Induction vs EAF
Induction vs EAF
(OP)
First my apologies for posting a question that has extensively been dealt with in 2007 and 2004
URL:http://www.eng-tips.com/viewthread.cfm?qid=202861
URL:http://www.eng-tips.com/viewthread.cfm?qid=101946
but I think a lot of variables have dramaticaly changed over the last year:
Suppose you would invest at this moment in a 12 ton furnace to make general quality steel (50% unalloyed, 20% low alloyed, 10% high alloyed and 20% high chrome white cast iron) in a jobbing environment, what would be your choice considering:
- Energy consumption ( especialy peak power consumption)
- availability of raw materials
- flexibility
- environmental considerations
- skills needed
Thanks in advance for any contribution,
URL:http://www.eng-tips.com/viewthread.cfm?qid=202861
URL:http://www.eng-tips.com/viewthread.cfm?qid=101946
but I think a lot of variables have dramaticaly changed over the last year:
Suppose you would invest at this moment in a 12 ton furnace to make general quality steel (50% unalloyed, 20% low alloyed, 10% high alloyed and 20% high chrome white cast iron) in a jobbing environment, what would be your choice considering:
- Energy consumption ( especialy peak power consumption)
- availability of raw materials
- flexibility
- environmental considerations
- skills needed
Thanks in advance for any contribution,





RE: Induction vs EAF
In these times of increasing raw material,energy and refractory costs,I think your question is very relevant.
I shall just wait for some others to offer their opinions,before I comment,some of them might be repetetive too!
Chocolates,men,coffee: are somethings liked better rich!!
(noticed in a coffee shop)
RE: Induction vs EAF
It is flexible and clean. No dust and EPA to deal with.
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Plymouth Tube
RE: Induction vs EAF
RE: Induction vs EAF
The negatives would be the need of high power transformers, refractory costs and cost of graphite electrode. Also there is a need to have highly skilled operators which is a major problem. Emissions from the EAF need to be controlled with suitable dust and fume extractors, which will increase the capital costs. Maintenance crew required will be large per shift.
Induction furnaces offer a clean and simple method to melt steel. The capital costs are lower due to low investment on electrical and pollution control equipments. There is virtually no smoke emission from induction melting. Low level of skilled operators are needed and maintenance crew rarely needed.
However it is not versatile in changing over from a high carbon heat to low carbon or from high chrome iron heat to carbon steel heat.Also the charge selection and preparation needs to be carefully done. (The cost of scrap and alloys charged significantly affect the melt cost). There is no refinement possible.
I am not able to offer any comment on peak demand charges as this depends on the local electricity supplier. I always watch for the peak demand recorded as we have two cost components power demand charges and energy units consumed. During a melt campaign if there is a surge in power demand due to bad scrap distribution in arc furnace,the charges are billed for the complete month,but in Induction Furnace the possibilty does not exist.
Chocolates,men,coffee: are somethings liked better rich!!
(noticed in a coffee shop)
RE: Induction vs EAF
Thanks to all for your valuable comments.
On the metallurgical aspects it is my understanding that the advantage of a EAF is it's shallow pool and the large surface area offering a good contact with the slag.
Induction furnaces are deep with a small surface. Is it correct to put that if (and I stress IF) a good metal-slag contact could be established in an induction furnace, one could do the same as in an EAF?
On the charge material, the possibility to work with lower quality scrap is much emphasised, but the cleaning actions need more energy/ton, are more demanding to the personnel (you might need more and better trained), there is more waste (slag) and there is more fume to be dealt with. So one could ask is this all worthwhile?
RE: Induction vs EAF