Provided is a nozzle or a stopper having a gas blowing function, which is capable of preventing irregular breaking to be triggered by a gas outlet or a gas passage path communicated with the gas outlet, or, even in the event of breaking, preventing expansion of the breaking, and a combination of the nozzle and the stopper. The nozzle comprises: a fitting engagement region refractory material layer composed of a fitting engagement region refractory material; a nozzle body composed of a different refractory material from the fitting engagement region refractory material (main body refractory material); and a gas outlet provided in at least one boundary area between the fitting engagement region refractory material layer and the main body refractory material in a surface of the nozzle contactable with molten steel.

Provided is a nozzle or a stopper having a gas blowing function, which is capable of preventing irregular breaking to be triggered by a gas outlet or a gas passage path communicated with the gas outlet, or, even in the event of breaking, preventing expansion of the breaking, and a combination of the nozzle and the stopper. The nozzle comprises: a fitting engagement region refractory material layer composed of a fitting engagement region refractory material; a nozzle body composed of a different refractory material from the fitting engagement region refractory material (main body refractory material); and a gas outlet provided in at least one boundary area between the fitting engagement region refractory material layer and the main body refractory material in a surface of the nozzle contactable with molten steel.

Provided herein is a system, apparatus, and method for producing refractory products, and more particularly, to producing heated refractories, passive refractories, transition plates, moldable refractories, and accessories such as heated spouts, heated pins, thimbles, and dams. A heated refractory channel as disclosed herein may include a working surface to contain molten metal within the channel; a core adjacent to the working surface; one or more heating elements disposed within the core; and insulation, where the core is disposed between the working surface and the insulation. The one or more heating elements may be molded into the core. The heating elements may be electrical resistance heating elements.

With a method for detecting variables in an outlet of a metallurgical vessel, different variables in the outlet are detected or measured by at least one coil surrounding the outlet channel and/or an induction coil of an induction heater as a monitoring system, wherein the variables relate to the slag portion when pouring out the metal melt, wear condition of refractory parts in the outlet channel, the solidified metal melt, flow rate and/or plugging mass in the outlet channel. After evaluation, a closure element for the outlet is actuated, heating of the metal in the outlet channel is activated and/or renewal of the outlet channel is triggered. In this way, optimum operation in the pouring of metal melt out of a vessel is simply achieved, wherein occurrence of irregularities are detected during the entire pouring, and pouring out of slag can be successfully prevented at the end of the pouring.

With a method for detecting variables in an outlet of a metallurgical vessel, different variables in the outlet are detected or measured by at least one coil surrounding the outlet channel and/or an induction coil of an induction heater as a monitoring system, wherein the variables relate to the slag portion when pouring out the metal melt, wear condition of refractory parts in the outlet channel, the solidified metal melt, flow rate and/or plugging mass in the outlet channel. After evaluation, a closure element for the outlet is actuated, heating of the metal in the outlet channel is activated and/or renewal of the outlet channel is triggered. In this way, optimum operation in the pouring of metal melt out of a vessel is simply achieved, wherein occurrence of irregularities are detected during the entire pouring, and pouring out of slag can be successfully prevented at the end of the pouring.

Slide closure unit on the spout of a metallurgical vessel, preferably a copper-anode furnace, includes a housing in which refractory closure plates, as well as at least one connecting refractory inner casing, are arranged. A removable induction heater is provided, having at least one induction coil surrounding the refractory inner casing outside of the housing. In this way, it is possible to constantly keep the melt located in the outlet channel of the spout sufficiently warm so that it does not freeze before and/or during the pouring of the melt, or that any frozen metal and/or slag can be melted in the spout.

Slide closure unit on the spout of a metallurgical vessel, preferably a copper-anode furnace, includes a housing in which refractory closure plates, as well as at least one connecting refractory inner casing, are arranged. A removable induction heater is provided, having at least one induction coil surrounding the refractory inner casing outside of the housing. In this way, it is possible to constantly keep the melt located in the outlet channel of the spout sufficiently warm so that it does not freeze before and/or during the pouring of the melt, or that any frozen metal and/or slag can be melted in the spout.

Apparatus and methods for injecting molten filler material into a hole. The method in accordance with one embodiment comprises: drilling a hole in a composite layer; heating filler material comprising an electrically conductive low-melting alloy to a molten state; inserting a nozzle having an internal channel system into the hole with a gap separating the nozzle and the hole; forcing molten filler material into, through and out of the internal channel system of the nozzle and into the gap; and retracting the nozzle from the hole. The nozzle may be rotary or not rotary.

Apparatus and methods for injecting molten filler material into a hole. The method in accordance with one embodiment comprises: drilling a hole in a composite layer; heating filler material comprising an electrically conductive low-melting alloy to a molten state; inserting a nozzle having an internal channel system into the hole with a gap separating the nozzle and the hole; forcing molten filler material into, through and out of the internal channel system of the nozzle and into the gap; and retracting the nozzle from the hole. The nozzle may be rotary or not rotary.

With a method for detecting variables in an outlet of a metallurgical vessel, different variables in the outlet are detected or measured by at least one coil surrounding the outlet channel and/or an induction coil of an induction heater as a monitoring system, wherein the variables relate to the slag portion when pouring out the metal melt, wear condition of refractory parts in the outlet channel, the solidified metal melt, flow rate and/or plugging mass in the outlet channel. After evaluation, a closure element for the outlet is actuated, heating of the metal in the outlet channel is activated and/or renewal of the outlet channel is triggered. In this way, optimum operation in the pouring of metal melt out of a vessel is simply achieved, wherein occurrence of irregularities are detected during the entire pouring, and pouring out of slag can be successfully prevented at the end of the pouring.