A system and method is disclosed for monitoring graphite electrodes for use in an electric arc furnace includes receiving an electrode identifiers from a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag reader configured to interrogate RFID tags in the vicinity of an electric arc furnace (EAF), wherein the RFID tags are attached to electrodes. The electrode identifier is associated with EAF data collected from the EAF and the association is stored in a memory. The association is used for generating current and past operating parameters of the electric arc furnace for specific electrodes. Data for each specific electrode used in the EAF can also be collected for determining performance parameters for specific electrodes.

A system including a graphite electrode having a graphite body with first and second opposed ends. The electrode further includes a threaded connector positioned at one of the first or second ends, and a tag coupled to or positioned in the threaded connector, wherein the tag is configured to transmit a signal including information relating to the electrode.

The invention discloses a method about the integration of the metallurgical purification of metallic gadolinium and the preparation of gadolinium oxide nanoparticles (GONPs) by arc plasma. The method includes the metallurgical purification and the nanoparticle preparation. Firstly, the gadolinium ingot and a tungsten rod respectively act as an anode and a cathode. After the arc furnace is evacuated and then is filled with a working atmosphere, impurities in the gadolinium ingot are removed in the form of volatilization to obtain purified gadolinium by the first arc discharge. Whereafter, the purified gadolinium and the tungsten rod are used as the anode and cathode. After the arc furnace also is evacuated and then also is filled with a working atmosphere, GONPs are obtained from the inner wall of the arc furnace though the second arc discharge. The metallurgical purification of metallic gadolinium and the preparation of GONPs were integrated by arc plasma.

The invention discloses a method about the integration of the metallurgical purification of metallic gadolinium and the preparation of gadolinium oxide nanoparticles (GONPs) by arc plasma. The method includes the metallurgical purification and the nanoparticle preparation. Firstly, the gadolinium ingot and a tungsten rod respectively act as an anode and a cathode. After the arc furnace is evacuated and then is filled with a working atmosphere, impurities in the gadolinium ingot are removed in the form of volatilization to obtain purified gadolinium by the first arc discharge. Whereafter, the purified gadolinium and the tungsten rod are used as the anode and cathode. After the arc furnace also is evacuated and then also is filled with a working atmosphere, GONPs are obtained from the inner wall of the arc furnace though the second arc discharge. The metallurgical purification of metallic gadolinium and the preparation of GONPs were integrated by arc plasma.

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 direct current electric arc furnace (1) for metallurgical plant comprises an electrode (3) having a base (4) and a plurality of metal bars (5) fixed to the base (4); each of said metal bars (5) comprises at least a first portion (12) and at least a second portion (13) which is axially adjacent to said first portion (12), said first portion (12) being restrained to said base (4) and having greater thermal conductivity with respect to said second portion (13).

A method for providing a region of inert gas around the electrodes in an electric arc furnace is provided. This electric arc furnace includes consumable graphite electrodes, a melting zone, and at least one lance including an inlet and an outlet, wherein the inlet is connected to a liquid inert fluid source. The method includes introducing the consumable graphite electrodes into the melting zone, wherein the distal ends of the electrodes form arcs with a solid charge of scrap metal. The method also includes introducing the liquid inert fluid into the inlet end of the at least one lance, wherein the inert fluid exits the outlet end and is introduced into the melting zone proximate to the distal ends of the electrodes, thereby providing an inert gaseous blanket, once the liquid vaporizes, around the distal ends of the electrodes

A method for providing a region of inert gas around the electrodes in an electric arc furnace is provided. This electric arc furnace includes consumable graphite electrodes, a melting zone, and at least one lance including an inlet and an outlet, wherein the inlet is connected to a liquid inert fluid source. The method includes introducing the consumable graphite electrodes into the melting zone, wherein the distal ends of the electrodes form arcs with a solid charge of scrap metal. The method also includes introducing the liquid inert fluid into the inlet end of the at least one lance, wherein the inert fluid exits the outlet end and is introduced into the melting zone proximate to the distal ends of the electrodes, thereby providing an inert gaseous blanket, once the liquid vaporizes, around the distal ends of the electrodes

A method for preparing needle coke for ultra-high power (UHP) electrodes from heavy oil is provided. In this method, heavy oil is used as a raw material. The size exclusion chromatography (SEC) is conducted with polystyrene (PS) as a packing material to separate out specific components with a relative molecular weight of 400 to 1,000. The ion-exchange chromatography (IEC) is conducted to remove acidic and alkaline components to obtain a neutral raw material. The neutral raw material is subjected to two-stage consecutive carbonization to obtain green coke, and the green coke is subjected to high-temperature calcination to obtain the needle coke for UHP electrodes. The needle coke has a true density of more than 2.13 g/cm.sup.3 and a coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) of ≤1.15×10.sup.−6/° C. at 25° C. to 600° C.