PURPOSE:To aim at reduction in the oxidation consumption of a connected graphite electrode by spraying a coolant, directly spraying a peripheral surface at an upper end of the graphite electrode, as being tilted upward as far as 10-35 deg. to the horizontal level. CONSTITUTION:A graphite electrode is connected to each graphite electrode 10 at the lower part via each nipple, and a continuous rating current is energized to each of these electrodes and thereby metal melting and refining for steelmaking are carried out in an electric furnace. Then, a coolant 11 consisting of water in substance, for example, is sprayed to a peripheral surface 10a of at least one of the graphite electrodes 10 among these three graphite electrodes, to be concrete, in space between an electrode holder and a furnace cover continuously. At this time, the coolant 11 is sprayed as tilted upward as far as 10-35 deg. to a horizontal level L-L, not horizontal with it whereby cooling takes place. With this constitution, the peripheral surface 10a of the graphite electrode held by electrode holder can be uniformly cooled over the overall length, thus a graphite original unit is abated.
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