Patent ID: 7313160

Claim:
A method of monitoring an electrical arc furnace's operation, said method comprising: monitoring a first furnace parameter selected from a current flowing through a furnace electrode, a regulator signal, a hydraulic valve spool position, a hydraulic fluid pressure and a position of a electrode mast; simultaneously monitoring a second furnace parameter selected from the current flowing through the furnace electrode, the regulator signal, the hydraulic valve spool position, the hydraulic fluid pressure and a position of the electrode mast, wherein the second furnace parameter is different than the first furnace parameter; determining if a value of said first furnace parameter indicates sub optimal furnace operation in view of a value of said simultaneously monitored second furnace parameter; and altering at least one of the current flowing through the furnace electrode, the regulator signal, the hydraulic valve spool position, the hydraulic fluid pressure and the position of the electrode mast based on the determination.