Conversion of a rectifier for use as a source of a furnace for the production of consumables applicable to the repair and maintenance in the sugar industry

Abstract

The present work offers a solution that permit to use a rectifier welding source BDU – 506 04 type, that was unserviceable, like energy source for an electric arc furnace, for pirometalurgical processing of materials. The conversion consists in modifications that were made to the original circuits of the welding source in order to adecuate it to the parameters and work regime of the furnace. The redesigned circuit ensures the delivery of current and its regulation for the proper operation and control of the furnace during the electrothermal processing of the charge in the graphite crucible. Based on the criteria about the effective energy of the arc, the dimensions of the crucible furnace were defined to guarantee and effective develop of the process. The correct operation of the current source was validated trough the obtaining of a flux and with the welding of steel specimens for other experiments.