What is Traditional Electric Arc Furnace Steelmaking?

What is Traditional Electric Arc Furnace Steelmaking?

Electric arc furnace steelmaking is one of the steelmaking methods that uses electrical energy as a heat source. Traditional electric arc furnace steelmaking generally refers to a steelmaking method that relies on discharge between electrodes and furnace materials to convert electrical energy into heat energy in the arc light, and uses radiation and direct action of the arc to heat and melt metals and slag, smelting various components of steel and alloys.

Traditional Electric Arc Furnace Steelmaking has the Following Characteristics:

(1) The energy input is mainly electrical energy;

(2) The metallurgical process is usually divided into three stages: melting period, oxidation period, and reduction period;

(3) The main raw material is scrap steel, supplemented with 10-15% pig iron;

(4) The main products are cast steel ingots, and there are also some continuous casting billets.

On April 5, 1906, the first industrial steelmaking electric furnace (single-phase, two electrodes, with a steel output of 4 tons) was put into operation at the Halkober Steel Plant in New York, marking the beginning of the history of electric furnace steelmaking. Before World War II, due to the constraints of the power industry, electricity was expensive, and the equipment and processes of electric furnace steelmaking were still in the stage of continuous improvement, as well as problems with raw materials. The proportion of electric furnace steel in the world was very small, and it was only used as a means of smelting high alloy steel, tool steel, and special steel. It was not until after World War II that the world's electric furnace steel experienced rapid development.

The Main Reasons for the Rapid Development of Electric Furnace Steelmaking are:

(1) The Amount of Scrap Steel is Increasing Day by Day

With the continuous development of industry and the replacement of old and new equipment, the resources of scrap steel are becoming increasingly abundant. If we continue to follow the original production mode of flat and converter, it will inevitably lead to an excess of scrap steel. At the same time, with the increase in steel production, there has been a corresponding increase in the processing of scrap steel - cutting heads. These factors will increase the total amount of scrap steel in society, and if not recycled, it will cause social pollution.

(2) The Rapid Growth of the Steel Industry has Caused a Global Shortage of High-quality Coke Supply

The global price increase of high-quality coke has forced some blast furnaces to shut down or reduce production. Due to the large-scale development of power generation equipment and continuous technological improvements, some low-quality coal powder can be utilized for power generation, resulting in a relatively stable supply and price of electricity. Therefore, the development of electric furnace steelmaking has a relatively reliable foundation.

(3) Enhanced Competitiveness of Electric Furnace Steelmaking

Electric furnace steelmaking, due to its development towards large-scale and ultra-high power, has a more reasonable smelting process and enhanced energy supply methods compared to open hearth furnaces, thereby increasing its competitiveness with open hearth furnaces.

(4) Electric furnaces have low equipment investment, fast infrastructure construction speed, and rapid capital recovery, making them particularly suitable for small and medium-sized steel enterprises.

(5) The temperature and composition control of molten steel are easy, and the variety adaptability is large. It can smelt various grades of steel and also adapt to intermittent production.

Due to the aforementioned reasons, electric furnace steelmaking has been widely adopted in major steel producing countries as well as developing countries.

Especially after the 1970s, electric furnace steelmaking technology developed rapidly, and electric arc furnace steelmaking gradually bid farewell to traditional electric arc furnace steelmaking and entered modern electric arc furnace steelmaking.