Abstract: A DC arc furnace has a side wall and an electrically conductive hearth, a roof on top of the side wall and over the hearth, an arcing electrode depending through the roof, a plurality of electrical hearth connections extending from the hearth, a first DC power conductor connecting with the hearth connections to provide current and therefore magnetic field symmetry preventing arc deviations, the first and second conductors are extended from a position horizontally offset from the furnace to a point below the hearth and aligned vertically with the electrode, the first conductor forming at least two branches which extend from the point horizontally in opposite directions to beyond the side wall and upwardly so as to jointly connect with the arcing electrode, the second conductor forming at least two branches which extend horizontally from the point in opposite directions with one branch connecting with one of the hearth connections and the other branch connecting with the other one of the hearth connections.

Abstract: A DC arc furnace electrically conductive hearth brickwork wear lining has metal electrical conductors extending through it which are molten for their upper portions when working and by electromagnetic flowing can erode the bricks of the brickwork. To prevent this erosion resistant refractory shields are positioned so as to shield the bricks from such flows.