What is the Difference Between an Induction Furnace and an Electric Arc Furnace?

Jun. 30, 2025


induction furnaces and electric arc furnaces


The main differences between induction furnaces and electric arc furnaces are working principles, equipment investment, application areas, thermal efficiency, environmental protection and smelting characteristics. Induction furnaces use electromagnetic induction heating, which is suitable for small and medium-sized enterprises, environmentally friendly and highly thermally efficient; electric arc furnaces use arc high-temperature melting, with large equipment investment, suitable for large-scale enterprises, and great process flexibility.


What is an Induction Furnace?


An induction furnace is an electric furnace that uses the induction electrothermal effect of materials to heat or melt materials. The AC power supply used in induction furnaces is of three types: industrial frequency (50 or 60 Hz), medium frequency (150-10,000 Hz) and high frequency (higher than 10,000 Hz). The main components of an induction furnace are sensors, furnace bodies, power supplies, capacitors and control systems. Under the action of the alternating electromagnetic field in the induction furnace, eddy currents are generated inside the material to achieve the effect of heating or melting. Induction furnaces are usually divided into induction heating furnaces and melting furnaces. Melting furnaces are divided into two types: core induction furnaces and coreless induction furnaces. Core induction furnaces are mainly used for melting and heat preservation of various cast iron, brass, bronze, zinc and other metals. They can use waste materials and have low melting costs. Coreless induction furnaces are divided into industrial frequency induction furnaces, triple frequency induction furnaces, generator set medium frequency induction furnaces, thyristor medium frequency induction furnaces, and high frequency induction furnaces.


induction furnace


Advantages of Induction Furnaces


1) It is easier to get high temperatures than fuel furnaces.

2) The material can be heated from the inside to increase its temperature.

3) It is easy to use in controlled atmosphere furnaces and vacuum furnaces.

4) Electric furnaces do not have the exhaust heat loss of fuel furnaces, so the thermal efficiency is high.

5) It is easy to control the temperature, which is convenient for remote control and fine adjustment.

6) It can be heated quickly.

7) Good operating performance and no pollution to the environment.


induction furnace


Disadvantages of Induction Furnaces


1) It is necessary to increase the cost of power distribution equipment.

2) The cost of electricity is high.

3) When the resistance heating temperature exceeds 1000℃, the refractory material may be conductive, and attention should be paid to insulation problems.


induction furnace


What is an Electric Arc Furnace?


An electric arc furnace is an electric furnace that uses the high temperature generated by the electrode arc to melt ores and metals. When the gas discharge forms an arc, the energy is very concentrated, and the temperature in the arc zone is above 3000℃. For smelting metals, the electric arc furnace has greater process flexibility than other steelmaking furnaces, can effectively remove impurities such as sulfur and phosphorus, the furnace temperature is easy to control, the equipment occupies a small area, and is suitable for the smelting of high-quality alloy steel.

Arc furnace steelmaking is to input electrical energy into the electric arc steelmaking furnace through graphite electrodes, and use the arc generated between the electrode end and the charge as the heat source for steelmaking. The electric arc furnace uses electrical energy as the heat source and can adjust the atmosphere in the furnace, which is extremely beneficial for smelting steel containing more easily oxidized elements.


electric arc furnace


Classification of Electric Arc Furnaces


According to the arc form, arc furnaces can be divided into three-phase arc furnaces, consumable arc furnaces, single-phase arc furnaces and resistance arc furnaces.

Electric arc steelmaking furnaces are divided into ordinary power electric arc furnaces, high power electric arc furnaces and ultra-high power electric arc furnaces according to the transformer capacity per ton of furnace capacity.


Composition of Electric Arc Furnaces


The furnace body of an electric arc steelmaking furnace consists of a furnace cover, a furnace door, a steel tapping trough and a furnace body, and the furnace bottom and furnace wall are built with alkaline refractory materials or acidic refractory materials.


electric arc furnace


Advantages of Electric Arc Furnaces


1) Electric arc steelmaking furnaces use electricity as the main energy source. Electric energy discharges and arcs with the charge through graphite electrodes, generating high temperatures of up to 2000 ~ 6000℃, and melts the scrap steel raw materials by arc radiation, temperature convection and heat conduction. For most of the time when the charge is melting, the high-temperature heat source is surrounded by the charge, and the heat loss caused by the high-temperature exhaust gas is relatively small, so the thermal efficiency is higher than other steelmaking equipment such as converters. In addition, electric heating can easily and accurately control the furnace temperature, and heating operations can be performed under any conditions such as oxidizing atmosphere or reducing atmosphere, normal pressure or vacuum according to process requirements.

2) The process flow of electric arc furnace steelmaking is short, the equipment is simple, the operation is convenient, it is relatively easy to control pollution, the construction investment is small, the land occupation is small, and it does not need to rely on a complex ironmaking system like converter steelmaking.

3) Electric arc furnace steelmaking has strong adaptability to furnace materials. It uses scrap steel as the main raw material, but it can also use solid and liquid iron-containing raw materials such as molten iron (blast furnace or cupola iron), sponge iron (DRI) or hot pressed briquettes (HBI), pig iron blocks, etc.

4) Because the atmosphere in the electric arc furnace steelmaking furnace is controllable, the slag adjustment or replacement operation is relatively easy, and the complex process operations of melting, decarburization, dephosphorization, degassing, inclusion removal, temperature control, composition adjustment (alloying) and other stages can be completed in the same operating system. Electric arc furnace steelmaking can be produced intermittently, and the production varieties can be flexibly changed within a certain range. In addition, modern electric arc furnaces can also use a large amount of auxiliary energy, such as heavy (light) oil, coal powder, natural gas, etc. Therefore, the electric arc furnace steelmaking process has strong adaptability, flexible operation and wide application.

5) The electric arc furnace can not only smelt high-quality steel with low phosphorus, sulfur and oxygen content, but also can be alloyed with a variety of elements (including easily oxidized elements such as lead, boron, vanadium, titanium and rare earth) to produce various high-quality steels and alloy steels, such as ball bearing steel, stainless acid-resistant steel, tool steel, electrical steel, heat-resistant steel, magnetic materials and special alloys.


electric arc furnace


Difference between Induction Furnace and Electric Arc Furnace


The following table highlights all the key differences between induction furnace and electric arc furnace


ParameterInduction FurnaceElectric Arc Furnace
PrincipleInduction furnaces produce high-temperature heat according to the principle of electromagnetic induction.Electric arc furnaces produce heat by creating a high-temperature electric arc.
Energy efficiencyInduction furnaces have higher energy efficiency.Electric arc furnaces are relatively less energy efficient than induction furnaces.
Operating temperatureInduction furnaces operate at relatively lower temperatures.Electric arc furnaces operate at much higher temperatures.
SizeInduction furnaces are relatively smaller in size.Electric arc furnaces have large size.
SuitabilityInduction furnaces are best suited for small-scale operations.Electric arc furnaces are suitable for heavy-duty and large-scale operations.
NoiseInduction furnaces produce very low noise.Electric arc furnaces produce very high noise due to production of electric arc.
Initial costInduction furnaces have lower initial capital cost.Electric arc furnaces have higher initial capital cost than induction furnaces.
Maintenance costInduction furnaces have higher maintenance cost.Electric arc furnaces have lower maintenance cost.
Oxidation lossesIn induction furnaces, the oxidation losses are very low.In electric arc furnaces, the oxidation losses are high.
Electrode costInduction furnaces do not have electrodes, hence there is no electrode cost.Electric arc furnaces involve electrode cost that is significantly high.
Energy consumptionInduction furnaces consume more electrical energy per ton due to low power factor.Electric arc furnaces consume less electrical energy.
Impact on environmentInduction furnaces have relatively lower impacts on environment due to high energy efficiency.Electric arc furnaces have more impacts on environment due to lower efficiency and high emissions.
Melting capacityInduction furnaces have lower melting capacity.Electric arc furnaces have higher melting capacity than induction furnaces.
Temperature controlInduction furnaces provide precise temperature control.Electric arc furnaces do not provide temperature control like induction furnaces.
ApplicationsInduction furnaces are used for melting various non-ferrous metals like copper, aluminum, etc.Electric arc furnaces are mainly used in iron and steel production and for melting scrap.



electric arc furnace


Conclusion


Compared with electric arc furnaces, medium frequency furnaces have lower steelmaking costs and are suitable for small and medium-sized enterprises (small workshops). However, the steel produced by medium frequency furnaces has many impurities and high carbon content, so the purity is not high. If the requirements are not high, you can choose steel produced by medium frequency furnaces.

The volume of electric arc furnaces is generally more than 3 tons, so only enterprises of a certain scale will use electric arc furnaces, and the purity of the steel produced is relatively high. Electric arc furnaces use industrial frequency electricity, while medium frequency electric furnaces use medium frequency electricity. Compared with electric arc furnaces, induction furnaces have high thermal efficiency, thus achieving high production efficiency, flexible operation and low energy consumption.

In summary, induction furnaces and electric arc furnaces are types of electric furnaces widely used in various metal industries. Both furnaces use electricity to generate heat. In addition, induction furnaces and electric arc furnaces are more energy efficient than other traditional heating furnaces. However, as described in the table above, they are completely different in several aspects. The most significant difference between induction furnaces and electric arc furnaces is that induction furnaces generate heat through electromagnetic induction, while electric arc furnaces generate heat through an electric arc created between two electrodes.


Latest Products

Customized metallurgical machinery and equipment range: Electric Arc Furnace, Submerged Arc Furnace, LF Refining Furnace, Vacuum Furnace, Induction Furnace, Dust Remove System, Water Treatment Equipment, etc. Providing the most advanced equipment integration services, metallurgical equipment can be customized according to different needs of customers, and production capacity can be adjusted according to customer requirements.

Electric Arc Furnace

Submerged Arc Furnace

LF Refining Furnace

VD / VOD Vacuum Refining Furnace

Induction Furnace

Furnace Accessories

5 Ton Electric Arc Furnace

5 Ton Electric Arc Furnace

The 5 ton electric arc furnace for steel-making is a special purpose equipment that makes ordinary steel, quality carbon steel, alloy steel and non-corrosive steel with electric arc as heat source and scrap steel (iron) as raw material.

15 Ton Electric Arc Furnace

15 Ton Electric Arc Furnace

15-ton electric arc furnace is used for the short-process steelmaking process, using 100% scrap steel or scrap steel + molten iron (pig iron), or scrap steel + sponge iron (DRI) as raw materials for steelmaking.

30 Ton AC Electric Arc Furnace

30 Ton AC Electric Arc Furnace

The 30-ton AC electric arc furnace is used to melt scrap steel to produce steel. Electrical energy is used to melt scrap steel. An arc forms between the charged material and the electrode.

30 Ton Electric Arc Furnace

30 Ton Electric Arc Furnace

30 Ton electric arc furnace is used for steelmaking short process smelting, using 100% scrap steel or scrap steel + molten iron (pig iron), or scrap steel + sponge iron (DRI) as raw materials for steelmaking.

50 Ton Ultra-high Power Electric Arc Furnace

50 Ton Ultra-high Power Electric Arc Furnace

The 50-ton ultra-high power electric arc furnace (50TUPH EAF) adopts ultra-high power, high impedance technology, bottom tapping technology (ETB), furnace wall oxygen oil burner and furnace door carbon-oxygen gun technology.

DC Electric Arc Furnace

DC Electric Arc Furnace

DC electric arc furnace is an electric arc furnace supplying electric energy with DC power supply. There is only one electrode on the top of the DC arc furnace, which is the negative electrode, and the bottom electrode is the positive electrode.

Electric Arc Furnace

Electric Arc Furnace

Electric arc furnaces are used to melt scrap steel for steel production. Electrical energy is used to melt scrap steel. An arc forms between the charged material and the electrode. The heat generated by the arc melts the scrap.

Electric Arc Furnace Steel Making

Electric Arc Furnace Steel Making

Electric arc furnace steel making is a steelmaking method that uses the thermal effect of electric arc to heat the charge for melting.

Ultra-high Power Electric Arc Furnace

Ultra-high Power Electric Arc Furnace

Ultra-high power electric arc furnace mainly changes the arc characteristics of high voltage and long arc to the arc characteristics of high current, low voltage and short arc

1 Ton Electric Arc Furnace

1 Ton Electric Arc Furnace

1 ton electric arc furnace is used for melting steel and titanium scrap metal. The principle of electric arc furnace is based on the generation of direct current, which converts electrical energy into heat energy through electrodes to melt the metal.

2×36000KVA Closed Pig Iron Submerged Arc Furnace

2×36000KVA Closed Pig Iron Submerged Arc Furnace

The closed pig iron furnace (submerged arc furnace iron making) is a non-blast furnace iron making method. Under the premise of guaranteeing the power supply, it is easy to solve the problem by using the reducing agent required by the submerged arc furnace iron making.

Ferroalloy Refining Furnace

Ferroalloy Refining Furnace

The main mechanical device design of Sanui ferroalloy refining furnace combines China's national conditions and draws on international advanced technologies such as Demark and Pyremate.

25.5MVA Ferronickel Submerged Arc Furnace

25.5MVA Ferronickel Submerged Arc Furnace

The Ferronickel submerged arc furnace is a special submerged arc furnace used for smelting nickel-iron alloy. Its main function is to add nickel ore, carbonaceous reducing agent (such as coke) and limestone and other raw materials into the furnace in a certain proportion

Ferrosilicon Furnace

Ferrosilicon Furnace

The main mechanical device design of Sanui ferrosilicon furnace combines China's national conditions and draws on international advanced technologies such as Demark and Pyremate.

High Carbon Ferrochrome Furnace

High Carbon Ferrochrome Furnace

The main mechanical device design of Sanui high carbon ferrochrome furnace combines China's national conditions and draws on international advanced technologies such as Demark and Pyremate.

25500KVA Industrial Silicon Submerged Arc Melting Furnace

25500KVA Industrial Silicon Submerged Arc Melting Furnace

Industrial silicon submerged arc furnace is an important equipment in silicon ore processing, playing a key role in the silicon industry.

Manganese Silicon Alloy Furnace

Manganese Silicon Alloy Furnace

The manganese silicon alloy furnace is mainly used to smelt silicon-manganese alloy, which is an alloy containing silicon and manganese.

Submerged Arc Furnace

Submerged Arc Furnace

The design of the submerged arc furnace main mechanical device by Sanui is based on China's national conditions and draws on international advanced technologies such as Demark and Perlmutter.

Submerged Electric Arc Furnace

Submerged Electric Arc Furnace

Submerged electric arc furnace is mainly used for reducing and smelting raw materials such as ore, carbonaceous reducing agent and solvent. It mainly produces ferroalloys such as ferrosilicon, ferromanganese, ferrochrome, ferrotungsten, silicon-manganese alloy, etc.

Titanium Slag Furnace

Titanium Slag Furnace

Titanium slag production adopts titanium slag electric furnace (circular furnace and rectangular furnace according to its shape) smelting process.

LF 20T Ladle Refining Furnace

LF 20T Ladle Refining Furnace

The LF 20 T ladle refining furnace has the functions of arc heating under normal pressure, argon blowing and stirring at the bottom of the ladle, and reducing slag making in the ladle.

LF Ladle Refining Furnace

LF Ladle Refining Furnace

LF ladle refining furnace is a bottom-blown argon ladle furnace with three-phase submerged arc heating under normal pressure. It is a device for refining molten steel in a ladle.

VD Vacuum Refining Furnace

VD Vacuum Refining Furnace

VD vacuum refining furnace is a commonly used refining process equipment, mainly used for deoxidation, impurity removal and other operations of molten steel, so as to obtain high purity, low impurity content of high quality steel.

VOD Vacuum Refining Furnace

VOD Vacuum Refining Furnace

VOD vacuum refining furnace has multiple functions such as vacuum degassing, oxygen blowing decarburization, vacuum charging, argon blowing stirring, non-vacuum temperature measurement sampling, wire feeding, etc.

Cast Steel Melting Induction Furnace

Cast Steel Melting Induction Furnace

The cast steel melting induction furnace has outstanding advantages in heat penetration or melting soft magnetic alloys, high resistance alloys, platinum group alloys, heat-resistant, corrosion-resistant, wear-resistant alloys and pure metals.

Metal Silicon Smelting Furnace

Metal Silicon Smelting Furnace

Metal silicon smelting furnace is a metal silicon medium frequency melting furnace, which consists of furnace body, water and electricity introduction system, furnace tilting device, etc. It has fast melting temperature rise, easy to control furnace temperature and high production efficiency.

Medium Frequency Induction Furnace

Medium Frequency Induction Furnace

Medium frequency induction furnace mainly used for melting steel, alloy steel, special steel, stainless steel, and can also be used for melting and casting non-ferrous metals such as copper, aluminum, lead, zinc, etc. The customized range of induction furnaces sold by Sanrui ranges from 0.1 tons to 10 tons.

Medium Frequency Furnace

Medium Frequency Furnace

Medium frequency induction furnaces are mainly used for melting steel, alloy steel, special steel, stainless steel, and can also be used for melting and casting non-ferrous metals such as copper, aluminum, lead, and zinc.

Medium Frequency Aluminum Melting Furnace

Medium Frequency Aluminum Melting Furnace

Medium frequency aluminum melting furnace is used for melting and heating aluminum, scrap aluminum, aluminum ingots, and aluminum alloys; The melting capacity ranges from 100KG to 3000KG.

Induction Furnace

Induction Furnace

An induction furnace is an electric furnace that uses the induction electrothermal effect of the material to heat or melt the material. The main components of an induction furnace are sensors, furnace body, power supply, capacitors and control system.

3 Tons Medium Frequency Coreless Induction Furnace

3 Tons Medium Frequency Coreless Induction Furnace

​The 3-ton medium frequency coreless induction furnace adopts a 6-phase 12-pulse double rectifier control system. A 2000KVA special rectifier transformer is used for the 2000KW medium frequency power supply.

Conductive Cross Arm

Conductive Cross Arm

The conductive arm of an electric arc furnace (EAF) is primarily composed of the front electrode conductive arm holder, a water-cooled clamping ring, the arm body, and the rear conductive copper plate.

EAF Charging Basket

EAF Charging Basket

The scrap charging basket of the electric arc furnace is mainly used for loading and conveying raw materials such as scrap steel into the electric arc furnace for smelting.

EAF Electrode Holder

EAF Electrode Holder

There are many insulation links between the EAF electrode holder and the conductive cross arm body, which greatly simplifies the cconductive cross arm structure and is a new type of electrode arm on the ultra-high power arc furnace.

EAF Water Cooled Roof

EAF Water Cooled Roof

Generally, the furnace cover of the electric arc furnace adopts the tubular water-cooled closed tube furnace cover structure.

Electrode Lifting Device

Electrode Lifting Device

The electrode lifting mechanism of electric arc furnace is composed of conductive cross arm and electrode column device.

Forged Copper Tile

Forged Copper Tile

Forged copper tile is one of the main accessories in submerged arc furnace (silicon metal furnace, calcium carbide furnace and iron alloy furnace). It generates heat energy due to passing through large current at high temperature, and is easy to be damaged due to poor working environment.

Furnace Cover Lifting and Rotating Device

Furnace Cover Lifting and Rotating Device

The furnace cover lifting and rotating device consists of a furnace cover lifting mechanism, a rotating mechanism and a rotating frame.

Submerged Arc Furnace Pressure Ring

Submerged Arc Furnace Pressure Ring

Submerged arc furnace pressure ring is used to monitor the change of air pressure in the furnace in real time, and adjust the air pressure automatically or manually according to the preset parameters to ensure the stability of air pressure in the furnace

Submerged Arc Furnace Water-cooled Roof

Submerged Arc Furnace Water-cooled Roof

Submerged arc furnace water-cooled Roof is an important part of submerged arc furnace (also known as electric arc furnace, calcium carbide furnace or mining furnace), which is mainly used to close the top of furnace body and bear the high temperature and pressure in the furnace.

Short Network

Short Network

Short network bus systems), also known as high current line, refers to the general term of the carrier fluid from the secondary outlet terminal of the transformer to the electrode (including the electrode).

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