Ferroalloy Production Research Articles

Recycling of Chrome-Containing Waste from a Mining and Processing Plant to Produce Industrial Products

Prolonged development of ore deposits, ore beneficiation and metallurgical smelting of concentrates result in the accumulation of wastes, forming large-scale dumps and sludge ponds negatively affecting the environment and human health. The creation and introduction of industrial waste treatment technologies will make it possible to dispose of them with the production of valuable commercial products and improve the environmental situation. In a research article on chemical beneficiation with the subsequent gravitational beneficiation of chrome-containing slurry tailings of Donskoy Ore-Mining and Beneficiation Plant (DOMBP), which processes chrome ore of the Kempirsay deposit in the Republic of Kazakhstan, Aktobe region, having considerable stocks of such waste is presented. The chromium-containing slurry tailings were heat-treated at 1100 °C, sintered with ammonium sulfate, water and sulfuric acid in a defined ratio at 300 °C, and then the resulting sinter was leached with water at 90 °C. The cake was washed to separate the liquid part from the solid part. The solid precipitate is the chromium-containing cake, which is upgraded by gravity concentration to a grade concentrate for ferroalloy production. When the solution is evaporated, magnesium sulfate with ammonium sulfate forms the Tutton’s salt ammoshenite. High-throughput chromium oxide extraction of 93.9% was achieved as a result of the research, and three products were obtained: (1) standard chromium concentrate with 49.48% Cr2O3 content, (2) ammoshenite used as a nitrogen–magnesium fertilizer and (3) forsterite, which is concentrated in gravity concentration tailings and can be used in the production of refractory minerals.

EFFECT OF FINE FILLERS FROM INDUSTRIAL WASTEON THE QUALITY OF SELF-COMPACTING CONCRETE

The prerequisite for the research reflected in this article is the need to recycle industrial waste, such as silicon production waste – microsilica; ferroalloys production waste – refined ferrochrome slag (further – RFS); the next waste – coal-fired power plant fly ash, all these wastes can and should be used in the building materials industry. The dynamically developing construction industry requires the attention of scientists and the direction of their work to improve production technology. Thus, the article is devoted to research of influence of various small fillers (industrial wastes) available in Kazakhstan on self-compacting concrete mixes (SCC) and their rheological, physical and technical properties. By results of researches the most effective type of fine aggregate from industrial wastes, allowing to receive a high-quality SCC mix on the basis of local raw materials was revealed. The use of microsilica as compared to other industrial wastes resulted in a conglomerate with high compressive strength (SCC) at early hardening periods. In terms of economic efficiency and quality improvement, the results of the study are of practical value for manufacturers of ready-made self-compacting concrete mixtures operating in Kazakhstan.

Theoretical and experimental substantiation of obtaining an alloy from flotation tailings of lead-zinc sulfide ore

The article presents the results of thermodynamic and experimental research on the processing of cinders from the firing of Shalkiya deposit lead-zinc ore tailings with the production of siliceous ferroalloys. Thermodynamic modeling carried out using the HSC-6.0 complex based on the Gibbs energy minimization principle showed that the interaction occur with the formation of CaSiO<sub>3</sub>, FeSiO<sub>3</sub>, MgSiO<sub>3</sub>, K<sub>2</sub>OˑSiO<sub>2</sub>, FeSi, Fe<sub>5</sub>Si<sub>3</sub>, SiC, Fe<sub>3</sub>Si, Si, SiO<sub>g</sub>, FeSi<sub>2.33</sub>, FeSi<sub>2</sub>, CaSi, Zn, Zng, Pb, Pb<sub>g</sub>; an increase in the iron amount in the system allows increasing the silicon extraction degree into the alloy at 1800°C to 76%, to reduce the silicon concentration in the alloy from 41 to 24%; FS25 grade ferrosilicon formed at 1752-1867°C in the presence of 88-100% iron, and FS45 grade ferrosilicon – at 1863-1900°C and 20-22.4% iron. Electric melting of a charge containing 63.83% calcined cinder of tailings, 19.15% coke, and 17.02% steel chips allows to obtain FS45 grade ferrosilicon (44.1-43.9% Si) with the extraction of 69.7% silicon and sublimates with the content of 32-38% zinc and lead. The results obtained allow complex processing of lead-zinc sulfide ore tailings with the extraction of not only non-ferrous metals, but also silicon in the ferroalloy.

Replacing Coke with Noncaking Coal in the Production of Manganese Ferroalloys

Replacing Coke with Noncaking Coal in the Production of Manganese Ferroalloys

Determination of the quality of special coke as a result of heat treatment of coal from the Shubarkolskoye field

To date, there is a tendency to increase the pace of production in the field of ferrous metallurgy. The constant demand for steel products is accompanied by an increase in prices for raw materials, including carbon reducing agents. In the conditions of the domestic market of Kazakhstan, of great interest is the study and the possibility of using low-baking and non-baking coal as a raw material for the production of special coke used as a reducing agent in metallurgy, the relevance and expediency of which is also due to the resource conservation and energy efficiency program in the use of raw materials put forward by the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan. In this article, as a result of the search for high-quality, alternative types of reducing agents used in the production of ferroalloys, experimental data of thermal oxidation treatment (coking) of long-flame, non-baking coals of the Shubarkol deposit (Kazakhstan) are presented. In laboratory conditions, during the experiments, the tested grade D coals with a fraction of 70-80 mm were subjected to temperature exposure at temperatures of 800, 850, 900, 950 °C with various preset heating speeds to determine the quality characteristics that meet the requirements for reducing agents for the metallurgical industry, in particular for the production of ferroalloys, in electro thermal, steelmaking, for agglomeration of iron and non-ferrous ores, etc. A technical analysis of long–flame coal was carried out, the volatile and moisture content of which are Vdaf – 44.5%, W – 14.8%, respectively. Also, the obtained special coke was evaluated by the content of volatile components as a result of heat treatment of coals from the Shubarkol deposit: the volatile content averaged 1.73-3.15%, the moisture was 0.73-1.65%.Based on the results of the studies, the possibility of obtaining a special coke from these types of coals with appropriate characteristics was shown.

Fines generation from South African manganese ores during preheating in a rotary kiln

Manganese ores are the major source of manganese for the production of manganese ferroalloys. There is a gap in the knowledge of the decrepitation behaviour of manganese ores, which presents a problem in the operation of smelters. Decrepitation, which is the breakage of the ore particles upon heating, is an important quality parameter for these ores. The purpose of this investigation was to determine the extent to which South African manganese ores decrepitate during preheating in a rotary kiln. The effects of temperature, rotational speed, and particle size decrepitation were investigated. Manganese ores were heated in a laboratory-scale rotary kiln at temperatures of 600, 800, and 1000°C, and rotational speeds of 3, 6, and 12 r/min. The size ranges were +6-20, +20-40, and +40-75 mm and the residence time was constant at 30 minutes. The decrepitation index (DI) is quantified as the ratio of the mass of <6 mm particles after pre-heating to the total mass of the sample. It was found that the DIs for all ores used were proportional to the temperature and the rotational speed and inversely proportional to the particle size range with temperature being the most important parameter. Ore A was the most susceptible to decrepitation followed by ore C and ore B; this was mainly to the decomposition of kutnohorite, the content of which was the highest in ore A and the lowest in ore B.

Current state of the ferroalloy industry in Russia and prospects for its development in the Asian part of the country

Ferrous metallurgy, as a supplier of metal products and a major consumer of energy and engineering products, is an industry that can act as one of the source for Asian Russia complex development impulse. The different ferroalloys and ligatures have used in the process of steelmaking to ensure the required range of steel products. Therefore, it is necessary to conduct an audit of the current state of the Russian ferroalloy industry and its Asian part in order to identify possible growth points of the industry to ensure the development of ferrous metallurgy and sustainable socio-economic growth of the Asian Russian space. In the article it is shown that Asian part is one of the ferroalloy industry centers in Russia, which, as in the industry as a whole, has a high dependence on imported supplies of ore which neces-sary for ferroalloys production. Its own raw materials provided only for production of silicon alloys. In the issue of oth-er alloys and ligatures production, the existing conservative approach in the organization of the ferroalloy industry does not allow the use of poor domestic ore in production. The growth in demand for silicon alloys can be achieved by reori-enting export flows to domestic consumption but the most important alloys for the development of Asian Russia based on manganese, chromium, vanadium and niobium may have difficulties in providing ferrous metallurgy with them. The solutions of such problems are implementation of new technologies for raw materials processing, development of non-standard types of alloys, introduction of technogenic waste processing. This will contribute to the realization of Russia’s desire for import substitution, including the provision of metallurgy with its own raw materials.

Recovery of pure MnSO4 by crystallization after separation of Fe(III) and Zn(II) from the reductive leaching solution of manganese dust containing Mn3O4

Manganese dust generated during the production of ferroalloys contains iron and zinc oxides together with other minor oxides. Pure manganese compounds can be recovered from the leaching solution of the manganese dust by removing the impure ions. In this work, sulfuric acid and ferrous sulfate were employed as leaching and reducing agents for the manganese oxides in the dust. First, the leaching conditions for complete dissolution of the manganese oxides were investigated by varying the concentration of sulfuric acid and ferrous sulfate, and pulp density. Second, after oxidizing Fe(II) to Fe(III) by hydrogen peroxide, Fe(III) was removed from the solution by three stages of counter current extraction with D2EHPA. Third, Zn(II) was removed by two stages of cross current extraction with Cyanex 272. Stripping conditions for Fe(III) and Zn(II) were determined from the respective loaded organics. Fourth, Mn(OH)2 was precipitated from the raffinate by adjusting the pH of the solution to 10 with NaOH solution. The MnSO4 crystals with 99.5% purity were recovered by crystallization from the sulfuric acid solutions after the precipitates of Mn(OH)2 were dissolved. A comparison of the cost of the chemicals used to recover MnO2 and MnSO4 indicated that the current process was much more economical.

ВИКОРИСТАННЯ ПОКАЗНИКА ПИТОМОГО ЕЛЕКТРИЧНОГО ОПОРУ ДЛЯ ОЦІНКИ ГОТОВНОСТІ КОКСУ (огляд)

The article provides a review of scientific information on the use of the resistivity index to assess the readiness of coke, which is ultimately determined by the degree of orderliness of the macromolecular structure in the form of graphite-like blocks. In this process, coke acquires semiconductor properties and its resistivity decreases. Coke for modern blast furnaces using pulverized coal should have a minimum resistivity of 0.1 ohm∙cm or less. For other applications (in particular, in ferroalloy production), the resistivity of coke should be higher. It has been shown that the most acceptable method for an objective assessment of the resistivity is the two-probe method of measuring the resistivity of coke powder, a representative sample for which is obtained with minimal time and labor. The main factor that affects the resistivity of the coke produced is the final coking temperature, i.e. this characteristic is indeed an objective indicator of coke readiness. With the increase of the final coking temperature, the supramolecular structure of coke is streamlined, which in a certain way approaches the structure of graphite, and this leads to a decrease in the resistivity of coke. It is concluded that it is necessary to theoretically analyze the processes that lead to changes in the electrical conductivity of coke. This will make it possible to reasonably determine the nature of the dependence of the coke resistivity on the final coking temperature. Determination of the numerical parameters of this dependence, in turn, will make it possible to establish a rational level of the final temperature for coke production for various applications, which is of great practical importance. Keywords:hard coal coke, electrical resistivity, coke readiness, blast furnace coke, ferroalloy coke. Corresponding author І.V. Shulga, e-mail: ko@ukhin.org.ua

Використання показника питомого електричного опору для оцінки готовності коксу (огляд).

The article provides a review of scientific information on the use of the resistivity index to assess the readiness of coke, which is ultimately determined by the degree of orderliness of the macromolecular structure in the form of graphite-like blocks. In this process, coke acquires semiconductor properties and its resistivity decreases. Coke for modern blast furnaces using pulverized coal should have a minimum resistivity of 0.1 ohm∙cm or less. For other applications (in particular, in ferroalloy production), the resistivity of coke should be higher. It has been shown that the most acceptable method for an objective assessment of the resistivity is the two-probe method of measuring the resistivity of coke powder, a representative sample for which is obtained with minimal time and labor. The main factor that affects the resistivity of the coke produced is the final coking temperature, i.e. this characteristic is indeed an objective indicator of coke readiness. With the increase of the final coking temperature, the supramolecular structure of coke is streamlined, which in a certain way approaches the structure of graphite, and this leads to a decrease in the resistivity of coke. It is concluded that it is necessary to theoretically analyze the processes that lead to changes in the electrical conductivity of coke. This will make it possible to reasonably determine the nature of the dependence of the coke resistivity on the final coking temperature. Determination of the numerical parameters of this dependence, in turn, will make it possible to establish a rational level of the final temperature for coke production for various applications, which is of great practical importance. Keywords:hard coal coke, electrical resistivity, coke readiness, blast furnace coke, ferroalloy coke. Corresponding author І.V. Shulga, e-mail: ko@ukhin.org.ua

Selection and justification of charge preparation based on manganese waste from ore dressing

Large amounts of waste from the enrichment of manganese ores, dispersed iron- and carbon-containing slurries accumulate at large processing plants, metallurgical plants, plants. Millions of tons of manganese waste have been accumulated at the Dzhezdinsky GOK. Processing of small and dispersed metal-containing industrial waste cannot be carried out by traditional technology. The development and implementation of a new technology for processing these wastes into valuable metal alloys is a very urgent problem. In this paper, based on a comparative analysis of the theoretical approaches to the production of steel and ferroalloys of traditional technology and new ideas, the selection and justification of the preparation of the charge is carried out. It is shown that the theoretical foundations of the adsorption-autocatalytic mechanism can be revised from the point of view of the organization of metal production from the point of view of solid-phase reactions. The theoretical foundations of the «Dissociation-adsorption mechanism» are given, where the phenomenological phenomenon is focused on the fact that the dissociation of chemical compounds, including metal oxides, is inherent in them as well as their formation from individual elements regardless of external conditions. The influence of external factors, for example, energy (temperature rise), causes thermal dissociation, which does not so much prove whether dissociation exists or not at all, as it shows a specific degree of dissociation of the compound for the purposeful restoration of the element or the formation of a new compound. It is shown that the dissociation of metal oxides intensifies proportionally to a decrease in particle size and an increase in temperature. It is established that dispersed oxide materials can be metallized with solid carbon due to the reduction of iron within the temperature range of 950-1100°C.

Становление чёрной металлургии Байкальского региона на основе инновационных решений

The development of the Baikal region as an economic system involves the formation of a machine-building complex with developed cooperation. The purpose of the study is to determine the stages of evolution and territorial structure of the metallurgical complex of the Baikal region. The objectives of the study are to determine the modern directions of development of non–domed technologies in relation to the resource and transport – spatial features of the Baikal region; to identify priority areas (projects) for the creation of metallurgical industries, taking into account the prospects for the construction of railway tracks to the deposits; determination of basic approaches to changing the institutional and economic mechanisms for the development of iron ore resources and the formation of a regional metallurgical complex. Taking into account the remoteness of the region from metallurgical bases and the dispersal of industrial centers, it is necessary to create our own metallurgical base from several enterprises based on the resources of large and unique deposits of iron ore and coal. The most effective from an economic and environmental point of view are blast-furnace technologies for producing pig iron, without the use of expensive coke. In the city of Petrovsk-Zabaikalsky, it is advisable to recreate the production of steel using the resources of magnetite concentrate obtained at the Bystrinsky mining and processing plant, magnetite ores from Eastern Buryatia and coal from the Zashulanskoye deposit. Based on the resources of the Berezovsky deposit of siderites and coals of the South Argun coal-bearing region, it is necessary to organize metallurgical production near the deposit. In the Irkutsk region, near the city of Bratsk, on brown coal of the Abanskoye deposit of the Kansk-Achinsk basin, imported magnetite ore of the Chara group of deposits and/or the largest in Siberia Chineyskoye titanium magnetite deposit, it is possible to create a powerful metallurgical complex, including the production of ferroalloys and steel-rolling production; in the area of the city of Ust-Ilimsk – on the basis of the resources of magnetites of the Angara-Kat group and coals of the Zheronsky deposit; in the Tulunsky region – on the basis of a large Ishideysky coal deposit and the Beloziminsky occurrence of magnetites alloyed with niobium and tantalum.

Relationship Between Occupational Risk and Personal Protective Equipment on the Example of Ferroalloy Production

Relationship Between Occupational Risk and Personal Protective Equipment on the Example of Ferroalloy Production

A Comprehensive Review of Secondary Carbon Bio-Carriers for Application in Metallurgical Processes: Utilization of Torrefied Biomass in Steel Production

This review aims to show the significance of the use of secondary carbon bio-carriers for iron and steel production. The term ‘secondary carbon bio-carriers’ in this review paper refers to biomass, torrefied biomass, biochar, charcoal, or biocoke. The main focus is on torrefied biomass, which can act as a carbon source for partial or complete replacement of fossil fuel in various metallurgical processes. The material requirements for the use of secondary carbon bio-carriers in different metallurgical processes are systematized, and pathways for the use of secondary carbon bio-carriers in four main routes of steel production are described; namely, blast furnace/basic oxygen furnace (BF/BOF), melting of scrap in electric arc furnace (scrap/EAF), direct reduced iron/electric arc furnace (DRI/EAF), and smelting reduction/basic oxygen furnace (SR/BOF). In addition, there is also a focus on the use of secondary carbon bio-carriers in a submerged arc furnace (SAF) for ferroalloy production. The issue of using secondary carbon bio-carriers is specific and individual, depending on the chosen process. However, the most promising ways to use secondary carbon bio-carriers are determined in scrap/EAF, DRI/EAF, SR/BOF, and SAF. Finally, the main priority of future research is the establishment of optimal parameters, material quantities, and qualities for using secondary carbon bio-carriers in metallurgical processes.

Use of a Distributed Micro-sensor System for Monitoring the Indoor Particulate Matter Concentration in the Atmosphere of Ferroalloy Production Plants

Airborne particulate matter (PM) is a concern for both occupational health and the environment, and, in the ferroalloy industry, the level of such particles in the air can be considerable. Small, low-cost sensors for measuring PM have generated interest in recent years, providing widespread monitoring of PM levels in the environment. However, such sensors have not yet been sufficiently tested under conditions relevant for the indoor environment of the metallurgical industry. This study aims to bridge this gap by benchmarking the commercial, low-cost Nova PM SDS011 particle sensor in two different ferroalloy plants. Benchmarking was performed against the Fidas 200S, which has been suitability-tested and certified according to the latest EU requirements (EN 15267, EN 16450). Twelve Nova sensors were tested over 3 months at a silicomanganese alloy (SiMn) plant, and 35 sensors were tested during 1 month at a silicon (Si) plant. The results showed that the low-cost Nova sensors exhibited all the same trends and peaks in terms of PM concentration, but measured lower dust concentrations than the Fidas 200S. The difference was larger at the silicon plant, which is in line with expectations, due to the size and mass fractions of particles in Si dust compared to SiMn dust, and to the larger measurement range of the Fidas, measuring down to 180 nm compared to the Nova which measures down to 300 nm. Despite the difference in absolute values, the Nova sensors were found to provide data for comparing dust levels over time for different processes, at different locations, and under different operational conditions.

Tekhnogen-Invest Software Program for Assessing the Effectiveness of Recycling Techogenic Formations of the Ferroalloy Production. Part 2

Under contemporary conditions of social development, it is necessary to rethink the role of waste produced due to economic activity and, in particular, industrial formations of the ferroalloy industry. In order to evaluate the expediency of involving industrial formations in the production process and substantiate the efficiency of design solutions in the field, a functional approach was proposed and its algorithm created in the Tekhnogen-Invest software. This article continues a study aimed at assessing the efficiency of processing industrial formations of the ferroalloy industry. In this part, the developed software was tested using data from the production of high-carbon ferrochrome. The relevance of the applied methodology for assessing the ecological and economic efficiency associated with processing industrial formations of ferroalloy production is confirmed, taking into account the strategic flexibility of projects. The conducted testing the developed Tekhnogen-Invest software produced positive results. The algorithm used in the software allows the cost of implementing an investment project for processing industrial formations of high-carbon ferrochrome production under current conditions of the Urals to be evaluated and the feasibility of its implementation under changing market conditions to be substantiated. The obtained results demonstrate a high potential for producing marketable products from ferroalloy industry waste, confirming the economic efficiency and feasibility of processing industrial formations.

Tekhnogen-Invest Software Program for Assessing the Effectiveness of Recycling Techogenic Formations of the Ferroalloy Production. Part 1

Tekhnogen-Invest Software Program for Assessing the Effectiveness of Recycling Techogenic Formations of the Ferroalloy Production. Part 1

Viscosity of niobium oxide systems for production of complex ferroalloys

The relevance of the development of modern technological solutions for the processing of niobium ore materials used for the production of complex ferroalloys of domestic deposits is shown. The need to develop new technological processes of processing is caused by the fact that when switching to new types of niobium concentrates, the chemical and phase compositions of the starting materials change, and, consequently, this leads to a change in the composition and properties of the melting products (both metallic and oxide). Using an electrovibration viscometer, the temperature dependences of viscosity were studied and the crystallization temperatures of oxide melts of the Nb2O5 – SiO2 – CaO – TiO2 – Al2O3 system were calculated. The compositions of the studied samples correspond to phosphorless niobium slags, which can be obtained by carbothermic method from rough concentrates. The samples were obtained by fusing oxide materials in a high-temperature laboratory electric furnace. On the basis of the obtained data, graphical dependences of viscosity – temperature are constructed. It was experimentally established that oxide melts containing 15 – 26 % Nb2O5 are more “long” (having a wide crystallization range) and unfavorable according to the characteristic viscosity – temperature dependence. An increase in the concentration of niobium pentoxide to 40 % translates slags into the category of “short” (with a high crystallization rate). It is shown that an increase in the concentration of niobium oxide Nb2O5 from 15 to 40 % leads to a decrease in the crystallization temperature of melts by 200 °C and a decrease in the viscosity of melts from 1.32 to 0.24 Pa·s at 1350 °C. The improvement of the physico-chemical characteristics of oxide melts with an increase in the concentration of niobium pentoxide can favorably affect the technical and economic indicators of ferroalloy production.

Life Cycle Based Climate Emissions of Charcoal Conditioning Routes for the Use in the Ferro-Alloy Production

Renewable reductants are intended to significantly reduce CO2 emissions from ferro-alloy production, e.g., by up to 80% in 2050 in Norway. However, charcoals provide inferior properties compared to fossil fuel-based reductants, which can hamper large replacement ratios. Therefore, conditioning routes from coal beneficiation was investigated to improve the inferior properties of charcoal, such as mechanical strength, volatile matter, CO2 reactivity and mineral matter content. To evaluate the global warming potential of renewable reductants, the CO2 emissions of upgraded charcoal were estimated by using a simplified life cycle assessment, focusing on the additional emissions by the energy demand, required chemicals and mass loss for each process stage. The combination of ash removal, briquetting and high-temperature treatment can provide a renewable coke with superior properties compared to charcoal, but concomitantly decrease the available biomass potential by up to 40%, increasing the CO2-based global warming potential of industrial produced charcoal to ≈500 kg CO2-eq. t−1 FC. Based on our assumptions, CO2 emissions from fossil fuel-based reductants can be reduced by up to 85%. A key to minimizing energy or material losses is to combine the pyrolysis and post-treatment processes of renewable reductants to upgrade industrial charcoal on-site at the metallurgical plant. Briquetting showed the largest additional global warming potential from the investigated process routes, whereas the high temperature treatment requires a renewable energy source to be sustainable.

Possibilities of reducing electricity consumption by ore-thermal furnace

Analysis of recent research and publications. The spread of electric current in the ore bath has been the subject of study for many years. Many scientists have performed mathematical modeling of electric fields of three-phase ore thermal furnaces, and also developed a method for conducting theoretical research using conformal mappings to determine the physical fields in the ore thermal melting furnace. Known mathematical models of energy distribution in the volume of the bath of the latter are based on the method of secondary sources, which has a number of disadvantages, in particular, complex integral equations that affect the volume of computational operations. Qualitatively, the electric field of the furnace is sufficiently illuminated, but the available information is not enough to accurately calculate the power, electrical transformations and temperatures at each point in the volume of the bath. The aim of the study. The above-mentioned mathematical models of the operation of the ore-thermal furnace describe only one process that takes place in it. Therefore, in complex modeling it is necessary to take into account all the processes and the relationship between them to obtain complete information about the power consumption of the furnace, the formation of melt and slag throughout the smelting of ferroalloys. Presentation of the main research material. The elements of the dynamic algorithmic model of operation of a round three-electrode ore thermal furnace are considered, which takes into account the specifics of electrical, thermal and chemical processes that are directly interconnected in the production of ferroalloys. Shows the complete generalized structure of such a model. The main purpose of its creation is the ability to control and influence the technological process to reduce the specific cost of electricity per unit of finished product. The algorithm is divided into basic blocks: input of initial parameters; division of the inner region of the furnace into elementary volumes (for calculations in them); determination of current flow paths; calculation of energy released in elementary volumes due to the passage of current through the charge; calculation of the temperature field of the bath; determination of the moment of self-ignition of coke; recalculation of the temperature field of the bath due to heat transfer processes; determining the amount of melt formed; calculation of the amount of charge that must be poured into the bath; output parameters of the furnace. The universality of this algorithm is the ability to interrupt the cycle of calculations under various conditions, such as: the value of the amount of electricity consumed (with time); the value of the formed melt (with time); and other. Conclusions. The model allows to stop melting and start draining of ferroalloys according to the predicted amount of formed melt, which in turn can reduce the melting time and the amount of electric energy consumed.