AIST Steel Wheel: Electric Arc Furnace (EAF)

In the electric arc furnace (EAF), electrical energy is utilized to create a heat of steel.

Recycled steel scrap or other iron raw material is charged into the furnace. High-power electric arcs delivered via graphite electrodes are sent through the scrap generating heat and melting the scrap into liquid steel. Many EAFs also utilize burners in the walls of the furnace to inject oxygen, carbon, and/or natural gas to improve heat utilization and slag development. Once the heat has been melted, the steel is tapped into a ladle for further processing and the slag is poured off in preparation for the next heat.

The main task of most modern EAFs is to convert the solid raw materials, such as steel scrap, direct reduced iron (DRI), and hot briquetted iron (HBI) to liquid crude steel as fast as possible and then refine it further in subsequent secondary steelmaking processes.

Key components of the EAF are: the refractory lined vessel and cover; the electric melting power supply consisting of the main transformer with controls, power-conducting cables, arms and electrodes; the scrap or DRI charging buckets or delivery equipment, depending on the type of EAF installation; as well as other related equipment.