In the practical melting process, both types of furnaces have their respective advantages and disadvantages.
Thermal Efficiency
The IF (Induction Furnace) has higher thermal efficiency and can rapidly heat the charge materials. In contrast, the EAF (Electric Arc Furnace) loses a significant amount of arc heat through the furnace cover and walls.
Metallic Yield
Since there is no super-high temperature effect from an electric arc, oxidation and burn-off of elements are reduced during steelmaking in an IF.
Liquid Temperature
The composition and temperature of molten steel are more uniform in IF steelmaking.
Metallurgical Reaction
In EAF steelmaking, the slag temperature is higher than that of the molten steel, allowing it to actively participate in metallurgical reactions. In contrast, in IF steelmaking, slag is heated by the molten steel, and the relatively low slag temperature limits its involvement in such reactions. Therefore, EAF steelmaking achieves better results in desulfurization, dephosphorization, and diffusion deoxidation compared to IF steelmaking.
Charging Material
Due to the weaker metallurgical reaction capacity of the IF, the charge materials used must meet stricter requirements — they should be rust-free, contain minimal grease, and be of appropriate size. In comparison, the EAF offers better adaptability to various types of charge materials.
Productive Capacity
Under the same furnace capacity, the output of an IF is approximately 70% that of an EAF.
Process Control
The EAF steelmaking process can be more easily synchronized with a continuous casting machine, offering better control over production pace, whereas this is more difficult to achieve with an IF.
Equipment Investment
An EAF system requires auxiliary equipment such as an air separation unit and an SVC (Static Var Compensator) reactive power compensation system, making its investment cost higher than that of an IF system. Additionally, the service life of an IF is shorter than that of an EAF.
