Heat Recovery From Arc Furnaces Using Water Cooled Panels

Abstract

In 1980-81, the John Deere Foundry at East Moline underwent an expansion program that increased its capacity by over 60%. This expansion was centered around the melt department where the four existing 13MVA electric arc furnaces were augmented with two additional 13MVA arc furnaces. A waste heat recovery system was installed on all six of the arc furnaces which, with modifications to the existing heat-vent systems, enabled a 41,000 square foot building addition to be heated without any increase in usage of natural gas for environmental heating. This paper will present a brief overview of the arc furnace water-cooled panels together with details of the heat recovery system. The effects of drastically reduced production levels upon the efficiency of the heat recovery system will be discussed. The paper will conclude by detailing some of the start up, and operational problems, and what can be done to minimize these in future systems.