Design of Submerged Arc Furnace
The submerged arc furnace is primarily engineered for the reduction and smelting of ores, carbonaceous reducing agents, solvents, and various other raw materials. It is instrumental in producing ferroalloys such as ferrosilicon, ferromanganese, ferrochrome, ferrotungsten, and silicomanganese, which are vital industrial raw materials in the metallurgical sector, as well as chemical raw materials like calcium carbide. Its operational mechanism involves utilizing carbon or magnesia refractory materials for the furnace lining and self-baking electrodes. The electrode is submerged into the furnace charge for arc operation, where the energy generated by the arc's heat and current passing through the resistance of the furnace charge is harnessed to smelt the metal. This furnace operates continuously with intermittent tapping and charging.
1. Structural Features
The submerged arc furnace is a high-power-consuming industrial electric furnace, primarily composed of a furnace shell, smoke hood, furnace lining, short net, water cooling system, smoke exhaust system, dust removal system, electrode shell, electrode pressure release and lifting system, feeding and unloading system, controller, burn-through device, hydraulic system, submerged arc furnace transformer, and various electrical equipment.
The equipment design of the submerged arc furnace is organized into three layers:
First Layer
- Furnace Body: Includes furnace bottom support, furnace shell, and furnace lining.
- Tapping System: Comprises ladle or pot and ladle car.
- Burn-through Device.
Second Layer
- Smoke Hood: Most submerged arc furnaces now adopt a closed or semi-closed low-hood structure, which offers environmental protection, ease of maintenance, and an improved operating environment. The closed structure also facilitates the collection and comprehensive utilization of waste gas (primarily carbon monoxide) generated during production, reduces circuit heat loss, lowers the upper electrode temperature, and enhances operating conditions.
- Electrode Holder: Most submerged arc furnaces are powered by a three-phase supply, with electrodes symmetrically arranged in the furnace's center in an equilateral or inverted triangle configuration. Large submerged arc furnaces typically use electrodes made from anthracite, coke, and coal tar pitch, which self-sinter during the electric furnace smelting process.
- Short Net.
- Copper Tile.
- Electrode Shell.
- Blanking System.
- Furnace Changer.
- Smoke Exhaust System.
- Water Cooling System.
- Submerged Arc Furnace Transformer.
- Operating System.
Third Layer
- Hydraulic System.
- Electrode Pressure Release Device.
- Electrode Lifting System.
- Steel Platform.
- Hopper and Circular Distribution Car.
- Other Accessories: Inclined bridge feeding system, electronic batching system, etc.
