Melt azimuthal rotation in direct current electric arc furnace without external axial magnetic field

Abstract

This paper considers the azimuthal rotation of melt about the vertical axis of a DC EAF, which is ensured by an inclined installation of the power supply electrodes, which is a patented solution that is the basis for this article. Near inclined electrodes, the Lorentz force has a pronounced azimuthal component, which is the driver of the melt rotation without an external axial magnetic field – thus, additional energy consumption to create an external magnetic field is not necessary. The main design and technological solutions, formulated in the patent and presented by the authors, were obtained using observations and numerical LES study for a laboratory-scale experimental setup (capacity 4.8 kg of GaInSn), as well as using LES computations for an industrial-scale DC EAF (capacity 3.6 t of molten steel). Basic technological solutions studied: the flow of the melt may be controlled by varying the number of vertical and inclined electrodes of DC EAF, choosing the angle of inclination of the electrodes as well as choosing the sequence of turning on and turning off power supply through the electrodes.