Method for opening and closing a tapping opening of a metallurgical smelting vessel and metallurgical smelting vessel

A method of opening and closing a tapping opening (5) of a metallurgical smelting vessel of an electric arc furnace in a bottom region (3) of which, a wall section (4) with an opening (5) is provided, wherein beneath the opening (5), there is provided a device (6) for displacing block elements (7, 8) in a direction transverse to a surface normal of the wall section (4) in a region of the opening (5), wherein the device (6) so retains the block elements (7, 8) against the wall section (4) that they sealingly abut the wall section (4),

• wherein for closing the tapping opening, the device (6) pushes a block element (7) free of passage openings under the opening (5), and
• wherein for opening the tapping opening (5), the device pushes a block element (8) having at least one passage opening (9) under the opening (5) so that liquid metal can flow out of the smelting vessel through the passage opening (9) in the block element (8),
• wherein a new block element (7) is used for each closing of the tapping opening, and
• wherein a new block element (8) is used for each opening of the tapping opening (1), and
• wherein the passage opening (9) in the block element (8) is at least partially filled with cover sand before placing under the opening.