An electric furnace is a type of heating furnace that converts electrical energy into heat to heat workpieces; categories include resistance furnaces, induction furnaces, electric arc furnaces, plasma furnaces, and electron beam furnaces.
Compared to fuel-fired furnaces, electric furnaces offer several advantages: the furnace atmosphere is easily controlled; materials heat up rapidly; high heating temperatures are achievable; temperature control is precise; mechanization and automation of the production process are more easily implemented; working conditions are better; thermal efficiency is high; product quality is superior; and they are more environmentally friendly, helping to alleviate increasingly severe environmental issues.
