2. AC arc furnace

2.1 Technology description

In the three-phase AC arc furnace, arcs develop between each of the three graphite electrodes and the metal. The metal melts as a result of direct attack by the arcs, which form pits in the solid metal charge. Once these pits have been formed, the arcs work on a liquid bath whose volume increases during the melting process.

The oven consists of the following components (figure 3 ):

• the tank ;

• the tilting cradle ;

• the vault.