Effect of Electrode Shape and Heat Loss Rates on Slag Flow and Heat Transfer

Cylindrical electrode geometry was used in past studies, while practically the electrode is of conical shape. the present paper numerically simulates three-dimensional magnetohydro-dynamic flow in an electric furnace with three electrodes immersed into the slag by using an idealized cylindrical and an actual conical electrode shape. Calculations are also carried out for different heat loss rates along the free surface and teh furnace wall. Results show that the electrode shape has slight influence on slag flow behavior and the cylindrical electrode geometry may be used in case without information of actual electrode shape. It is important to correctly specify the boundary conditions at the free surface and the furnace wall in order to obtain reasonable prediction for the slag flow and heat transfer, and reasonable ranges of these conditions are obtained for the furnace considered.