A direct current plasma arc furnace includes a tank having a crucible delimiting a chamber to receive material to be melted and/or treated; refractory walls surrounding the crucible outer surface; a metallic frame covering the refractory walls; and a heating system for heating the received material. The heating system includes two electrodes acting as cathode and anode, respectively, wherein the first electrode is a movable electrode to project vertically into the chamber. The crucible is part of an anode system also having the second electrode and at least one part connecting the crucible and second electrode. The crucible receives and holds material to be melted and/or treated and provides electric conduction for the flow of current to heat the material, such that the voltage potential difference between the cathode and any point of the crucible surface defined to be in contact with the material is the same.

An electrode clamping device is suitable for use in an electrical arc furnace. The clamping device is used releasably to clamp an electrode of an electric arc furnace, and includes at least one elongate tension element configured in use to extend at least partially about a periphery of the electrode of the arc furnace in order for the tension element to define a tensionable loop about the electrode that is adapted to exert a clamping force on the electrode when tensioned. The clamping device also includes a tensioning mechanism including tensioning means adapted to exert a tensile force on end zones of the clamping element so as to tension the tension element, characterized in that the force exerted by the tensioning means is directed in a radial direction relative to the electrode.

An electrode clamping device is suitable for use in an electrical arc furnace. The clamping device is used releasably to clamp an electrode of an electric arc furnace, and includes at least one elongate tension element configured in use to extend at least partially about a periphery of the electrode of the arc furnace in order for the tension element to define a tensionable loop about the electrode that is adapted to exert a clamping force on the electrode when tensioned. The clamping device also includes a tensioning mechanism including tensioning means adapted to exert a tensile force on end zones of the clamping element so as to tension the tension element, characterized in that the force exerted by the tensioning means is directed in a radial direction relative to the electrode.

Embodiments of systems and methods for remotely controlling a robotic welding system over a long distance in real time are disclosed. One embodiment is a method that includes tracking movements and control of a mock welding tool operated by a human welder at a local site and generating control parameters corresponding to the movements and control. The control parameters are transmitted from the local site to a robotic welding system at a remote welding site over an ultra-low-latency communication network. The round-trip communication latency over the ultra-low-latency communication network is between 0.5 milliseconds and 20 milliseconds, and a distance between the local site and the remote welding site is at least 50 kilometers. An actual welding operation of the robotic welding system is controlled to form a weld at the remote welding site via remote robotic control of the robotic welding system in response to the control parameters.

An electronic device, and a magnetic energy harvesting device and method of harvesting magnetic energy, for electric metallurgical furnaces and similar environments. The device comprises a conductor which is configured to become induced with electricity in response to a time-varying magnetic field. The field may be irregular, such as near a metallurgical furnace or a similar environment. The electronic device may be a transmitter in a metallurgical electric furnace. The transmitter may be connected to an environment sensor. The electronic device may be powered by the magnetic energy harvesting device. The magnetic energy harvesting device may a wire loop or a coil. The method comprises inductively harvesting energy from magnetic field fluctuations caused by a metallurgical furnace or a similar environment to wirelessly power the electronic device.

An electronic device, and a magnetic energy harvesting device and method of harvesting magnetic energy, for electric metallurgical furnaces and similar environments. The device comprises a conductor which is configured to become induced with electricity in response to a time-varying magnetic field. The field may be irregular, such as near a metallurgical furnace or a similar environment. The electronic device may be a transmitter in a metallurgical electric furnace. The transmitter may be connected to an environment sensor. The electronic device may be powered by the magnetic energy harvesting device. The magnetic energy harvesting device may a wire loop or a coil. The method comprises inductively harvesting energy from magnetic field fluctuations caused by a metallurgical furnace or a similar environment to wirelessly power the electronic device.

Embodiments of systems and methods for remotely controlling a robotic welding system over a long distance in real time are disclosed. One embodiment is a method that includes tracking movements and control of a mock welding tool operated by a human welder at a local site and generating control parameters corresponding to the movements and control. The control parameters are transmitted from the local site to a robotic welding system at a remote welding site over an ultra-low-latency communication network. The round-trip communication latency over the ultra-low-latency communication network is between 0.5 milliseconds and 10 milliseconds, and a distance between the local site and the remote welding site is at least 10 kilometers. An actual welding operation of the robotic welding system is controlled to form a weld at the remote welding site via remote robotic control of the robotic welding system in response to the control parameters.

A welding-type system includes a wireless network interface configured to connect a wire feeder or power supply to a wireless network. The wireless network interface is also configured to receive a wireless command in a first format. The wireless command is configured to control the power supply. Moreover, the wireless network interface is configured to convert the wireless command from the first format to a second format. The welding-type system also includes a wired transceiver configured to transmit the converted wireless command across a power delivery cable to the power supply. Furthermore, the welding-type system includes power terminals configured to receive power from the power supply at a level based at least in part on the transmitted wireless command.

The method for adjusting the impedance of one or more phases of a secondary circuit of an electric furnace, in order to limit the unbalance between the phases themselves comprises the transformer (31), a variable impedance secondary circuit for one or more phases (F1, F2, F3), the rigid and fixed interconnection (32) for each phase (F1, F2, F3) connected to the transformer, the flexible cables (33) connected by means of the proximal end to the fixed interconnection (32), the electrode holding arms (34) connected to the distal end of the flexible cables (33), the conductive electrodes (35) fixed to the respective electrode holding arms (34). The rigid and fixed interconnection (32) of a phase (F1, F2, F3) comprises at least one turn (11), wherein the impedance is either continuously or discreetly variable in order to obtain the desired impedance value.

The method for adjusting the impedance of one or more phases of a secondary circuit of an electric furnace, in order to limit the unbalance between the phases themselves comprises the transformer (31), a variable impedance secondary circuit for one or more phases (F1, F2, F3), the rigid and fixed interconnection (32) for each phase (F1, F2, F3) connected to the transformer, the flexible cables (33) connected by means of the proximal end to the fixed interconnection (32), the electrode holding arms (34) connected to the distal end of the flexible cables (33), the conductive electrodes (35) fixed to the respective electrode holding arms (34). The rigid and fixed interconnection (32) of a phase (F1, F2, F3) comprises at least one turn (11), wherein the impedance is either continuously or discreetly variable in order to obtain the desired impedance value.