Arc Furnace Performance Validation: Using Modeling, Monitoring, and Statistical Analysis

Efforts to conserve energy and advances in technology are assisting producers in making strides in the design and powering of ac electric-arc furnaces (EAFs) used in steelmaking. In the past, furnace operators relied on analog meters for power, energy, voltage, current and limited strip-chart recordings. Currently, with digital data acquisition systems and abundant computer memory, a wealth of information that extends beyond power quantities is available to operators for real-time application and postprocessing during each and every heat. Although operators use these data to track furnace performance and make minor adjustments, all significant changes are reserved for a period, typically once a year, when a furnace is tuned.