The industrial furnace heated by electric arc which is generated through metal electrode or non-metal electrode is called as electric arc furnace (EAF). During electric discharge to form arc, the gas’s energy is concentrated; temperature in arc area is above 3000℃. For smelting metal, EAF has higher technological flexibility compared with other steelmaking furnaces, could effectively remove sulphur and phosphorus impurities, could easily control furnace temperature, covers less area and is suitable for smelting high-quality alloy steel.

EAF takes electric energy as heat source, furnace atmosphere could be controlled, which offers great advantages for smelting the steel containing many kinds of easily-oxidized elements. Shortly after being invented, EAF started being applied in smelting alloy steel and obtained great development.

Along with the upgrade of EAF equipment, the improvement of smelting equipment, the development of electric utility industry and the decrease of cost for steelmaking by EAF, EAF currently not only is used for smelting alloy steel, but also is used for smelting plain carbon steel, and its output capacity proportion in total steel output of major industrial countries keeps going up.