The present invention relates to an
electric arc furnace (1) comprising an
electrode handling apparatus (30), comprising an
electrode holder clamp (31) configured to vertically support said one or more electrodes; a first detection apparatus (40) configured to detect in real time the vertical position of said
electrode-holder clamp (31) relative to a predefined reference point; - an
image acquisition apparatus (60) configured to acquire images of said one or more electrodes when they are removed from the shell (10) and are positioned relative to the roof (20) in such a way that the tip and optionally also the wear zone are framed; a
control unit of the
electric arc furnace (70) comprising in turn an electrode adjustment
system (700) which is configured to adjust the ignition and positioning of the electrodes inside the shell and is operatively connected to said electrode handling apparatus (30). Said
control unit of the
electric arc furnace (70) is operatively connected to said first detection apparatus (40) to acquire in real time the vertical position (YF) of said electrode-holder clamp relative to said predefined reference point and to said
image acquisition apparatus ( 60 ) to acquire images of said electrodes. Said unit ( 70 ) is configured to process said images in such a way that at each electrode removal and for each electrode it calculates the length of the electrode (L Emin F). Said
control unit of the
electric arc furnace ( 70 ) is configured to calculate the vertical position (YE ) taken over time by the tip of the electrode relative to said predefined reference point, knowing the vertical position (YE) of said electrode- holder clamp acquired by said first detection apparatus ( 40 ) and the length of the electrode (L). Said control unit of the
electric arc furnace ( 70 ) is configured to adj ust, via said electrode adj ustment
system ( 700 ), the movements of the electrodes relative to the shell ( 10 ) in terms of vertical position and / or speed and / or the ignition time of the arc, as a function of predefined electrode management programs in different operating steps of the
electric arc furnace based on the vertical position taken by the tip of the electrode, and / or is configured to generate an
alarm signal in the event that, during one or more steps of the furnace
operating cycle the trend of the vertical position taken by the tip of the electrode follows a temporal profile that deviates at least in part from a reference temporal profile within predefined tolerances.