METHOD OF CONDUCTING SMELTING IN THREE-ELECTRODE ARC FURNACE Russian patent published in 1997 - IPC

FIELD: electrometallurgy. SUBSTANCE: process of smelting in three-electrode arc furnace includes loading charge into furnace laboratory, imposing electric power on furnace with parallel-to-serial passage of current through three electrodes, one of them assuming negative charge and two remaining electrodes assuming positive charge, whereupon fusion parameters are adjusted to predetermined values. During the smelting process, electrode polarity change is performed simultaneously when keeping constant (2:1) relation of current amplitude on negative- potential electrode to that on positive-potential electrodes. Negative potential is imposed on electrode located in the least heat loaded zone of fusion or furnace laboratory. When heat loading is leveled, negative potential is imposed in turn on each of the three electrodes with predetermined frequency. EFFECT: increased productivity and reduced usage of electrodes, refractories, and alloying elements. 3 cl