Performance of sponge iron charging in electric arc furnace

Due to severe shortage of scrap there is a continuous effort to find out the alternative source of charge materials in electric arc furnace. Sponge iron (DR!) is the readily available material, which can be made by reduction of iron ore using non-coking coal or natural gas. In a view to study the performance of sponge iron in electric arc furnace, authors have studied the energyconsumption for sponge iron charging, heat time for sponge iron charging with a special emphasis on mode of charging with the help of operational data of Usha Martin Industries Ltd Jamshedpur. It has been observed that energy consumption and heat time increases with increase in percentage {)fDRI charging, however, specific productivity decreases for the same. Inspite of that, sponge iron charging is advisable due to its easy availability, consistent chemical compositions, severe shortage of scrap and other advantages like carbon boiling followed by good bath agitation. DRI charging in higher proportion is more advantageous than that in lower proportion from energy point of view. Ithas also been observed that melting associated with continuous bin charging mode consumes less electrical energy than that in the bucket charging mode.