Definition

1. Noun:
   • An industrial furnace that uses an electric arc as its heat source: An electric-arc furnace is a type of furnace where intense heat is generated by an electric arc, which is a sustained electrical discharge through a gas. This high-temperature heat is primarily used for melting scrap metal or other materials to produce steel or other alloys.

Usage

• Noun:
  • The steel mill installed a new, more efficient electric-arc furnace to increase production.
  • Recycling scrap metal in an electric-arc furnace is a common practice in modern steelmaking.

Advanced Usage

• "Mini-mill" context: In industry terminology, a steel production plant centered around an electric-arc furnace is often called a "mini-mill," distinguishing it from traditional integrated mills that use blast furnaces.
  • The company's strategy focused on building mini-mills, each equipped with an electric-arc furnace.

Variants and Related Words

• EAF: A common initialism for "electric-arc furnace."
  • The EAF operator monitored the temperature closely.
• Arc furnace: A shortened, informal variant.
  • The arc furnace was shut down for maintenance.

Synonyms

• Electric furnace: A broader category that includes electric-arc furnaces as well as other types like induction furnaces.

Related Phrases

• Electric arc furnace steelmaking: The specific industrial process.
  • Electric arc furnace steelmaking has revolutionized the recycling of ferrous scrap.
• To charge an electric-arc furnace: The act of loading raw materials (like scrap metal) into the furnace.
  • The next step is to charge the electric-arc furnace with prepared scrap.

Noun

1. an electric furnace in which an electric arc provides the source of heat for making steel