Thermal simulation experiments on scrap melting in liquid steel

The melting rate of round and square steel bars with various initial temperatures and sizes, and steel bars immersed in a liquid steel bath with different temperatures were studied. A steel shell was immediately formed around the original steel bar after it was immersed into the liquid steel, and then melt back as the immersion time increases. An increase in the preheating temperature of the bar and the liquid steel bath temperature is beneficial to steel bar melt. The maximum thickness of the steel shell decreases with increasing the initial temperature. While an increase in the liquid steel bath temperature, leads to an increase in the maximum thickness of the shell. When the round bar and square bar melt under the same conditions, the melting time of square bar is longer. It was also found that the heating rate in the centre of the steel bar initially increases and then decreases as the immersion time increases. The experimental results are of great significance for scrap melting and burden distribution in the electric arc furnace.