An electrode includes a network of compressed interconnected nanostructured carbon particles such as carbon nanotubes. Some nanostructured carbon particles of the network are in electrical contact with adjacent nanostructured carbon particles. Electrodes may be used in various devices, such as capacitors, electric arc furnaces, batteries, etc. A method of producing an electrode includes confining a mass of nanostructured carbon particles and densifying the confined mass of nanostructured carbon particles to form a cohesive body with sufficient contacts between adjacent nanostructured carbon particles to provide an electrical path between at least two remote points of the cohesive body. The electrodes may be sintered to induce covalent bonding between the nanostructured carbon particles at contact points to further enhance the mechanical and electrical properties of the electrodes.

A method for forming a protective antioxidative barrier on the furnace electrodes using a chemically altered cooling liquid containing an antioxidant additive. This method can be applied to electrodes used in electric arc furnaces and ladle metallurgy furnaces. The method can involve spraying the cooling liquid onto the electrode, thereby forming the protective antioxidative barrier and reducing the oxidation of the electrode.

A method for forming a protective antioxidative barrier on the furnace electrodes using a chemically altered cooling liquid containing an antioxidant additive. This method can be applied to electrodes used in electric arc furnaces and ladle metallurgy furnaces. The method can involve spraying the cooling liquid onto the electrode, thereby forming the protective antioxidative barrier and reducing the oxidation of the electrode.

An electrode joining apparatus for joining a free electrode to a fixed electrode. The electrode joining apparatus includes an electrode holder configured to selectively hold the fixed electrode and a torque device positioned above the electrode holder, the torque device configured to grip and spin the free electrode to join the electrodes. The electrode joining apparatus can include an axial passage defined through the electrode holder and the torque device. A retractable spacer can be movably connected to the electrode joining apparatus, the retractable spacer configured to selectively move into the axial passage. The retractable spacer can be used to form a gap between the free electrode and the fixed electrode before the joining process is initiated. Electrode joining apparatus can also include a spacer drive mechanism coupled to the retractable spacer, the spacer drive mechanism configured to selectively move the retractable spacer into the axial passage.

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.

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.

A hydrogen jet system includes an evacuated recirculation duct, with a pump to circulate gas around the recirculation duct and a control nozzle to form a jet of gas; means to provide hydrogen gas into the duct; and an electrical device to provide energy into the jet of gas so as to form hydrogen atoms. The jet of gas is arranged to pass through a hollow electrode shell defining opposed apertures that are aligned with the jet of gas; and a target electrode is arranged beyond the electrode shell and also aligned with the jet of gas, so that hydrogen atoms would impact with the target electrode. The electrode shell and the target electrode are each connected to an external electrical terminal. The electrode shell and the target electrode may each define heat exchange channels to remove heat energy during operation.

A hydrogen jet system includes an evacuated recirculation duct, with a pump to circulate gas around the recirculation duct and a control nozzle to form a jet of gas; means to provide hydrogen gas into the duct; and an electrical device to provide energy into the jet of gas so as to form hydrogen atoms. The jet of gas is arranged to pass through a hollow electrode shell defining opposed apertures that are aligned with the jet of gas; and a target electrode is arranged beyond the electrode shell and also aligned with the jet of gas, so that hydrogen atoms would impact with the target electrode. The electrode shell and the target electrode are each connected to an external electrical terminal. The electrode shell and the target electrode may each define heat exchange channels to remove heat energy during operation.

A method for forming a protective antioxidative barrier on the furnace electrodes using a chemically altered cooling liquid containing an antioxidant additive. This method can be applied to electrodes used in electric arc furnaces and ladle metallurgy furnaces. The method can involve spraying the cooling liquid onto the electrode, thereby forming the protective antioxidative barrier and reducing the oxidation of the electrode.

A method for forming a protective antioxidative barrier on the furnace electrodes using a chemically altered cooling liquid containing an antioxidant additive. This method can be applied to electrodes used in electric arc furnaces and ladle metallurgy furnaces. The method can involve spraying the cooling liquid onto the electrode, thereby forming the protective antioxidative barrier and reducing the oxidation of the electrode.