Abstract: A method for the renovation of a ring section furnace having several sections connected in series, each section comprising a plurality of parallel pits. A complete renovation/maintenance of the furnace is accomplished according to a continuous program where one or more, preferably three sections at a time and when needed, are torn down and rebuilt while the remaining sections are still in operation. During normal operation, several adjacent sections are undergoing a firing cycle and constitute a firing zone. The furnace is normally operated with a plurality of firing zones separated by inactive adjacent sections having the work material removed from or placed therein. In the present method, the firing cycles of less than all of the firing zones are altered until the minimum number of inactive sections separates at least two of the firing zones. This results in an increase in the inactive sections at another point.

Abstract: A suction tube unit for removing packing coke from vertical spaces within a ring furnace for producing carbon bodies includes a plurality of elongated suction and air supply tubes, the tubes being arranged to extend parallel to each other and being aligned in a single straight row, with each adjacent pair of the suction tubes being separated by a separate one of the air-supply tubes, thus forming an elongated assembly adapted to fit within the vertical space of the furnace. The assembly is supported at an upper portion thereof by a telescopic mounting. All of the tubes are open at lower ends thereof. A suction device is connected to the upper end of the suction tubes for creating a vacuum within the suction tubes to thereby withdraw the packing coke therethrough. Upper portions of the air-supply tubes have therein orifices to supply ambient air into the air-supply tubes and to aid in withdrawal of the packing coke through the suction tubes.