The submerged arc furnace is used for the reduction and smelting of metal oxide ore, so it is also called the submerged arc reduction electric furnace.

A submerged arc furnace, commonly known as an electric furnace, is an electro-metallurgical equipment that uses the arc heat at the end of the electrode and the resistance heat of the charge or slag to convert electrical energy into heat energy, so that useful elements such as metals are reduced from ore or oxides.