Calculation of radiation in an electric arc furnace

To assess the heat exchange in an EAF, a radiation model has been developed to calculate the radiant energy distribution inside the furnace. Using the operational voltage, current, and power factor, the energy radiated from an arc is determined. Radiation laws are cast into a vector form to compute the energy exchange inside the furnace. This work enables the separation of the radiation energy received by a surface into parts from different sources. The effect of arc length and slag foam height is examined. The energy distributions on sidewall refractory, water-cooled side panels and furnace roof are obtained. Model predictions are in good agreement with industrial observations. The portion of arc energy going into an electrode is examined in detail, and it is found that the value suggested in some publications is too high for modern furnace practice under steady state.