere with each other).
From scrap steel to refined steel, alternating current electric arc furnace are not only the "green engine" of the modern steel industry but also a key link in the circular economy. With continuous technological upgrades, this century-old technology is being revitalized—efficient, flexible, and sustainable, continuously injecting "hot" power into global manufacturing!
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