Abstract: In melting down at least one consumable electrode in an electroslag remelting furnace, a gas is blown into the molten slag in such a manner that the gas flows in a jet towards the consumable electrode portion immersed into the slag to create a slag flow around said portion and thereby accelerate the melting-down of the electrode. The method efficiently eliminates an unbalance in the melting-down rates of two or more electrodes by blowing in the gas at different or controlled flow rates towards every electrode.

Abstract: A mould wall has one or a plurality of cylindrical or tapered inserts positioned therein. The outer lateral surfaces of the inserts are provided with longitudinal through grooves bounded by the wall of the opening wherein the insert is positioned, the groove and the wall forming passages for feeding gas into the slag pool zone in the mould.The insert may consist of a plurality of parts coaxial within one another, the outer lateral surfaces of the parts having longitudinal through grooves similar to those on the insert outer surface.The mould construction according to the invention simplifies the technique for manufacturing ducts for feeding gas into the slag pool zone and raises the intensity of interaction between the gas and the liquid pool by feeding gas in the form of small bubbles having large total surface area.

Abstract: A method for start-up and an electroslag remelting furnace system having a bottom pouring device connected to a mold in which at least one electrode is remelted to form an ingot. The bottom pouring device is positioned to receive molten slag and pass it through the lower part of the furnace mold until it rises in the mold and contacts prepositioned current conducting elements in order to complete the electrical power circuit of the furnace. The system includes a slag transfer apparatus which is either located or is shiftable to a location adjacent the bottom pouring device. Pouring of the molten slag is controlled responsive to correlated slag level and contact with the lower end of the electrodes.

Abstract: A start-up system for an electroslag remelting furnace having a bottom pouring device connected to a mold in which at least one electrode is remelted to form an ingot. The bottom pouring device is positioned to receive molten slag and pass it through the lower part of the furnace mold until it rises in the mold and contacts prepositioned current conducting elements in order to complete the electrical power circuit of the furnace. The system includes a slag transfer apparatus which is either located or is shiftable to a location adjacent the bottom pouring device for controlling the transfer of molten slag into the bottom pouring device. The method of operation of the system components is also disclosed.