Comparison parameters for carbon ferrochrome smelting in AC and DC furnaces

Abstract

One of the interesting technical solutions is technology of ferroalloys smelting using direct current (DC). In DC ferroalloy furnaces, apparently, it is possible to eliminate such a parameter as power factor in furnace circuit after current converter. Many researchers assume that melting at direct current allows intensification of the process of charge melting, increases reduction of leading elements of ferroalloy and reduces specific consumption of electricity. In this paper, brief analysis of carbon ferrochromium smelting in alternating current (AC) and in direct current (DC) furnaces is made based on energotechnological criterion of ferroalloy electric furnace performance. It is shown that with comparable active capacity in bath, AC furnaces have higher energotechnological criteria (0.2185 – 0.2381), compared to DC furnaces (0.1109 – 0.1320), at current level of technology used for carbonaceous ferrochrome smelting. Thus, in AC furnaces, specific electric power consumption in ferrochrome smelting is lower than in DC furnaces by 20 – 28 %.