Abstract: The invention relates to a process for supplying gas to a chamber which is supplied via a supply network which includes at least one primary line connected in its upstream part to a supply of the said gas, and at least two respective secondary lines connected to the primary lines, being characterized in that the content of a given component of the atmosphere in the chamber is measured at least at one point in the chamber, the measured content is compared with at least one predetermined control value for the content of the said component of the atmosphere in the chamber at the said point and, where necessary, the pressure of the gas at one of the points in the network is varied, depending on the result of this comparison.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method for the determination of the gas flux distribution in the shaft of a blast furnace. The invention is characterized in that: the temperature and optionally also the composition of the gas that has passed through the burden is measuring a probe located above the burden surface, in close vicinity to said surface, at different measurement point (1, 2, 3 . . . ) in the cross section of the shaft; and the temperature and composition of the gas mixture are measured at a point (I) located fiber away from the burden, in which point the gas is completely mixed; and the gas flux distribution is calculated by the use of energy and mass balances for a control volume (V) above the burden surface of the blast furnace, wherein the lower boundary of said volume (V) goes through the measurement points (1, 2, 3 . . . ) and the upper boundary of the volume (V) goes through the measurement point (I).

Abstract: A preheating apparatus for particulate material includes a plurality of vertical chambers, a temperature sensor within each chamber and a particulate discharge mechanism. Each chamber is segregated from an adjacent chamber by a vertical wall and includes a material inlet for receiving particulate material, a material outlet for discharging particulate material, a gas inlet for receiving a gas, and a gas outlet for exhausting gas. The temperature sensor is located within a chamber so as to sense temperature of the gas being exhausted from each chamber. A particulate discharge mechanism discharges particulate material within each chamber through the material outlet, with a flow rate adjusted as a function of temperatures sensed by the temperature sensor. A method for preheating particulate material includes sensing temperature of the gas existing each chamber and adjusting a flow rate of the particulate material through each chamber as a function of sensed temperature of each chamber.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling the temperature in a kiln in which cement clinker is manufactured. The temperature is controlled by controlling the fuel rate to the kiln. The fuel rate is adjusted according to a calculation that is made of the sulphur evaporation in the kiln, thereby obtaining a measure of the instantaneous temperature in the burning zone. The evaporation factor is calculated on the basis of measurements of the sulphur content in the cyclone material which passes to the kiln or a measurement of the sulphur content in the exit gases out of the kiln.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling the operation of a plurality of burners of a cupola. The method includes the steps of separately supplying air and fuel to each burner of the cupola, measuring the flow rates of air and fuel supplied to each burner, controlling either the flow rate of air or flow rate of fuel supplied to each burner as a function of a desired heat energy output of the burners and controlling the other of the flow rate supplied to each burner as a function of the measured flow rate of air or fuel supplied to each burner and a preselected ratio of flow rate of air supplied to each burner and of flow rate of fuel supplied to each burner.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an improved equipment in semiconductor processing. The invention includes a horizontal quartz tube surrounded with heating element for processing wafers, an inlet pipe of a gas injector mounted at the center of the closed end of a horizontal quartz tube, four sheath supports each being 90 degrees apart located at the closed end of a horizontal quartz tube for supporting a thermocouple sheath. The horizontal quartz tube is rotated 90 degrees every 14 to 15 days in a predetermined direction. As the horizontal quartz tube is rotated, the thermocouple sheath is always inserted into the sheath support located at the bottom of the horizontal quartz tube.

Abstract: Described is a system for measuring noxious gas concentration in an affected space and for controlling the device producing the noxious gas or for decreasing the concentration of the gas in the affected space. The invention is particularly described in relation to measuring carbon monoxide concentration in an automobile garage and for controlling the garage door opener circuit to open the garage door in response to a preselected concentration of carbon monoxide. Also described in particular is a system for deactivating a furnace operating circuit to turn off the furnace in the event of excessive carbon monoxide concentration.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method and apparatus for controlling the kiln gas stream in a conventional long wet or dry process cement kiln. A portion of the kiln gas stream can be withdrawn from the rotary kiln vessel at a point upstream, relative to kiln gas flow of the chain system in the mineral drying zone. Alternatively, or in conjunction with bypass formation, the apparatus can be used to add tertiary air to the kiln gas stream to promote combustion efficiency downstream of the clinkering zone. Use of the present apparatus to form a kiln gas bypass stream enhances operating efficiencies of long kilns by reducing dust loss, by facilitating isolation of high alkali by-product streams, by reducing alkali content of collected kiln dust, by increasing energy efficiency of long kiln operation, and by allowing greater overall control in the cement manufacturing process.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for reducing the production or emission of noxious gases while continuously preheating a mixture of iron-bearing scrap charge materials for an electric steelmaking furnace operation with off-gas from, the furnace, including provision for controlled combustion within the preheating chamber. Removed gases are then treated by thermal incineration of combustible residual matter before release into the atmosphere to insure that no noxious gases are emitted.

Abstract: In the continuous carburization furnace in which the temperature of the heaters can be controlled individually at every carburization processing position; carburization reference data at each carburization processing position is read; a temperature and carbon potential at each position at least during carburization and diffusion processes is detected; a carburized quantity of the processed member at each position is calculated with reference to the detected temperature and carbon potential; a carburization history is calculated by integrating the carburized quantity at each position of the carburization processed member, and a carburizing condition at a next carburization processing position is determined depending on a difference between the carburization history at the time of terminating the carburization process at each position of the carburization processed member and the carburization reference data at each position.

Abstract: A draft control for material processing apparatus, such as asphalt plants, having a chamber through which material to be processed is passed for contact with combustion gases and heat originating in a fuel supplied burner which may require a draft to draw air into the chamber for complete combustion of burner supplied fuel and to exhaust the products of combustion and other gaseous materials from the chamber. The air pollutants and the percent oxygen in the exhausted gases are monitored, and the draft is adjusted between minimum and maximum values for a given burner set point when the air pollutant content of the stack gases exceeds a predetermined maximum limit. The direction of draft adjustment is determined by the percent oxygen in the exhaust gases.

Abstract: A continuous drier for drying a printed web on web-fed rotary printing presses operates during ongoing printing and blanket washing processes with control of the gaseous and vaporous constituents of the ink, solvent, and burner gases. An infrared beam path is installed in the drier to measure concentrations of gas vapors in the drier by an extinction method. The continuous drier process is thus controlled according to the rate of evaporation of volatile constituents. The infrared extinction measurement yields spectral measurements of vapors released by the printing ink during the printing process, or of solvent constituents released during the blanket cleaning process, each according to their characteristic band position and intensity. During the transition from printing to blanket washing, the user obtains an instant picture, based on the band intensities, of the current vapor concentrations.

Abstract: A test oven wherein heated air having a predetermined temperature is supplied and the oxygen concentration in the supplied air is controlled. The test oven has a test oven body having an air supply port and an air discharge port, a blower connected to the air supply port for blowing air thereinto, an oxygen concentration detector connected to the test oven body, an oxygen concentration setting control unit connected to the oxygen concentration detecting detector and including an oxygen concentration setter for setting a desired level of oxygen, and an oxygen concentration controller constantly comparing a reference output level generated on the basis of a concentration level set in advance in the oxygen concentration setter with an output level outputted from the oxygen concentration detector and for controling the actual output level to a set level, and at least one oxygen concentration adjusting device.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for operating a rotary retort heat treating furnace involves incorporating an outlet for withdrawing furnace atmosphere from the retort above the axis of rotation and conveying the withdrawn gas remotely form measurement at the temperature conditions where the heat treatment process occurs. The method and apparatus also involves introducing the treatment atmosphere and sampling the atmosphere at a point adjacent the retort product discharge outlet. The use of the above-center outlet and remote probe eliminate structural problems encountered in prior art attempts to measure and control the furnace atmosphere in rotary retort furnaces.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for controlling the fluid flow bias of continuous, multiple zone processes having gas or vapor comprising atmospheres that are in immediate access to each other. Active control of the fluid flow bias in at least one process zone or control of the overall process fluid flow bias is achieved by applying force to at least one of the zones of the process in a manner which enables such control. A physical or chemical property or a change thereof in at least one process atmosphere is monitored and an appropriate amount of force is applied in response to the monitored property. The monitored property is related to the furnace flow bias by an algorithm, so that the flow bias can be controlled by controlling the at least one chemical or physical property monitored.

Abstract: This invention discloses a heating and cooling system for buildings, such as poultry buildings, that provides clean, filtered gas fuel, efficiently burns gas fuel by providing adjustable airflow profile plates that blocks cold air from reaching the inside of the building and creates an air mixture control for the burning flame on the burner, that provides rain gutter means that prevent rain moisture from being drawn into the air stream of the unit and that has an actuating means coupled to the pilot light that assure safe operation by shutting off the gas fuel valves in the event of loss of flame in the pilot.

Abstract: An apparatus for measuring and regulating the variable pressure furnace gas chemistry is described. The apparatus uses a mass spectrometer for measurements, in the preferred form of the invention, in which gas species percent composition is obtained quantitatively independent of total furnace pressure variation. Using such a real time measurement capability, active control of batch process furnace operations is possible by intrinsic measurement of the part outgassing rather than by assumption of batch part status as a function of extrinsic parameters such as temperature and total pressure. Thus, by a combination of batch process temperature ramp control and variable admittance of suitable gas into the furnace, uniform batch processing is possible by closed loop control, due to renormalization of furnace residual gas chemistry from day to day drift and from batch part chemistry variation.

Abstract: A batch-type pyrolysis furnace fired by a main heat source such as a gas burner or an electric heating coil in combination with an afterburner to burn volatiles generated in the furnace's main chamber, is operated to incinerate high-polymer loads smokelessy, yet is effectively safeguarded from explosions. A single thermocouple (throat TC) senses the instantaneous temperature in the throat of the furnace and in cooperation with a programmable controller, maintains a preselected ramp and soak temperature profile over the entire burn cycle. When the temperature required by the profile is exceeded, a single water spray actuated by a signal from the PC lowers the temperature below the profile. The throat TC thus maintains a fire under controlled temperature conditions in the main chamber without an explosion, using a single-stage system.

Abstract: A dielectric probe for use with conventional frequency and time domain impedance analyzers comprises two chemically resistant electrodes deposited in an interdigitated pectinate configuration on particular non-conductive substrates, the spaces between the digits thereof being no greater than about 0.01 inch; methods and apparatus for monitoring and/or controlling chemical reactions, particularly polymerization reactions, in contact therewith, wherein the complex permittivity may be calculated over a wide range of frequencies and temperatures.

Abstract: This invention relates to ladle heating methods and apparatus. More particularly, this invention pertains to rapid high temperature ladle preheating utilizing an optimized heating cycle by involving oxygen and combustion air preheated by recuperation in the fuel burning process. Controlled oxygen flow directed into the process is used to increase the heat input during the initial preheating phase and to insure maximum efficiency of the system during the soaking phase of ladle preheating. The disclosed ladle preheating station comprises a refractory lined lid including a partially open refractory ring for docking a portion of a ladle rim having a significant protrusion caused by a local accumulation of solidified metal or slag, said refractory lid opening shaped to receive said protrusion within the opening while providing a gap between said metal deposition and the refractory lid.

Abstract: In heating control method of a heat furnace, three non-linear models, model to calculate furnace temperature based on the fuel flow rate by unsteady heat balance system, model to estimate furnace wall temperature distribution based on the furnace temperature and model to estimate material temperature based on the furnace temperature, are used, linearization is performed by perturbation simulation to vary the flow rate stepwise and the optimization to minimize the fuel flow rate is performed and the optimum furnace temperature per each material is determined, and the mixed combustion ratio of plural fuels obtained by dividing total calorific value of each fuel by total calorific value of all fuels and the furnace temperature setting value are calculated using the optimum furnace temperature per material and then set.

Abstract: A batch-type pyrolysis furnace fired by a main gas burner and an afterburner, is effectively safeguarded from explosions and runaway fires due to an undue build-up of flammable vapors within its main chamber, by the simple expedient of maintaining a fire under controlled temperature conditions in the main chamber. This is done by a dual-stage control system requiring three thermocouples, one (first) in the main chamber, a second in the exhaust stack downstream of the afterburner, and a third upstream of the afterburner in the vent passage ("throat") connecting the main chamber with the afterburner chamber. The first thermocouple in the main chamber senses the ambient, essentially instantaneous temperature at that location. The effectiveness of the control system, in large measure, derives from the unexpected difference in temperatures sensed by the first and third thermocouples.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for high temperature heating, melting, refining and superheating of materials, such a steel scrap, metals, ceramics or glass. The invention provides an economizing method of hydrocarbon fluid fuel combustion in an ongoing flame in a liquid cooled combustion chamber by separately supplying streams of fuel and at least two oxidizing gases wherein a first oxidizing gas reacts with the fuel, and a second oxidizing gas is directed about the flame core to further react with the fuel, while controlling the flow of the fuel, the oxidizing gases and cooling liquid to provide the required heat input, combustion product chemistry, temperature, velocity, emissivity and combustion block temperature. Also disclosed are burners for carrying out the invention.

Abstract: A method of measuring the water content of charge materials in a shaft furnace, such as a blast furnace, wherein a known quantity of material is introduced into the shaft furnace, the gases emerging from the throat of the shaft furnace are analyzed; and the results of this analysis are used to calculate the value of the water content of the charged material.

Abstract: A method and system is provided for controlling a selected zone in a fuel fired furnace of the type used for heating work as it moves through the zone from an entrant end to an exit end. The method and system includes providing a fuel fired burner at the exit end for propelling a flame toward the entrant end of the zone, controlling the firing rate or capacity of this flame in accordance with the temperature of the work adjacent the exit end of the zone, continuously establishing a gas temperature for the entrant end of the zone corresponding to the firing rate of the flame and then continuously controlling the length of the flame to obtain the established gas temperature at the entrant end of the zone. The combined adjustment of capacity and flame length in accordance with the measured temperature at the entrant end of the zone controls the heating profile through the zone and increases the efficiency of the heating zone.

Abstract: This invention relates to an improved method of controlling temperatures within a cleaning or reclamation furnace which is normally used to reclaim metal parts contaminated with combustible materials by pyrolyzing the combustible materials. A reclamation furnace usually includes a primary heat-input burner employed to heat the contaminated parts in the primary heating chamber, an afterburner chamber contained within the heating chamber having a secondary burner to burn volatile gases which are given off by the combustible materials as the parts are heated, and two separately-controlled automatic valve and spray nozzle assemblies connected to the primary heating chamber. Each nozzle assembly is connected to a pressurized water source to deliver a water-spray injection into the heating chamber.

Abstract: A continuous heat treatment furnace has an entrance, a preheat zone, a thermal treatment zone, a cooling zone and an exit. Curtains are provided at the entrance and exit respectively. Nitrogen and hydrogen (or other reducing gas) are supplied to the furnace to create a non-oxidizing or reducing atmosphere in the thermal treatment and cooling zones. Elongate workpieces such as tubes are advanced through the furnace and thereby heat treated (e.g. annealed). As the workpieces pass through the curtains so the tendency for air to leak into the furnace is increased. To counteract this tendency, position sensing plates are adapted to actuate a signal generator controlling a valve which in turn controls flow of e.g. nitrogen to the furnace. The arrangement is such that the flow of nitrogen to the furnace is increased wherever a workpiece is sensed, thereby enabling the essentially reducing or non-oxidizing character of the atmosphere to be sustained.

Abstract: There is provided a handling system for IC devices having a guide stage comprising a bank portion in which both sides of a IC device to be tested are held at a position other than a portion where terminals of the IC device project and a vacuum suction pore which suctorially sticks to the underside of the IC device at the midpoint of the bank portion.There is also provided a handling system for IC devices wherein multiple bank portions are provided on the stage, one half of which is used for carrying IC devices and the remaining half of which is used for discharging IC devices.

Abstract: A cooking appliance using a gas fuel as a heat source and having an appliance body includes comprising a temperature sensor installed in a heating chamber, a control circuit adapted to be actuated by the output from the temperature sensor and to operate according to three working temperatures, namely, a preset temperature, an upper limit temperature and a lower limit temperature, the arrangement being such that when the temperature in the heating chamber being detected by the temperature sensor reaches the upper limit temperature, the main burners are completely closed; when it reaches the preset temperature, the firing of the main burners is reduced by half; and when it reaches the lower limit temperature, the main burners are fully opened, thereby effecting fine temperature control, the firing rate being automatically adjusted according to variations in external conditions affecting the heating chamber temperature, thereby maintaining the preset temperature throughout the heating operation to provide a sati

Abstract: A drying apparatus with a deodorizing member for a printing machine including a hot blast nozzle for directing a hot blast against a web of printed material for drying the printed material. The deodorizing member includes a preheating chamber provided with a burner for preheating a collective process gas including a portion of a used process gas already used during the drying operation. A catalytic layer is provided for oxidizing the used process gas and is operatively connected to a fan for supplying the used process gas through the catalytic layer.

Abstract: A method for controlling combustion of atomized fuel in industrial furnaces, in which flame radiation and temperature distributions in a furnace are controlled into optimum conditions in terms of heat efficiency by adjusting a feed rate of an atomizing medium and/or a distal end position of a burner.

Abstract: A flame intensity controller for controlling the air/gas mixture introduced into a conveying and/or mixing tube. Plural heating arrays are transversely aligned to the direction of movement to dry the moving web. The controller selectively controls the heating intensity of each section of the heating arrays to thereby control the amount of drying experienced by each longitudinal section of the web. The controller may be a countercurrent air controller or a mechanical restrictor. The energy output of each section is controlled between adjustable upper and lower energy levels. However, the lower energy level is chosen to be sufficient to sustain combustion. The independent control of the dryer sections provides dramatic improvement in uniformity of the moisture "profile" across the web.

Abstract: A process for reducing the oxygen content of the atmosphere in a heat treatment furnace for ceramic materials to a prescribed value comprises measuring the O.sub.2 content of the furnace atmosphere at the point in the furnace to be affected and introducing fuel gas into the furnace as a function of the measurement result in such quantities that the desired oxygen content is attained. Also described is a furnace design suitable for carrying out this process.

Abstract: An adaptive control system for a bulk material dryer measures the thermal demand of bulk material to be dried in a dryer and adjusts the thermal output of the dryer to match the measured demand. The system contemplates that the dryer will require a response period to fully meet a change in demand and coordinates the introduction of material into the dryer with that response time. The system is automatically responsive to changes in both the moisture level and mass flow rate of the bulk material to be dried, adjusting the thermal output of the dryer to changes in each of these variables. The system preferably includes a feedback sensor used to make final adjustments in the dryer output.

Abstract: A heat-treatment furnace for thermally treating materials such as iron or steel products therein has a plurality of burners selectively actuable in different combinations at successive stages of a predetermined combustion control pattern or one of such patterns. At least one of the selected burners is alternately turned on and off during its operation in each stage. The combustion control pattern may be selected which corresponds to one of a plurality of temperature distribution patterns as sensed by temperature sensors located in the furnace at different positions. With the method of the invention, the furnace can be heated efficiently according to a predetermined optimum combustion pattern without consuming an excess amount of fuel and discharging unwanted exhaust pollutants.

Abstract: The description is of a method for drying vehicles in washing establishments in which after the washing or clear rinsing step and before the drying step water containing a wetting agent is applied to produce a substantially uniform thin water film on the vehicle, wherein the drying is achieved through infrared ray generators or by means of other heat ray generators, and the moist air is withdrawn. An apparatus for carrying out this method is also described. The thin water film guarantees a rapid evaporation of the water from the outer surface of the vehicle with reasonable energy consumption and at the same time serves as an overheating protective device for the vehicle surface.

Abstract: Nuclear magnetic resonance (nmr) is employed for the control of heat-input or feed rate of calcination and/or drying facilities. The residual volatile material content of the heat-treated material is monitored by nmr and the results obtained from the monitoring are employed to adjust the heat-input or feed rate to avoid overdrying or calcining of the heat-treated material. A computer, such as a microprocessor, may be utilized in combination with the nmr apparatus to provide instantaneous process control.

Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus useful in controlling the operation of ovens of the type typically associated with baking food products. Broadly, the apparatus permits the linear display of heat input to one or more zones of an oven responsive to gas flow. Heat input is indicated by fluid levels in manometers having their legs dimensioned to permit linear display of heat input despite the variance of gas flow with the square of the pressure. The manometers are positioned next to an adjustable scale which accommodates combustible gases of varying heat contents. The adjustable scale is preferably marked for the preferred heat input profile across the various zones of the oven to facilitate control of optimum heat input to the oven as a whole. Also disclosed are similar display devices for exhaust gases.

Abstract: A control method comprises predetermining a or presuming a fuel flow rate for each of three control zones of a continuous slab reheating furnace, predicting each slab temperature after a plurality of time intervals from the presumed fuel flow rate, and controlling the fuel flow rate for each zone so as to minimize the sum of the differences between the predicted temperatures and corresponding objective temperature rise curves for all the slabs. Alternatively, the method may comprise sensing flow rates of the fuel and air for each zone at time intervals .DELTA.t, calculating the temperature profile within the furnace and then the temperature of each slab at the present time point from the sensed flow rates, repeating the calculations with the calculated slab temperature and any presumed fuel flow rate for each zone to predict the temperature profile within the furnace and each slab temperature after .DELTA.

Abstract: A method of operating a continuous ceramic kiln having a decarbonization zone characterized in that oxygen or oxygen enriched air is added to the decarbonization zone to maintain the average oxygen concentration in the decarbonization zone at or about a predetermined level. The predetermined level need only be adjusted for different throughputs and need not be adjusted for moderate changes in the amount of organic matter in the clay.

Abstract: The temperature of an open textile web is monitored by a sensing unit including an infrared pyrometer. The pyrometer is disposed at a viewing angle between about 5.degree.-25.degree. with respect to the horizontal. A housing mounts the pyrometer, a fan, a filter bag connection, and an exhaust tube. The exhaust tube extends through the wall of a textile-treating oven, with an air flow through the tube preventing pyrometer contamination.

Abstract: A heating-ventilating system including an air duct adapted to be installed in an exterior wall of a poultry house and having a fan mounted near the interior end of the duct and a fuel burner mounted in the duct upstream from said fan, the fuel burner being adapted to burn fuel efficiently in the high velocity air flow provided by the fan; an automatic damper upstream of the burner controlled by the pressure differential across the burner; an igniter including an electric spark generator and a starter-maintainer jet forward thereof for igniting the burner in response to an electrical signal; a controller for the fan which operates the fan alone in response to a warmer than desired temperature in the poultry house, which causes the fan to turn off at a desired temperature range in the poultry house, and which causes the fan to operate in conjunction with the fuel burner for lower than desired temperatures; and a curtain opening controller for automatic adjustment of curtains responsive to the fan burner control

Abstract: For each of three control zones in a furnace, a computer calculates, at time intervals .DELTA.t, the heat input to slabs from the actual flow rates of the fuel and air and other stored data through the use of the equation of the thermal equilibrium and then determining the heat input to each slab by apportioning the calculated heat input among the slabs according to its heat content before the .DELTA.t. Subsequently, the computer estimates the fuel flow rate after the time interval .DELTA.t from a difference between the calculated heat input and an objective heat input and then determining the fuel flow rate through the use of the equation of the thermal equilibrium. For each control zone, a fuel regulator controls the fuel flow rate in response to the estimated flow rate while an air regulator controls an air flow rate in response to an optimum air ratio as determined by the estimated flow rate.

Abstract: A continuous electric tunnel furnace includes a tunnel through which articles to be fired are passed in a direction of feed. The tunnel has a length portion constituting a sintering zone. Nitrogen is introduced into the tunnel at the outlet thereof. The nitrogen stream is oriented against the direction of feed. There is further provided a gate projecting from the tunnel roof into the tunnel in the sintering zone in an orientation transverse to the direction of feed. The gate has opposite lateral bounding edges which are spaced from respective side walls of the tunnel.

Abstract: Hot briquetting apparatus for ferrous or non-ferrous particles has a furnace having upper and lower chambers. The particles are supplied to the lower chamber and leave the lower chamber through a discharge tube to enter a briquetting press. A passage is performed between the lower and upper chambers and sensing means sense the constituents of the gases in that passage. Control means control the air-to-fuel ratio of a zone of the lower chamber. The control means are connected to the output of the sensing means so as to maintain the atmosphere within the zone as a reducing atmosphere, the whole of the lower chamber being a reducing atmosphere.

Abstract: A method and system is provided for controlling a reheating furnace having entrance and discharge ends, a preheating zone at the entrance end, and heating and soaking zones sequentially adjacent the preheating zone in the direction toward the discharge end, and an exhaust gas flue at the entrance end. The method and control system provides for obtaining an optimum temperature profile through the preheating and heating zones with minimum fuel consumption in connection with operation of the preheating zone by controlling the fuel supply to the preheating zone in accordance with the rate or quantity of fuel flow to the heating zone and the temperature of the exhaust gas from the furnace.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for automatically controlling a carbon bake furnace to thereby reduce uniformly baked anodes is disclosed. In its method aspects, the invention contemplates the use of flue and pit temperatures to produce a control signal to operate a valve for varying the air fuel mixture of a burner associated with said valve. In its apparatus aspects, the invention utilizes a plurality of infrared detectors to measure the pit and flue temperatures. The signals produced by these sensors are fed to a computer which produces a control signal for operating a valve associated with at least one of a plurality of burners which is to have its air/fuel ratio adjusted to thus adjust the temperature in the pit heated by the selected burner to a desired target temperature.

Abstract: An apparatus for heating a sheet- or web-like material during its passage through a processing machine. The apparatus is provided with at least one heating panel which faces the path of travel of the material and is equipped with a number of infrared-radiation producing elements energized from an ac-source. The apparatus comprises a controlling unit for determining the heat released by the heating panel as a function of a control signal generated by a control means. The infrared elements generate short- to medium-wave infrared radiation. The control signal generated by the control means may be a function of the temperature of the material being passed along the heating panel, or a function of the rate of passage of said material.

Abstract: An improved conveyor assembly is provided for transporting a transparent vitreous substrate along a group of controlled radiative heaters. A plurality of control groups are formed from the radiative heaters and the illumination for the various control groups is isolated so that areas of the conveyor or substrate are illuminated by only a single control group at any one time. Heater control thermocouples are affixed to the radiative heater elements and the output signals from the control thermocouples are calibrated from a calibration thermocouple extending to a position between the control thermocouple and the substrate surface. A wire mesh belt assembly permits illumination of the substrate through the conveyor assembly while supporting the substrate in a manner effective to obtain uniform heating of the substrate.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for high temperature heating, melting, refining and superheating of materials, such a steel scrap, metals, ceramics or glass. The invention provides an economizing method of hydrocarbon fluid fuel combustion in an ongoing flame in a liquid cooled combustion chamber by separately supplying streams of fuel and at least two oxidizing gases wherein a first oxidizing gas reacts with the fuel, and a second oxidizing gas is directed about the flame core to further react with the fuel, while controlling the flow of the fuel, the oxidizing gases and cooling liquid to provide the required heat input, combustion product chemistry, temperature, velocity, emissivity and combustion block temperature. Also disclosed are burners for carrying out the invention.