An electrode seal for use in a metallurgical furnace, the furnace comprising a furnace space heated by electrodes extending through an aperture into the furnace space. The electrode seal comprises at least three sets of shoes in consecutive lateral contact, each shoe having a biasing member for biasing a surface of the shoe toward one of the electrodes thereby allowing the one electrode to longitudinally move within the electrode seal while providing electrical insulation between the electrode and the aperture.

An electric power apparatus for an electric arc furnace comprises at least one electrode and is connectable to a power network to supply to the electrode the electric energy to generate an electric arc to melt a metal mass. The apparatus comprises an electric regulation unit interposed and connected to the power network and to the electrode and configured to regulate at least one electric quantity for powering the electrode. The apparatus comprises at least one detection device to detect the electric quantity, interposed between the electrode and the electric regulation unit, a positioning device to move the at least one electrode nearer to/away from the metal mass to be melted and a control and command unit.

The invention provides for a DC brush-arc furnace comprising a vessel 12 and first and second electrodes 16, 18. A first DC power supply 20 supplies power to the electrodes. A first conductor 26 extends parallel to the first electrode, so that a first current flows in a first direction through the first conductor and in a second opposite direction in the first electrode. A second conductor 28 extends parallel to the second electrode, so that the current flows in the first direction in the second electrode and in the second direction in the second conductor. An arc deflection compensation system 30 comprises a second DC power supply 32 and a compensation circuit 34 comprising a first compensation conductor 36 and a second compensation conductor 38. The second DC power supply causes a second current to flow through the first compensation conductor in the first direction and through the second compensation conductor in the second direction.

An electric power apparatus for an electric arc furnace comprises at least one electrode and is connectable to a power network to supply to the electrode the electric energy to generate an electric arc to melt a metal mass. The apparatus comprises an electric regulation unit interposed and connected to the power network and to the electrode and configured to regulate at least one electric quantity for powering the electrode. The apparatus comprises at least one detection device to detect the electric quantity, interposed between the electrode and the electric regulation unit, a positioning device to move the at least one electrode nearer to/away from the metal mass to be melted and a control and command unit.

An enclosure of a steel-making furnace system includes a support structure including a frame that defines an interior, a supply line for supplying a cooling liquid from a reservoir, and a return line fluidly coupled to the supply line and the reservoir. A plurality of panels includes sinuously winding piping having an inlet and an outlet. The inlet is fluidly coupled to the supply line and the outlet is fluidly coupled to the return line. The frame includes a plurality of support members spaced from one another, where each of the plurality of support members defines a slot. Each of the plurality of panels is removably and slidably received with the slot for coupling to the frame.

Contact plate for placing in contact with the wall of an electrode of an electro-metallurgical furnace. The contact plate includes an internal channel having an inlet and at least one outlet. The inlet and outlet are respectively linked to an external intake duct and to at least one external duct for discharging a fluid. An elongate hole (16) has an elongate partition (35) which has opposing elongate edges (39) adjacent to opposing elongate zones (33) of the elongate hole so as to define, in the hole, elongate spaces (16a-16b) on either side of the elongate partition. The elongate partition defines a connecting passage (41) between the elongate spaces and link holes (29) communicating with the elongate spaces being formed at a distance from the connecting passage. The elongate spaces form portions of the internal channel (59).

A melting plant includes an electric furnace, provided with one or more electrodes and chemical substance introduction devices, and a management apparatus including a decoupling unit disposed between an electricity grid and the electric furnace. A method for managing the melting plant is also disclosed.

Provided is a pressure ring assembly for contact shoes in an electrode system of an electric arc furnace provided with at least one electrode column assembly. The electrode column assembly comprises a contact shoe ring formed of a plurality of contact shoe elements, a pressure ring formed of a plurality of pressure blocks, and a heat shield formed of a plurality of heat shield segments. An elongated groove is formed on both substantially vertical side edges of each pressure block, and an elongated lock bar is placed in the grooves of two adjacent pressure blocks to join said pressure blocks with each other. The form of the lock bar essentially matches to the form of the grooves of said two adjacent pressure blocks. Each lock bar is locked in place in the grooves by fastening bolts through holes in the pressure blocks.

Provided is an arrangement for cooling channels in an electrode column assembly of an electric arc furnace, wherein the lower part of the electrode column assembly is provided with a contact shoe ring formed of a plurality of contact shoe elements, a pressure ring formed of a plurality of pressure blocks, and a heat shield located above the pressure ring and formed of a plurality of heat shield segments. The contact shoe elements and/or the pressure blocks are provided with channels for a cooling liquid to flow therein. The channels made in the material of the contact shoe elements and/or the pressure blocks extend obliquely downwards from the upper ends of said contact shoe elements and/or the pressure blocks near to the lower ends of the same. At least two of said oblique channels join together at their lower ends to form a continuous channel.

In a method for operating an electric arc furnace operated with an alternating voltage, a structure-borne sound signal occurring on a wall of the electric arc furnace is detected, from which structure-borne sound signal a parameter characterizing the flicker properties of the electric arc furnace is calculated. At least one process variable of the electric arc furnace is controlled on the basis of the calculated parameter. An electric arc furnace operated according to the method is used in and for a melting plant.