Electrode seal for use in a metallurgical furnace

Abstract

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.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A metallurgical furnace for smelting minerals comprising:
 a refractory, surrounding a furnace space, for dissipating heat when the furnace space is heated, the refractory comprising an inner layer having a heat dissipation thickness, the inner layer comprising:   a first plurality of bricks of a first type having the heat dissipation thickness; and a second plurality of bricks of a second type having a sacrificial thickness greater than the heat dissipation thickness, the second plurality of bricks protruding towards the furnace space.   
     
     
         2 . The metallurgical furnace of  claim 1 , wherein the sacrificial thickness is determined from a predictable consistency of molten slag formed during use of the metallurgical furnace for smelting minerals. 
     
     
         3 . The metallurgical furnace of  claim 1 , wherein the sacrificial thickness is determined from a predictable consistency of the molten metal during use of the metallurgical furnace for smelting minerals. 
     
     
         4 . The metallurgical furnace of any one of  claims 1 , wherein the sacrificial thickness varies along the height of the refractory according to differing properties of material within the refractory at varying heights. 
     
     
         5 . The metallurgical furnace of any one of  claims 1 , wherein the first plurality of bricks and the second plurality of bricks are staggered throughout the refractory. 
     
     
         6 . The metallurgical furnace of  claim 1 , wherein the first plurality of bricks and the second plurality of bricks are staggered uniformly throughout the refractory. 
     
     
         7 . The metallurgical furnace of  claim 1 , wherein the first plurality of bricks and the second plurality of bricks are staggered uniformly throughout the refractory forming a honeycomb shape. 
     
     
         8 . A method of modifying an existing refractory in a metallurgical furnace for smelting minerals, wherein the existing refractory surrounds a furnace space and is for dissipating heat when the furnace space is heated, the method comprising:
 providing an inner refractory layer within the existing refractory, the inner refractory layer having a heat dissipation thickness, and the inner refractory layer comprising: a first plurality of bricks of a first type having the heat dissipation thickness; and a second plurality of bricks of a second type having a sacrificial thickness greater than the heat dissipation thickness, the second plurality of bricks protruding towards the furnace space.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising determining the sacrificial thickness from a predictable consistency of molten slag formed during use of the metallurgical furnace for smelting minerals. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising determining the sacrificial thickness from a predictable consistency of the molten metal during use of the metallurgical furnace for smelting minerals. 
     
     
         11 . The method of any one of  claims 8 , further comprising arranging the first plurality of bricks and the second plurality of bricks in a staggered manner throughout the refractory. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising arranging the first plurality of bricks and the second plurality of bricks in a uniformly staggered manner throughout the refractory. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising arranging the first plurality of bricks and the second plurality of bricks in a uniformly staggered manner throughout the refractory, thereby forming a honeycomb shape. 
     
     
         14 . A metallurgical furnace comprising: a refractory, surrounding a furnace space, for dissipating heat when the furnace space is heated; a force exerting member for contracting a segmented outer shell around the refractory, toward the furnace space, as the refractory contracts when the furnace space is cooling. 
     
     
         15 . The metallurgical furnace of  claim 14 , wherein the force exerting member allows the refractory to expand when the furnace space is heated and exerts a compressive force on the refractory as the refractory contracts when the furnace space is cooling. 
     
     
         16 . The metallurgical furnace of  claim 14 , wherein the force exerting member comprises at least one cable disposed around an outer surface of the segmented outer shell. 
     
     
         18 . The metallurgical furnace of  claim 14 , wherein the force exerting member comprises a plurality of pressing members disposed around an outer surface of the segmented outer shell, each pressing member for pressing against the outer surface and thereby exerting a compressive force thereon.