Furnace cooling system and method

In a furnace for melting or treating molten metal, in which the furnace includes a roof and sidewall, said sidewall having inner and outer plates defining an enclosed space therebetween, said inner plate being exposed to the heat of the molten metal in the furnace, and means for heating metal confined in the furnace to melt or otherwise treat the metal, the improvement comprising:

• spray means extending into the enclosed space for directing a spray of fluid coolant against the inner plate for maintaining an acceptable temperature at the inner plate;
• and
• pump means connected with the enclosed space for evacuating the fluid coolant from the enclosed space after the coolant is sprayed against the inner plate, whereby undesirable build-up of coolant and undesirable build-up of pressure of the coolant in the enclosed space are prevented.

The method of cooling the roof, sidewall, fume hood, exhaust port and/or feed opening of a metallurgical vessel or furnace for containing molten metal, in which at least one of the roof, sidewall, fume hood, exhaust port and/or feed opening of the furnace includes inner and outer plates defining an enclosed space therebetween, and wherein said inner plate is exposed to the heat of the molten metal in the furnace, comprising the steps of:

• spraying a fluid coolant against the inner plate to maintain a desired temperature at the inner plate;
• and
• using pump means to evacuate the fluid coolant from the enclosed space after it is sprayed against the inner plate, whereby undesirable build-up of coolant and undesirable build-up of pressure of the coolant in the enclosed space are prevented.

The method of cooling the roof of a metallurgical vessel or furnace for containing molten metal, in which the roof includes inner and outer plates defining an enclosed space therebetween, and in which the inner plate is exposed to the heat of the molten metal, comprising the steps of:

• spraying a fluid coolant against the inner plates to maintain a desired temperature at the inner plates;
• and
• using pump means to evacuate the fluid coolant from the enclosed space after it is sprayed against the inner plate, whereby undesirable build-up of coolant and undesirable build-up of pressure of the coolant in the enclosed space are prevented.

The method of cooling the sidewall of a metallurgical vessel or furnace for containing molten metal, in which the sidewall includes inner and outer plates defining an enclosed space therebetween, and in which the inner plate is exposed to the heat of the molten metal, comprising the steps of:

• spraying a fluid coolant against the inner plate to maintain a desired temperature at the inner plate;
• and
• using pump means to evacuate the fluid coolant from the enclosed space after it is sprayed against the inner plate, whereby undesirable build-up of coolant and undesirable build-up of pressure of the coolant in the enclosed space are prevented.

The method of cooling the delta of a metallurigcal vessel or furnace for containing molten metal, in which the delta includes inner and outer plates defining an enclosed space therebetween, and in which the inner plate is exposed to the heat of the molten metal, comprising the steps of:

• spraying a fluid coolant against the inner plate to maintain a desired temperature at the inner plate;
• and
• using pump means to evacuate the fluid coolant from the enclosed space after it is sprayed against the inner plate, whereby undesirable build-up of coolant and undesirable build-up of pressure of the coolant in the enclosed space are prevented.