A smelting vessel includes a plurality of heat pipes (21) positioned in a refractory lining of at least a part of the hearth (9) for cooling at least a part of the refractory lining. At least one of the heat pipes includes (a) a liquid phase of a heat transfer fluid, typically water, in a lower section of the heat pipe and (b) a vapor phase of the heat transfer fluid, typically steam, in an upper section of the heat pipe. The heat pipe also includes a vent to allow vapour phase to escape from the heat pipe to reduce the pressure or the temperature within the heat pipe when the vapour pressure or the temperature in the heat pipe exceeds a predetermined threshold pressure or temperature.

A plate cooler stave for use in a furnace having a shell wall, comprising: a top portion housing at least one cooling fluid inlet and at least one cooling fluid outlet for the flow of cooling fluid to and from the plate cooler stave from outside the furnace; and a main body disposed at an angle relative to the top portion so that the main body may be inserted into the furnace through an opening defined by the shell wall, wherein upon installation, at least a part of the top portion is disposed in the opening.

A plate cooler stave for use in a furnace having a shell wall, comprising: a top portion housing at least one cooling fluid inlet and at least one cooling fluid outlet for the flow of cooling fluid to and from the plate cooler stave from outside the furnace; and a main body disposed at an angle relative to the top portion so that the main body may be inserted into the furnace through an opening defined by the shell wall, wherein upon installation, at least a part of the top portion is disposed in the opening.

A method of charging a pre-packaged charge in a metallurgical or refining furnace includes providing a disposable metal container having at least one attachment member and forming a pre-packaged charge by loading scrap material into the metal container. The method also includes releasably coupling the at least one attachment member of the container to a lifting device, and then de-coupling the pre-packaged charge from the lifting device so that the combination of the scrap material and the disposable metal container are charged in the furnace.

A method of charging a pre-packaged charge in a metallurgical or refining furnace includes providing a disposable metal container having at least one attachment member and forming a pre-packaged charge by loading scrap material into the metal container. The method also includes releasably coupling the at least one attachment member of the container to a lifting device, and then de-coupling the pre-packaged charge from the lifting device so that the combination of the scrap material and the disposable metal container are charged in the furnace.

A duct system of an electric arc furnace includes a plurality of walls each including sinuously winding piping having an inlet and an outlet, and a portion of a first wall of the plurality of walls forming a working platform. The platform is movable between a raised position and a lowered position. In the raised position, the portion of the first wall is disposed in proximate vertical alignment with the remainder of the first wall. In the lowered position, the portion of the first wall is disposed substantially perpendicularly to the remainder of the first wall. The portion of the first wall is sized to occupy a cross-sectional area formed by the plurality of walls such that the portion of the first wall is disposed in close proximity to the other of the plurality of walls.

A shaft furnace, in particular a blast furnace, includes a metal jacket defining the furnace outer wall and a protective layer protecting the inner surface of the outer wall. At least one condition monitoring probe is arranged inside within the protective layer to monitor the latter. The condition monitoring probe is connected to a wireless module arranged outside the outer wall to transmit condition monitoring data. The wireless module is located inside a casing mounted to the outer surface of the metal jacket. The condition monitoring probe includes one or more conductive loops positioned at predetermined depths below the front face of the cooling plate body, or of the refractory lining, so that wear of the body, resp. refractory, can be detected by a change of an electrical characteristic of the loop(s) due to abrasion.

A fluid cooled combustion can, comprising: an internal core housed in an intermediate core; wherein the inteimediate core is housed in an external housing; wherein an outer surface of the intermediate core defines one or more ribs that together with an inside surface of the external housing define a cooling fluid circuit that is in fluid communication with a cooling fluid inlet and outlet.

A fluid cooled combustion can, comprising: an internal core housed in an intermediate core; wherein the inteimediate core is housed in an external housing; wherein an outer surface of the intermediate core defines one or more ribs that together with an inside surface of the external housing define a cooling fluid circuit that is in fluid communication with a cooling fluid inlet and outlet.

A cooling system to cool a surface of a tilting metallurgical furnace including an inner plate of the surface, a plurality of nozzles, and a drain manifold is disclosed. The inner plate has an external surface and an internal surface. The plurality of nozzles is configured to be fluidly connected to a coolant supply pipe. At least a first nozzle of the plurality of spray conduits is configured to spray coolant against the external surface of the inner plate. The drain manifold positioned to receive coolant from the external surface of the inner plate. At least a second nozzle of the plurality of nozzles is configured to spray coolant directly into the drain manifold.