AC　electric　arc　furnace　is　the　main　equipment　of　modern　iron　and　steel　smelting,　but　as　a　typical　non-linear　time-varying　load,　it　has　a　very　serious　impact　on　the　power　quality　of　the　power　grid.　The　accurate　modeling　of　AC　electric　arc　furnace　is　of　great　significance　to　deeply　understand　the　time　variability　and　non-linearity　of　the　electric　arc　and　realize　the　targeted　management　of　power　quality　problems.　The　existing　model　is　less　involved　in　the　internal　characteristics　of　the　arc,　and　cannot　fully　reflect　the　physical　properties　of　the　arc,　resulting　in　poor　modeling　effects,　high　data　requirements,　large　use　limitations,　and　poor　applicability.　A　novel　general　model　of　AC　electric　arc　furnace　was　studied　in　the　paper.　Firstly,　according　to　the　electronic　continuity　equation,　a　deterministic　arc　model　was　constructed,　and　the　arc　length　change　rule　was　simulated　by　superimposing　periodic　sinusoidal　signals　and　band-pass　white　noise.　Secondly,　the　value　range　of　each　parameter　in　the　model　was　estimated　approximately　by　mechanism　analysis.　Finally,　a　50t　steel-making　AC　electric　arc　furnace　and　a　calcium　carbide　furnace　were　used　as　the　research　objects　to　verify　the　feasibility　and　applicability　of　the　model　under　the　Matlab/Simulink　simulation　environment.　It　is　demonstrated　that　the　proposed　model　can　better　reflect　the　inherent　characteristics　of　the　arc,　requiring　no　measured　data,　with　good　engineering　practicality　and　adaptability.　©　2021　Chin.　Soc.　for　Elec.　Eng.