Influence of the composition of the dust and gas atmosphere on heat losses in arc steelmaking furnaces

The analysis of the energy balances of steel melts and the calculation of heat transfer in a large-capacity arc steelmaking furnace (ASF) is performed. It is revealed that with an increase in the absorption capacity of the furnace atmosphere, the heat losses with the exhaust gases increase, and the heat losses with the cooling water of the wall panels decrease. When the atmosphere becomes lucid, the heat loss with the exhaust gases decreases, and the heat loss with the cooling water of the panels increases. The results of calculating the densities of the thermal radiation fluxes of arcs on the wall sections located opposite the arcs and between the arcs in the radiant and absorbing atmosphere of the furnace are presented. We obtained a complete agreement between the calculations and the experimental data: the larger the calculated heat fluxes, the more the temperature of the cooling panel water changes. The results of the research can be used in the selection of rational electrotechnological modes of operation of arc steelmaking furnaces, in which the thermal loads on water-cooled panels are reduced and the service life of the panels is increased, and the electricity consumption for melting is reduced.