Abstract: A method and apparatus for optimized mixing in a common hearth in a plasma furnace. The apparatus provides a main hearth, a plurality of optional refining hearths, and a plurality of casting molds or direct molds whereby the refining hearths and molds define at least two separate ingot making lines. A feed chute provides raw material to the main hearth, whereby the feed chute is moveable to optimize its position during operation of the main hearth. Most particularly, the feed chute is moveable to provide better mixing, minimize skull build-up, and optimally place it opposite the overflow in use.

Abstract: A method for refining and casting metals and metal alloys includes melting and refining a metallic material and then casting the refined molten material by a nucleated casting technique. The refined molten material is provided to the atomizing nozzle of the nucleated casting apparatus through a transfer apparatus adapted to maintain the purity of the molten refined material. An apparatus including a melting and refining apparatus, a transfer apparatus, and a nucleated casting apparatus, in serial fluid communication, also is disclosed.

Abstract: The apparatus of the present invention is a melter housing having a pretreat chamber heated with a feed material heater that is partially isolated from a melter chamber. The method of the present invention has the steps of introducing feed material into a pretreat chamber and heating the feed material to a softening temperature of the feed material, and passing the pretreated feed material to a melter chamber.

Abstract: Method for recognition of noble metals otherwise not recognizable in base material clusters includes using an electron beam furnace in which base material clusters are vaporized by means of an electron beam gun, and the vaporized materials are condensed as free atoms or are alloyed with other components of the base materials, and are able to be recovered by conventional recovery techniques once they are recognized. The base material includes the products of smelting processes, pellets of compacted raw material, like anode-mud or waste material, and the base materials are remelted utilizing the heat from electron beam guns for the remelting.

Abstract: Apparatus for recognition of metals in base materials includes an electron beam furnace in which base materials are vaporized by means of an electron beam gun and the vaporized materials are condensed as free atoms or are alloyed with other components of the base materials, and are able to be recovered by conventional recovery techniques once they are recognized. The base material includes the products of smelting processes, pellets of compacted raw material like anode-mud or waste material, and the base materials are remelted utilizing the heat from electron beam guns for the remelting.

Abstract: A light induced unidirectional light switch is described wherein a unidirectionally emitting medium is obtained using the method of Doppler compensation by light-induced velocity-dependent light shifts. The emission in the emitting medium can be switched on by a pulse of laser light which acts as a light induced light switch.