New transformers for increasing EAF productivity and improving electrode and energy consumption

Abstract

In order to reduce operation costs and to increase liquid steel production capacity, a team "Ugine-Ardoise" and "UCAR Technical Assistance" has redimensioned new transformers for the electric arc furnaces and has pushed the installation to its maximum limits while maintaining the existing power input voltage infrastructure. The new transformers reactance has been considerably increased in order to allow operation with "high power factors" (long arcs). This modification has been done thanks to the fast investment returns, resulting from considerable gains in productivity, electrode consumption and energy consumption. The installation is not yet utilized at its full power, but after some additional transformations (electrode circle diameter reduction on furnace No.2 and modification of electrode arms and electrode holding grips on the two furnaces), one more heat could be realized per day.