Abstract: An apparatus and process for producing coke in a vertical furnace having an upper part for preheating and devolitalizing raw ovoids of coal, an electrically heated median part for carbonizing and coking the ovoids and a lower part for partially cooling the coked ovoids by counter current flow of recycled product gases recovered from the upper part of the furnace. A cooling chamber is connected to the lower part of the furnace for further cooling the coked ovoids by countercurrent flow of a portion of the recycled product gases which are withdrawn after flowing through the partially cooled coked ovoids and introduced into the upper part of the furnace to prevent condensation of condensibles contained in the product gases. The median part of the furnace may be electrically heated by electrodes, induction coils or a combination of electrodes and induction coils.

Abstract: The device permits the fixing of a stave plate to the armour shell of the blast furnace by means of a washer and a cup-shaped ring which are welded externally both to the shell and to protecting sleeves for inner water circulating tubes which are extended to outside the shell.The sealing is achieved by the interposition under compression of a preformed flexible apertured rectangular joint element and a preformed circular joint element of silicone elastomer or like plastics material, between the shell and the stave plate with adhesion on the bearing faces. It is completed by an injected mass and an annular joint element between the water circulating tubes and the corresponding protecting sleeves.The device is completed by the provision of packing products respectively between the inner wall of the shell and the stave plates and in gaps between two adjacent stave plates.