Increasing lining life in a high-capacity electric steelmaking furnace

The present trend in electrometallurgy is the development and mastery of high capacity electric furnaces. The main problems in the use of such furnaces is ensuring adequate life of the lining of the walls and roof, symmetrical distribution of power among the phases, and optimization of the electrical regime. Efficient use of the power of the transformer can be achieved only with a long lasting furnace lining. The study results showed the need to use special refractories in the most rapidly worn sections of the lining and to improve the quality of the periclase-chromite products. Other requirements for increasing wall lining life are a reduction in heat time, the use of coolers in the hottest parts of the lining, and a further improvement in the electric regime -- a reduction in heat radiation from the arc to the lining.