Universal Electrical Characteristics of Steelmaking Arc Furnaces

A single dependence of the power factor on the arc current is established for all steelmaking arc furnaces. On that basis, universal furnace characteristics may be calculated, determining the functional relationship of the active, reactive, and apparent power with the arc current. By that means, precise and simple calculation of the electrical characteristics is possible for arc furnaces of any power, with any primary and secondary transformer voltages, including superpowerful furnaces with reactors on the step-up side of the transformer. Detailed analysis of all the arc characteristics is consistent with current notions regarding the physical processes in arc furnaces.