GB189804075A - Improvements in Methods and Apparatus for Electro-thermally Treating Materials, more particularly for the Manufacture of Calcium Carbide and other Carbides, and the Reduction of Ores. - Google Patents

Abstract

4075. Maxim, H. Feb. 18. Electric furnaces.-A furnace 1 for making calcium carbide, reducing ores, or other purposes is provided with two or more parallel electrodes 3, which a covered with the materials. On starting they are connected by an incandescent conductor 4, and during an operation they are gradually withdrawn lengthways from the furnace, leaving a layer or layers of the product, which is removed as slabs after cooling, or in the fused state. The furnace may be movable on wheels, and the electrodes stationary. Adjacent pairs of electrodes may be supplied with separate currents, or multi-phase alternating currents may be used. The starting-conductor 4 may be a carbon plate, grooved so as to be readily broken, or a line of broken carbon. The electrodes 3 may be solid and be passed into the furnace through carbon tubes, electric connection being maintained by carbon powder ; or hollow electrodes may be used, and coal dust fed through them. They may be cooled by water pipes. A pair of electrodes may be used to close a hole for discharging the product, which is kept fused near the hole by these electrodes. Several furnaces may be movable in an outer casing. The gaseous products of the furnaces, or other fuel, may be burnt with an air blast to heat the fresh materials, the air being heated by the products of combustion, or by burning some gas in it. The supply of material is controlled by two valves.