METHOD OF MAKING STEEL IN ELECTRIC ARC FURNACES AND ELECTRIC ARC FURNACE THEREFOR

PCT No. PCT/FR96/00365 Sec. 371 Date Jan. 23, 1997 Sec. 102(e) Date Jan. 23, 1997 PCT Filed Mar. 8, 1996 PCT Pub. No. WO96/28573 PCT Pub. Date Sep. 19, 1996A process for smelting steel is implemented in an electric arc furnace of the type including a vessel containing a bath of molten steel, a roof resting on top of the said vessel and a single roof electrode or a plurality of roof electrodes lying within a circle. In the process an oxygenic gas in the form of gas jets is blasted into the vessel toward the surface of the bath, so that the areas of impact of the jets on the surface do not cover the electrode or the circle. The jets are blasted in from the upper part of the furnace and have a shallow depth of penetration into the bath. The invention also includes a steelmaking electric arc furnace including a vessel intended to contain the molten steel, a roof resting on top of the vessel, a single roof electrode or a plurality of roof electrodes lying within a circle, and tuyeres arranged in the roof for blasting broad and shallow jets of an oxygenic gas into the vessel toward as much of the surface of the steel as possible, the areas of impact of the jets on the surface not covering the electrode or the circle.