Characterization of the frequency response of electrodes in arc furnaces for silicon production

This paper presents the latest developments in the characterization of the response of submerged arc furnaces used in silicon production facilities worldwide. Such characterization is needed to allow an efficient on-line monitoring of the furnace to be carried out. As demonstrated in previous works, the monitoring process is useful not only to check the operation, but also to determine the values of some important parameters of the furnace. The paper describes the way in which a microcontroller-based monitoring system is being used to determine the frequency response of the electrodes in the furnaces of the silicon production facility of the company Ferroatlantica, in Spain. Experimental results are presented and discussed.