Instrumentation and Stabilization of Electric Arcs for Plasma Smelting Reduction

The Hydrogen Plasma Smelting Reduction (HPSR) is a promising technology for low-CO${}_2$ steel production. However, unstable arc conditions limit energy efficiency, hydrogen utilization, and electrode wear. In this paper, we discuss the influence of the electrical supply characteristics, which can be a source of additional instability. For active stabilization, a fast current controller using a buck converter with an adaptive state controller is used. For analyzing arc stability, a stereoscopic measurement system for reconstructing the arc is presented. The results show a clear correlation between the arc lengths and the measured arc voltage at constant current. Therefore, arc stability can be determined by the measured voltage. These findings build the basis for dynamic arc control by fast electrical interventions.