Induction Furnaces VS Electric Arc Furnaces

What is the difference between Induction Furnaces and Electric Arc Furnaces?

Induction Furnaces VS Electric Arc Furnaces

Induction furnaces VS electric arc furnaces: Induction furnaces and electric arc furnaces are commonly used cast steel smelting equipment in factories, intermediate frequency induction furnaces have the following characteristics in terms of refining capacity and adaptability compared with ordinary electric arc furnaces.

Features in Terms of Refining Ability of Induction Furnaces VS Electric Arc Furnaces

Electric arc furnaces are better than induction furnaces in removing phosphorus, sulfur, and deoxidizing capacity.

The induction furnace is cold slag, and the slag temperature is maintained by the heat provided by the molten steel. The electric arc furnace is a hot slag, and the slag is heated by an electric arc. Dephosphorization and desulfurization can be completed through the slag, and the slag is fully diffused and deoxidized.

Therefore, the ability of electric arc furnaces to remove phosphorus, sulfur, and oxygen is better than that of induction furnaces. The nitrogen content in electric arc furnace smelting steel is higher than that in the induction furnace.

This is because nitrogen molecules in the air in the high-temperature zone of the arc are ionized into atoms and then absorbed by the molten steel.

Induction furnace smelting alloy has lower nitrogen content than electric arc furnaces and higher oxygen content than electric arc furnaces. The alloy has a higher rapid life value than the electric arc furnace. 

The high recovery rate of smelted alloy elements 

The yield of alloying elements smelted by the induction furnace is higher than that of the electric arc furnace. The volatilization and oxidation loss of elements are large under the high temperature of the arc. The burning loss rate of alloying elements in induction furnace smelting is lower than that of electric arc furnaces.

In particular, the burning loss rate of the alloy elements in the return material loaded with the furnace is much higher than that of the induction furnace. Induction furnace smelting can effectively recover the alloying elements in the return material. During electric arc furnace smelting, the alloying elements in the return material are first oxidized into the slag, and then reduced from the slag to the molten steel, and the burning loss rate is significantly increased. 

When returning the material to smelt, the alloy element recovery rate of the induction furnace is significantly higher than that of the electric arc furnace.

Low carbon increase in molten steel during smelting

The induction furnace relies on the principle of induction heating to melt the metal charge without the carbon increase of the molten steel. The electric arc furnace relies on graphite electrodes to heat the charge through the electric arc. After melting, molten steel will increase carbon.

Under normal conditions, when smelting high-alloy nickel-chromium steel, the minimum carbon content of electric arc furnace smelting is 0.06%, and that of induction furnace smelting can reach 0.020%. The carbon increase in the electric arc furnace smelting process is 0.020%, and that of the induction furnace is 0.010%. 

Non-vacuum intermediate frequency induction furnace is suitable for smelting low-carbon high-alloy steels and alloys.

Electromagnetic stirring of molten steel improves the thermodynamic and kinetic conditions of the steelmaking process 

The moving conditions of molten steel in the induction melting furnace are better than those of the electric arc furnace. The electric arc furnace must be equipped with a low-frequency electromagnetic stirrer for this purpose, and its effect is still not as good as that of an induction furnace. 

The electromagnetic stirring effect in the induction furnace improves the reaction kinetic conditions and promotes the homogenization of the temperature and composition of the molten steel. However, excessive stirring will not be conducive to the removal of inclusions and damage the furnace lining.

The process parameters of the smelting process are easy to control 

The control of temperature, refining time, stirring intensity, and constant temperature during induction furnace smelting are all more convenient than electric arc furnaces and can be carried out at any time. Due to the above-mentioned characteristics of induction furnaces, it is an important position for comrades in the smelting of high-alloy steels and alloys.

It can produce products independently, and can also be combined with secondary refinings such as electro-slag remelting and vacuum self-consumption to form a dual process for production.

Therefore, non-vacuum intermediate frequency induction furnace smelting has become an important smelting method for the production of special steels and alloys such as high-speed steel, heat-resistant steel, stainless steel, electrothermal alloys, precision alloys, and high-temperature alloys, and has been widely used.