Primetals Technologies Germany (Willstätt, Germany):

Lückhoff J., former employee
Apfel J., e-mail: jens.apfel@primetals.com

Primetals Technologies USA LLC (Caninsburg, Pennsylvania, USA):
Buttler J.

It is shown that electric arc furnaces are still the most technologically flexible steelmaking unit. The up-to-date electric steelmaking furnaces allow to use very wide range of charge materials in different combinations. The furnace design can be suited to these combinations only in restricted mode. Among these combined and varying furnace parameters the following are observed: furnace dimensions; hot or cold charging through the furnace top; FAST iron pouring system providing cutting of operating time; different methods of iron transportation to the EAF. Each charge material is based on its own advantages in different local conditions and requires definite way for introduction in the furnace and conducting of melting process. Usage of iron ore based charge materials also makes it possible to manufacture high-performance steel grades, what was impossible in an EAF operating with charge materials containing only scrap. Diff erent charge materials for EAF furnaces are analyzed in this paper: direct reduced iron (DRI) with carbon or natural gas as a reducing agent; hot direct reduced iron (HDRI); hot briquetted iron (HBI); pig or liquid iron and their combinations.