Abstract: A method for smelting charge materials in an electric arc furnace consists in that a bath of the electric arc furnace is loaded with the charge materials, electrodes of the electric arc furnace are supplied with an alternating current, the charge materials are melted, redox reactions are conducted and a finished melt and a slag are tapped, the alternating current of industrial frequency supplied to the electrodes of the electric arc furnace being first converted to one of a frequency ranging between 0.05 and 30 Hz. An apparatus for carrying into effect the above method comprises an electric arc furnace, in a bath of which are inserted electrodes. A secondary winding of a transformer is coupled with the electrodes through power supply arrangements.

Abstract: The proposed method for checking the state of the lining of a melting unit consists of measuring the electric parameters of equal portions of the lining, located along the perimeter of the melting unit. This is followed by determining the arithmetic mean and the maximum value of these parameters and comparing the two. The result of the comparison is indicative of the state of the lining. According to the invention, the device for checking the state of the lining comprises electrodes which are uniformly installed on the lining along the perimeter of the melting unit. The electrodes are connected to the inputs of an information unit, which provides information about the state of the lining, as well as to the inputs of a maximum value unit for determining the maximum value of a parameter being measured. One output of the maximum value unit is connected to the first input of a comparison unit for comparing the maximum value and the arithmetic mean of the parameter being measured.