December 10, 2025
Electric arc furnace (EAF) steelmaking is a method that harnesses electrical energy as its primary heat source. This process involves generating an electric arc through the discharge between electrodes and the charge material. The electrical energy is converted into heat energy within the arc light, which then heats and melts the metal charge and slag through the direct action of arc radiation and the arc itself, enabling the smelting of a variety of qualified steels and alloys.
High Thermal Efficiency: Utilizing electric energy as the heat source eliminates the pollution of molten steel caused by burning fuel. The thermal efficiency is notably high, reaching over 65%.
Precise Temperature Control: The smelting bath temperature is high and easily controllable, meeting the diverse requirements for smelting different steel grades.
Electrothermal Conversion and Automation: The power input to the molten pool can be readily adjusted, facilitating the automation of the molten pool heating system and ensuring convenient operation.
Scrap Steel Utilization: EAF steelmaking effectively consumes scrap steel, serving as a process for recycling and reusing iron resources. It is an environmentally friendly technology that addresses pollution, acting as a recycling tool for scrap steel in the steel industry and society. Given the good renewability of steel and increasingly stringent environmental, resource, and energy requirements, maximizing scrap steel utilization has become an international trend. If scrap steel is not effectively recycled and utilized, it can become a significant potential source of environmental pollution, posing serious threats to water quality and soil. Corroded steel waste not only wastes resources but also causes severe dust pollution, while the accumulation of scrap steel itself negatively impacts the environment.
Pollution Control: Flue gas and noise pollution during the steelmaking process are easily controlled.
Compact Equipment and Flexible Production: The equipment is simple, the steelmaking process is short, land occupation is minimal, investment is low, factory construction is rapid, and production is flexible. The large amount of solid steel products produced by the steel industry can become a significant potential source of environmental pollution if not managed properly, posing threats to water quality, soil, and more.
Flexibility and Purity: For metal smelting, EAFs offer greater flexibility than other steelmaking furnaces, effectively removing impurities such as sulfur and phosphorus. The furnace temperature is easily controllable, and the equipment occupies a small area, making it suitable for melting high-quality alloy steel.
Today's steel production can be broadly categorized into two major processes: "from ore to steel" and "from scrap to steel." Compared to the conventional process represented by blast furnace-converter steelmaking in integrated steel complexes, the EAF steelmaking production line, which primarily uses scrap as its raw material, features fewer processes, lower investment, and a shorter construction period, thus earning the moniker "short process." In recent years, the term "short run" has more specifically referred to compact production processes that combine EAF steelmaking with continuous casting and continuous rolling.
| Category | Blast Furnace–Converter Process | Electric Arc Furnace Process |
|---|---|---|
| Investment (USD/ton) | 1000-1500 | 500-800 |
| Energy Consumption (Standard Coal/Ton of Steel) | 703.17 | 213.73 |
| Transport Capacity Requirements (T/T Steel) | 15.8 | 9.48 |
| CO2 Emissions (KG/Ton Steel) | 2000-3000 | 800 |
As demonstrated by the comparison above, the short-process steelmaking represented by EAFs offers significant advantages in terms of investment, efficiency, and environmental protection. Regardless of the steelmaking method employed—be it electric arc furnace, blast furnace, or converter—each has its unique characteristics and applications. However, EAF steelmaking stands out for its efficiency, flexibility, and environmental friendliness, making it a preferred choice in modern steelmaking operations.
We are a professional electric furnace manufacturer. For further inquiries, or if you require submerged arc furnaces, electric arc furnaces, ladle refining furnaces, or other melting equipment, please do not hesitate to contact us at susan@aeaxa.com
