Modeling and Validation of an Electric Arc Furnace: Part 2, Thermo-chemistry

This paper presents an innovative approach to the mathematical modeling of thermo-chemical reactions in a three-phase, 80 MVA AC electric arc furnace (EAF). It serves as Part 2 in a series investigating the comprehensive behavior of EAFs, building upon previous studies that concentrated on electrical and hydraulic processes. The objective was to incorporate critical chemical reactions and energy aspects, which were excluded in the first part of the study. Employing rigorous mathematical and thermo-chemical principles, the developed sub-models were validated through experimental data collected from operational EAF scenarios. Results indicated that the models closely mirrored both real-world operational measurements and theoretical findings from existing literature. Thus, the combined efforts of Parts 1 and 2, alongside prior models of electrical and hydraulic systems, create an integrated EAF model tailored for practical applications, including energy consumption optimization and development of operator-training simulators. The findings emphasize alignment with both thermodynamic laws and the functional requirements of EAFs, highlighting the effectiveness of the proposed modeling framework.