IMPROVED CHANNEL ARC MODEL FOR HIGH-CURRENT AC ARCS

The Channel Arc Model (CAM) for simulation of high-current (~100 kA) electric arcs in submerged arc furnaces has been improved and implemented in a complete three-phase circuit model, describing the furnace circuit. A Cathode Sub-Model (CSM) for high-current AC, as well as DC arcs, is presented here. Simulations performed by using the CSM in connection with the CAM are compared with older simulations based on a constant cathode fall voltage and a constant uniform cathode current density distribution. Current-voltage characteristics simulated by the CAM are presented for industrial AC arcs. The possibility of multiple-arc formation is discussed.