Abstract: A process for smelting steel is implemented in an electric arc furnace of the type including a vessel containing a bath of molten steel, a roof resting on top of the said vessel and a single roof electrode or a plurality of roof electrodes lying within a circle. In the process an oxygenic gas in the form of gas jets is blasted into the vessel toward the surface of the bath, so that the areas of impact of the jets on the surface do not cover the electrode or the circle. The jets are blasted in from the upper part of the furnace and have a shallow depth of penetration into the bath.

Abstract: A metallurgical container of the type having a vessel having a bottom wall and an inner refractory lining includes a hearth bottom electrode extending through the bottom wall and the lining and including, in a superposed condition, a bar and a connector. The bar is flush with the surface of the refractory lining. The connector is fastened to a lower surface of the bar, is internally cooled, has a diameter smaller than the diameter of the bar, and is attached to the bar at its upper front face at a level within the thickness of the refractory lining. A ring is interlocked to the vessel wall, surrounds the connector, and has an upper face located below the bar so as to be capable of carrying the bar. In order to prevent liquid materials from penetrating by infiltration between the bar and the ring, the bar is prolonged or elongated toward the bottom wall by a skirt which surround the connector laterally. The invention is particularly applicable to direct current operated steel plant arc furnaces.

Abstract: The method relates to the operation of a D.C. electric-arc furnace provided with at least one bottom electrode including an elongated metal current-supply body passing through the hearth of the furnace and surrounded by a casing made of dense refractory substance, comprising at least one shell ring whose upper end comes into contact with the molten metal in the furnace. During restarting of the furnace after shut-downs, a free expendable annular part made of refractory material, of flattened general shape, is placed on the upper end of the shell ring, which part extends it upwards and is intended to come into contact with the molten metal instead of said shell ring. The method applies in particular to D.C. electric-arc furnaces for the manufacture of steel, and is intended to reduce wear on the refractory parts surrounding the bottom electrode.

Abstract: A wall electrode includes a metal bar adapted to extend through the wall of the furnace, a water-cooled sleeve composed of a material which is a good conductor of heat and electricity, an end member composed of a material which is a good conductor of heat and electricity, and an annular member such as a ring composed of a metal which is heavy and has a low melting point surrounding the bar so that the heavy metal in the liquid state spreads in the space between the bar and the sleeve when the annular member is made to melt during use of the electrode.

Abstract: The metallurgical vessel, such as a direct-current arc furnace, comprises a metal housing (1) lined on its inside with refractory material (2), at least one electrode (3) passing through the bottom of the vessel and connected to a terminal of an electrical power supply, the electrode being fastened to the metal housing by a mechanical fastening arrangement and insulated electrically from the housing. A leaktight wall (20) surrounding the fastening zone of the electrode prevents a liquid flowing over the inner surface of the housing from coming into contact with the electrode fastening arrangement, and orifices (26) are provided for discharging the liquid collected out of the housing. The invention is particularly applicable to direct-current arc furnaces and prevents the molten lead originating from the scrap metal of the charge and infiltrating through the refractory from damaging the electrical insulation of the fastening of the electrode.