General Features

The electric arc furnace secondary electrical circuit consists of several components including the delta closure secondary circuit, water cooled cables, electrode arms, and the electrodes.

The water cooled cables are the only flexible part of the secondary electrical system. These allow for raising, lowering and swinging of the electrodes.Furnaces often operate with between two and four cables per phase.The water cooled cable generally consists of multiple copper wire strands which are attached to copper terminals at either end of the cable.The copper cable is covered with a special rubber hose which is secured at the terminals with nonmagnetic stainless steel bands.

How it’s made

The water cooled cable generally consists of multiple copper wire strands which are soldered or crimped to copper terminals at either end of the cable.

The copper cable is covered with a rubber hose which is secured at the terminals with nonmagnetic stainless steel bands.

Copper terminals

They are made of machined high conductivity copper. Cast terminals are not suggested.

Copper Ropes

Copper ropes are manually covered a punched rubber sleeve on half of the copper ropes only. Recent development with the new technology Punch and Press Technology (P&P Tech) have already proven than the extruded and punched copper ropes on all copper ropes gives better results and performances granting more copper ropes protection, mechanical stress distribution, improved strength against flexion and torsion and less cable movement.

Connection of copper ropes to terminals

They are 2 different technologies to fix ropes to terminals:

1. Soldering: process that requires a pre-heating of the copper ropes.

2. Crimped : no pre-heating –> Suggested

Inner core

A central rubber pipe is normally supporting the copper ropes. Metal supporting spring solution to be avoided.

Outer rubber hose

Outer hose need developed in order to have good performances against abrasion, torsion, flexion, high temperatures and chemical resistance.

Main parameters

Main parameters for the water cooled cables sizing are the following:

Current density

Electric Arc Furnace Or Ladle Furnace

Suggested max value of the current density in a water cooled cable is 4,5 A/mm2 for EAF and 5,5 A/mm2 for LF.

Water cooling flow rate

Water cooling flow rate is calculated according to current intensity, inlet and outlet temperatures.

Bending radius

The minimum bending radius of the cable is around normally 5-6 times the inner diameter of the water hose.

Cable length

The cable length is determined to allow raising, lowering and swinging of electrodes.