Direct-current metallurgical arc furnace and method of melting with same

Abstract

A direct-current arc furnace has a vessel with a floor and a cover, at least two vault electrodes projecting down into the vessel through the cover, and a hearth electrode exposed in the vessel generally in the floor below the vault electrodes. A scrap-metal charge is melted in this furnace by first energizing the vault electrodes with direct-current voltage of opposite polarity while displacing them downward through the charge from an upper position spaced relatively far from the hearth electrode to a lower position spaced relatively close to the hearth electrode and thereby passing an electric current through the charge to melt the charge and form a puddle of molten metal on the floor of the vessel at the hearth electrode. Then the hearth electrode is energized with direct-current voltage of a polarity opposite that of one of the vault electrodes and an electric current is passed through the charge between the one vault electrode and the hearth electrode to melt the charge and form a puddle at the hearth electrode at the floor of the vessel. Thereafter the vault electrodes are raised while continuing to pass an electric current partly formed as an arc between at least the one vault electrode and the hearth electrode until the entire charge is melted.