Elevated discharge gas lift bubble pump and furnace for use therewith

A metal-melting furnace comprising:

• a main chamber;
• a circulation well connected to the main chamber by a communication passageway;
• a vortex well having a periphery, a top and a bottom wall;
• said vortex well being adapted to hold a maximum quantity of molten metal therein whereby the molten metal rises to a maximum level from the bottom wall of said vortex well, said vortex well further having an exit outlet for recovering molten metal therefrom;
• a containment means emplaced over the vortex well;
• a gas bubble actuated molten metal pump having an entry port in operative communication with the circulation well and an exit port in operative communication with the vortex well;
• said exit port adapted to be disposed at least partially above the maximum level of molten metal;
• and
• a continuously or intermittently replenished inert gas atmosphere positioned in the vortex well beneath the cover.