Abstract: Two upper electrodes 16 and 17 are horizontally spaced apart from each other with a predetermined distance and vertically extend through a furnace roof 3 of a furnace shell 2. Upper conductors 20 and 21 are connected to the upper electrodes 16 and 17 and extend in a direction away from the upper electrodes 17 and 16, respectively. Two lower conductors 22 and 23 are connected to a lower electrode 1 and extend in directions along which the upper conductors 20 and 21, respectively. Power source circuits 24 and 25 are arranged between extension ends of the upper and lower conductors 20 and 22 and 21 and 23, respectively. Arcs 12a and 12b generated between the upper electrodes 16 and 17 and the lower electrode 1 are directed to a center of the furnace shell 2.