Objectives

On completion of this topic, you would be able to know

• Arc furnace

• Different types of Arc Furnaces

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 Electric Arc Furnace
Production of Electric Arc
• The electric supply given to two electrodes is increased and are

separated in air from each other

• The air gets ionized at high voltage gradient and becomes a

good conductor of electricity

• Current passes through the air gap in the form of arc.

• Once the arc is produced, small voltage is sufficient to maintain

it

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 Electric Arc Furnace

Production of Electric Arc

• Without high voltage also Arc can be established by short

circuit the two electrodes and then withdrawing them apart

• The electrodes are made of either carbon or graphite

• The temperature of the Arc developed will be around 35000C

3
 Types of electric Arc Furnaces

1. Direct Arc furnace

2. Indirect Arc furnace

4
 Direct Arc Furnace
SUPPLY

ELECTRODES

ARC

CHARGE

FURNACE FIG.1

Two electrode arc furnace

• When A.C. supply given to two electrodes.

• Arc is established and current passes through the charges.
• Heat is developed due to radiation from Arc.

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 Direct Arc Furnace
• The stirring action is
inherent due to SUPPLY
electromagnetic force
setup by the current
ELECTRODES
• Hence heating of charge
is uniform
• 3Φ supply is used for ARC
large capacity furnace CHARGE
• The three electrodes are FURNACE
FIG.1
placed at the three
vertices of an equilateral Two electrode arc
furnace
triangle

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 Single Electrode Arc Furnace

1Φ AC

FIG.2

• One electrode is used.

• 1Φ supply given between electrode and bottom of furnace.
• Arc is developed in between electrode & charge.
• It is called single-phase direct Arc furnace or baby Arc
furnace
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 Direct Arc Furnace

Advantages
• High temperatures can be produced
• More uniform heating of the charge can be obtained

Applications
• The most common application of direct arc furnace is to
produce steel
• Used in R and D
• It is used in pilot production plants

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Indirect Arc Furnace

Fig.3

9
 Indirect Arc Furnace
• Fig 3 shows indirect arc
furnace
• The Arc exists between
two electrodes.
• Heat developed in the
charge is by the radiation
• The temperature of the
charge is lower than
direct Arc furnace
• Current does not flow
through charge. Hence
no inherent stirring
action
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 Indirect Arc Furnace

• So, the furnace must be

rocked vibrating or tilting
by mechanically.
• It is called as a rocking
Arc furnace also.
• The furnace made of
cylindered or spherical
shape.
• Rocking action is
operated by an Electric
motor

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 Indirect Arc Furnace

Advantages
• High flexibility
• High melting
• Economical
• High efficiency

12
 Indirect Arc Furnace

Applications
• Indirect arc furnace is used for melting of non-ferrous
metals
• It can be used in iron foundries where small quantities of
iron is required frequently
• It is more suitable when the charge is to be varied
frequently or heating is intermittent

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 Summary

In this class we have discussed about

• Arc heating

• Different types of electric arc furnaces

• Applications of arc furnaces

14
 Quiz

1.Most common application of direct arc furnace is

a. To produce steel

b. Melting of non-ferrous metals

c. Both a & b

d. None

15
 Quiz

2. Single phase direct arc furnace is also called

a. Boy furnace

b. Baby furnace

c. Indirect arc furnace

d. None

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 Frequently Asked Questions

1) What is arc heating?

2) Explain the construction and working of indirect arc furnace

with a sketch

3) Explain the construction and operation of direct arc furnace

with a net sketch

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THANK YOU

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