Implementation of a thermo energetic model of an electric arc furnace using static approach.

Abstract

In this work two mathematical models that describe the performance of an Electric Arc Furnace (EAF) are presented: Mass and energy balances and the heat rate transfer model. The mass and energy balances use real data taken from a process of a siderurgical and is able to calculate the amount of products of the actual process. The objective of this model is to make a diagnostic of the energetic performance of the EAF and to perform a detailed description of the energy distribution within the furnace. The mass and energy balance models were validated comparing the amount of hot heel and slag calculated with the obtained during the process. In order to the model works properly, it is necessary that the input data be accurate enough. The heat transfer model predicts the temperature distributions and energy flows between the diferent elements of the EAF, from the input energy rates and mass flows of the process. This model has an analytical approach and considers the different mechanisms of heat transfer: conduction, convection and radiation. The robustness and flexibility of the model was tested varying the electric power supplied to the furnace, the arc coverage index, the slag layer thickness and the process time. The model produces similar results to the results presented in other works. Both models require relatively few computational resources for their operation.