Abstract

REYNOLDS, Q.G.. The dual-electrode DC arc furnace-modelling brush arc conditions. J. S. Afr. Inst. Min. Metall. [online]. 2012, vol.112, n.7, pp. 605-611. ISSN 0038-223X.

The dual-electrode DC arc furnace, an alternative design using an anode and cathode electrode instead of a hearth anode, was studied at small scale using computational modelling methods. Particular attention was paid to the effect of two key design variables, the arc length and the electrode separation, on the furnace behaviour. It was found that reducing the arc length to brush arc conditions was a valid means of overcoming several of the limitations of the dual-electrode design, namely high voltages and arc deflection.

Keywords : pyrometallurgy; furnace; DC; reverse polarity; dual-electrode; brush arc..