The present invention relates to a method of operating an electric arc furnace containing (a) a furnace shell having a tapping hole and/or a slag door, (b) a furnace roof having a plurality of electrodes provided so as to face downwards, and (c) a rotating apparatus that rotates the furnace shell around a vertical axis relative to the electrodes, the method contains a rotating step of rotating the furnace shell relative to the electrodes during melting of a metal material, and a holding step of stopping the rotation when any one of the plurality of electrodes reaches a holding position that is previously set close to the tapping hole or the slag door, and holding the furnace shell at the holding position.

A taphole assembly (1) for arranging in a taphole assembly opening (2) extending through a shell (3) and a refractory lining (4) of a metallurgical furnace (5) such as a pyrometallurgical furnace and for leading melt from the inside of the metallurgical furnace (5) to the outside of the metallurgical furnace (5). The taphole assembly comprises: a frame section of metal (6) to be arranged in a taphole assembly opening (2) extending through a shell (3) and a refractory lining (4) of a of a metallurgical furnace (5), at least one refractory insert channel element (7) arranged in a seat (8) of the frame section of metal (6) and having a channel (9) for melt. The invention relates also to a method for manufacturing a taphole assembly and to a metallurgical furnace including a taphole assembly.

This disclosure includes an electric arc furnace including a body comprising an eccentric bottom tap-hole (EBT) which connects an inner surface of the body to an outer surface of the body, and a tilting device which tilts the body of the electric arc furnace to an electric arc furnace tilting angle, wherein an angle of the EBT through the body is greater than 0 and less than 50, wherein the angle of the EBT through the body is defined with 103 respect to an axis that is perpendicular to the bottom surface of the body. This disclosure includes a process of tapping the electric arc furnace, whereby the electric arc furnace containing a molten metal is tilted at an electric arc furnace tilting angle that is substantially equal to the angle of the EBT, and the molten metal is tapped into a vessel through the EBT.

A method of densification of refractory material in a gap between a tap hole sleeve of a furnace and a surround block of the furnace, the surround block surrounding the tap hole sleeve, the method comprising, includes positioning a tool in the gap, the tool including a support having opposing surfaces and a sidewall connecting the opposing surfaces, the opposing surfaces having an arcuate shape, a plurality of elongated members extending from one of the opposing surfaces, and a connector arranged on the other of the opposing surfaces. The gap is filled with dry material, and vibration is applied to the tool to densify the dry material.

Apparatus for the melting of silicon comprising a container for holding pieces of silicon and at least one means for heating silicon inside the container, wherein the container comprises a tube extending in a longitudinal direction for holding pieces of silicon and a bottom, wherein the tube is arranged on the bottom, wherein the bottom comprises at least one outlet for letting out melted silicon, and wherein the means for heating comprises at least one coil.

The invention relates to a refractory plate for use in a slide gate valve for controlling a flow of molten metal, a method for the production of the refractory plate, a use of the refractory plate, a slide gate valve for controlling a flow of molten metal and vessel for containing molten metal.