3D Numerical Analysis of the Arc Plasma Behavior in a Submerged DC Electric Arc Furnace for the Production of Fused MgO

Athreedimensionalsteady-statemagnetohydrodynamicmodelisdevelopedforthearcplasmainaDCsubmergedelectricarcfurnacefortheproductionoffusedMgO.Thearcisgeneratedinasmallsemi-enclosedspaceformedbythegraphiteelectrode,themoltenbathandunmeltedrawmaterials.Themodelisfirstusedtosolveasimilarprobleminasteelmakingfurnace,andthecalculatedresultsarefoundtobeingoodagreementwiththepublishedmeasurements.ThebehaviorofarcswithdifferentarclengthsisalsostudiedinthefurnaceforMgOproduction.Fromthedistributionofthearcpressureonthebathsurfaceitisshownthatthearcplasmaimpingementislargeenoughtocauseacrater-likedepressiononthesurfaceoftheMgObath.Thecirculationofthehightemperatureairundertheelectrodemayenhancethearcefficiency,especiallyforashorterarc.