Abstract: The invention relates to an electrode system for melting and stirring and also for temperature control in metallurgical vessels. To achieve optimum energy utilization with minimal gas consumption, the electrode system comprises, according to the invention, a central electrode and an outer electrode (10, 11) which are each attached to a height adjustment (12) and are connected to a common electric power source (16), to form an electric arc between central electrode and melt below the surface of the melt bath, and an annular space (23) between central electrode and outer electrode (10, 11), which is connected to a gas source (25), with the gas system being designed in such a way that finely particulate additives can also be charged into the melt.

Abstract: An apparatus for the continuous production of steel comprising a generally vertical shaft melting zone having a floor, a generally horizontally running refining zone in fluid communication with a lower region of said vertical shaft, the floor of said refining zone disposed at an inclination with respect to the floor of said shaft, said horizontally running refining zone being in fluid communication with an oxidation zone comprising a well disposed below the level of the floor of said horizontally running refining zone.

Abstract: An apparatus for performing a continuous metallurgical refining process in which metal and slag contact one another comprising a counter-current channel in which nozzles are passed through longitudinal side walls of the channel in the region of the predetermined boundary surface between metal and slag, the discharge directions of the nozzles being disposed parallel to or at an inclination to the predetermined boundary surface.