Patent · US Expired

Direct current electric arc furnace

US5526374A · kind A · utility

34Cited by
3References
8Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateNov 8, 1994
Grant dateJun 11, 1996
Priority date
Expiry dateNov 8, 2014

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY02P10/20
  • WIPO fieldThermal processes and apparatus
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

A direct current electric arc furnace for melting metal, which furnace includes a furnace vessel having a lower vessel part lined with a refractory material and a metal upper vessel part through which a cooling agent can flow. A cover is adapted and arranged to close the furnace vessel. Electric current is fed to the furnace, by an arrangement including a main electrode extending into the furnace vessel through the cover, a bottom electrode located at the bottom of the lower vessel part, and feed lines that connect the electrodes to a direct current source. The feed lines include at least two current feeds connected to the bottom electrode, each current feed having a line segment parallel to a main axis of the main electrode and a shield for at least partially magnetically shielding the upper vessel part at an arc level from magnetic fields generated by the line segments parallel to the main axis. A drive moves the shield parallel to the line segment in order to weaken a magnetic field produced by the current at the arc level.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.