Abstract: An apparatus and method is presented for emptying metallurgical vessels, and in particular steelmaking converters containing metal and slag, whereby the slag is effectively separated from the metal during pouring. The apparatus includes at least on permeable refractory element located near the flow hole. An agitating gas is fed through the refractory element thereby creating a bubbling froth which effectively obstructs most of the slag from being carried along by the vortex which forms above the vertical flow hole.

Abstract: Apparatus for closing the discharge aperture of a metallurgical vessel is presented. This apparatus includes a closure element attached to a pivoted lever in order to prevent undesirable discharge of slag at the beginning and end of the casting process and during refining. The lever pivotally opens and closes the aperture by means of a piston rod and pressure cylinder. The closure element, preferably made from wood, is temporarily attached to the lever by a friction fit and is designed to be used only once.

Abstract: A melt is contained in a vessel having below the level of the melt an at least gas-pervious wall portion. First the slag is removed, normally by pouring it off, from the melt. Then a finely divided treatment solids suspended in a gas is introduced through the wall portion into the melt. The melt reacts thoroughly with these solids. Immediately deslagging the melt substantially reduces its ability to pick up nitrogen or hydrogen. This can be enhanced by the further step, prior to introduction of the suspension, of adding pure lime to the melt to form a protective layer thereon. The vehicle gas for the powder of course is inert, normally argon. The vessel can also be sealed up with a tight cover after addition of pure lime to it and before introduction of the suspension. Otherwise in the subsequent desulfurizing nitrogen and hydrogen will enter into the metal matrix, especially if there is an appropriate slag present.

Abstract: A desulfurization method in which an iron melt, carefully skimmed from slag in a ladle, is covered with about 1 to 2 kg. of lime per ton of iron, the melt is deoxidized to at most 35 ppm of oxygen and is then blown with a mixture of lime, calcium fluoride and metallic aluminum in an inert gas by means of a lance immersed in the bath so that the outlet of the lance is at an average depth of about 1500 mm below the bath surface.

Abstract: A desulphurizing agent is blown into a metallurgical converter from a storage bin which is connected over a vane type bilowthrough feeder. Variable amounts of desulphurizing agents are fed through the inlet by margin the rotational speed of the vanes.