Modeling and Validation of the Radiative Heat Transfer in an Electric Arc Furnace

This paper presents an approach to the mathematical modeling and validation of radiative heat-transfer processes in an electric arc furnace (EAF), which is crucial for understanding the overall EAF performance. The objective of this study is to develop a radiation model that accurately represents the heat transfer mechanics inside the EAF, which is influenced by conductive, convective, and radiative heat transfer phenomena. Our methodology involves creating a simplified internal model of the EAF based on fundamental thermodynamic laws, while the parameters were determined using geometric relations from the furnace, theoretical conclusions from existing literature, and empirical data from measured temperatures on the furnace roof and water-cooled panels. The results indicate a satisfactory level of agreement between the measured temperatures and those predicted by the model, suggesting that the model is reliable and adheres to core thermodynamic principles. The implications of this research are significant for optimizing the EAF process, as understanding radiative impacts is essential for decreasing wear on the furnace linings and improving operational efficiency.