Patent ID: 8608370

Claim:
An apparatus for containing and electromagnetically stirring an electrically conductive material, the apparatus comprising: a vessel comprising: a plurality of annular structural elements formed from a high strength material having a yield strength sufficient to withstand the temperature and density of the electrically conductive material contained by the vessel, the plurality of annular structural elements generally horizontally oriented and vertically spaced-apart from each other; a high-temperature electrical insulating material disposed at least between the spaced-apart plurality of annular structural elements, the high-temperature electrical insulating material forming an interior surface of the vessel; and one or more reinforcing members embedded in the high-temperature electrical insulating material and passed through at least one of the plurality of annular structural elements; an electrical stator for depositing the vessel within, the electrical stator having a plurality of electrical poles; a separate coil wound around each of the plurality of electrical poles; and at least one power supply having a phase-shifted alternating current output for each one of the separate coils.