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|
Feature |
DC Electric Arc Furnace (DC EAF) |
AC Electric Arc Furnace(AC EAF) |
|
Current Type |
direct current |
Alternating Current |
|
Number of Electrodes |
1 graphite electrode (cathode) + 1 bottom electrode (anode) | 3 graphite electrodes |
|
Arc Characteristics |
Stable, concentrated, lon
|
Unstable, dispersed, short |
|
Disadvantages |
Complex equipment, higher investment cost, requires bottom electrode (complex maintenance) |
Higher energy consumption, significant electrode consumption, grid impact |
Both furnace types are capable of smelting the vast majority of steel grades, from ordinary carbon steels to various high-grade alloy steels and stainless steels. The choice between them depends primarily on cost-effectiveness and production scale, rather than the specific steel grade.
DC Electric Arc Furnaces (DC EAF) are more suitable for:
High-quality steel grades: some high-grade alloy steels, certain stainless steels;
AC Electric Arc Furnaces (AC EAF) are more suitable for:
steel grades: rebar, wire rod, etc.;
A simple analogy:
A DC Arc Furnace is like a "high-efficiency, energy-saving" luxury car—it has a high initial investment but offers long-term fuel (power) savings, lower wear (electrodes), and a smoother drive (reduced grid impact), making it suitable for long journeys (large-scale production of high-quality steel).
An AC Arc Furnace is like an "economical and practical" family car—it is cheaper, robust, easy to maintain, and meets most daily travel needs (produces most steel grades), but has relatively higher fuel (power) and maintenance (electrode) costs.
Currently, AC furnaces are more widely used globally due to their cost advantages and highly mature technology. However, DC furnaces are gaining increasing favor in very large, newly built modern steel plants due to their outstanding energy-saving and environmental benefits.
