Abstract: A process for controlling continuous casting conditions in steel tapped from a furnace, which proceeds from a ladle into a tundish, and then via a submerged nozzle to a continuous casting mold. In either the ladle or the tundish, the liquid steel is subjected to radiation heating and convection heating from an electric heating device by which an electric current is made to pass through the liquid steel from this heating device to a return located downstream of the device, for example in the continuous casting mold. Preferably, the heating device is a transferred arc plasma torch. In addition, the nozzle between the tundish and the continuous casting mold is subjected not only to the passage of current but also to a direct magnetic field perpendicular to the steel stream.

Abstract: In a direct current electric arc furnace with at least one movable electrode and at least one part of the bottom of the furnace of electrically conductive material, used as a return electrode, that part of the furnace bottom is formed of an assembly of diverse coacting parts, namely:a easily removable electrically conductive prefabricated element in contact with the metal bath,an intermediate part of electrically conductive granular material,and a terminal metal part, in contact with the intermediate part, electrically insulated from the shell of the furnace, comprising a metal collector plate whose upper surface is in contact with the intermediate part, and having a terminal metal rod on the lower face. That lower face and the metal rod are in contact with a non-conductive refractory material. The extremity of the metal rod protrudes outside the furnace, is cooled and is connected to the power supply. The furnace bottom can also include at least one porous body for blowing gas into the metal bath.

Abstract: A hot-top for the production of ingots using an electroslag remelting process, comprises a ceramic hot-top having non-consumable electrodes embedded in the radially inner side walls thereof, the exposed surfaces of the electrodes comprising 5 to 50% of the total area of the hot-top inner surface. The electrodes extend parallel to the axis of the hot-top, from the top edge of the hot-top down at least 50% of the height thereof, and may be graphite or hollow water-cooled metal electrodes. In use, the electrodes contact not only the molten metal but also its superposed layer of slag.

Abstract: A continuous metallurgical process such as electroslag refining or continuous casting is continuously monitored by surrounding the area of the melt with a hollow sleeve that contains a continuous helical passageway through which a coolant is continuously passed. The temperature of the coolant is continuously monitored at a plurality of points spaced apart axially of the sleeve, thereby to determine not the temperature of the adjacent metal or slag, but rather the quantity of heat transmitted by that adjacent metal or slag. In this way, the location of the solid metal, the molten metal and the slag, as well as other useful parameters, can be continuously monitored.

Abstract: A probe insertable in exhaust gases from steelmaking comprises a partitioned tube with an exposed forward portion that contains a pair of spaced thermometric elements. Heat transfer fluid moves across first one and then the other element, and the difference in recorded temperatures indicates the heat transferred to the fluid. Abrasive particles are intermittently projected against the exposed portion to clean off the deposits from the exhaust gases.

Abstract: A compound meltable electrode for manufacturing metal articles by remelting under electroslag, consisting of a first solid metal meltable element, a second meltable element consisting of at least one of the substances selected from the group comprising metal powder, a binder, and slag, and a third metal meltable element containing and reinforcing said meltable layer.

Abstract: A self sintering compound tubular electrode suitable particularly for making metal articles by supply of metal with an electroslag process, consisting of a plurality of concentric walls, each pair of said concentric walls defining an annular cavity containing in the melting zone of the electrode a layer of sintered metal powder, and above said sintered layer, a second layer of powder not yet sintered.