Disclosed is a channel type induction furnace (50) provided with a furnace floor (71) that is inclined downwards from an operative rear of the furnace hearth (50) towards an opposing operative front of the hearth (50), with a wall (73A) at the front of hearth (50) comprising a bottom section (76) and a top section (77), with the front wall bottom section (76) extending further into the hearth (50) than the front wall top section (77), and the front wall bottom section (76) terminating in an upper edge (78) in abutment with the front wall top section (77), with a down-passage (9) to an induction heater (79), located proximate the front wall (73A), having an inlet in the floor (71) at a location proximate the base of the front wall (73A) and the or each up-passage (54A, 54B) having an outlet in the floor (71) at a location in abutment with the base of the front wall bottom section (76) and with the front wall bottom section (76) being provided with a vertical slot (59A, 59B) extending upwards above the or each up-passage (54A, 54B) through it and opening onto the upper edge (78) of the bottom section (76).

Disclosed is a channel type induction furnace (50) provided with a furnace floor (71) that is inclined downwards from an operative rear of the furnace hearth (50) towards an opposing operative front of the hearth (50), with a wall (73A) at the front of hearth (50) comprising a bottom section (76) and a top section (77), with the front wall bottom section (76) extending further into the hearth (50) than the front wall top section (77), and the front wall bottom section (76) terminating in an upper edge (78) in abutment with the front wall top section (77), with a down-passage (9) to an induction heater (79), located proximate the front wall (73A), having an inlet in the floor (71) at a location proximate the base of the front wall (73A) and the or each up-passage (54A, 54B) having an outlet in the floor (71) at a location in abutment with the base of the front wall bottom section (76) and with the front wall bottom section (76) being provided with a vertical slot (59A, 59B) extending upwards above the or each up-passage (54A, 54B) through it and opening onto the upper edge (78) of the bottom section (76).

A stave comprising a housing, an inner cooling fluid circuit comprising a cooling fluid inlet, a cooling fluid outlet and one or more cooling fluid pipes housed within, or cooling fluid passageways defined by, the housing, wherein each cooling fluid pipe and/or passageway is in direct or indirect fluid communication with the cooling fluid inlet and the cooling fluid outlet; and a manifold, integral with or disposed on or in the housing, that provides support for installation of the stave on a furnace shell; wherein the manifold has one or more inlet pipes, or defines one or more inlet passageways, for providing cooling fluid to the cooling fluid inlet of the cooling fluid circuit of the housing; and wherein the manifold has one or more outlet pipes, or defines one or more outlet passageways, for receiving cooling fluid from the cooling fluid outlet of the cooling fluid circuit of the housing.

A stave comprising a housing, an inner cooling fluid circuit comprising a cooling fluid inlet, a cooling fluid outlet and one or more cooling fluid pipes housed within, or cooling fluid passageways defined by, the housing, wherein each cooling fluid pipe and/or passageway is in direct or indirect fluid communication with the cooling fluid inlet and the cooling fluid outlet; and a manifold, integral with or disposed on or in the housing, that provides support for installation of the stave on a furnace shell; wherein the manifold has one or more inlet pipes, or defines one or more inlet passageways, for providing cooling fluid to the cooling fluid inlet of the cooling fluid circuit of the housing; and wherein the manifold has one or more outlet pipes, or defines one or more outlet passageways, for receiving cooling fluid from the cooling fluid outlet of the cooling fluid circuit of the housing.