Abstract: The invention relates to a method for optimizing the supply of energy, over a time interval/of duration D, to an installation equipped with N energy distribution devices operating in all-or-nothing mode and by duration modulation, an operation duration ?i being allocated to each of the N energy distribution devices over the time interval/by a command/control system of the installation. According to the method: a schedule is defined over the time interval/by means of the time division of the set of operating sequences of the N energy distribution devices (B1,B2 . . .

Abstract: Method of reducing the formation of folds on metal strips (1) exposed to rapid heating in continuous heat-treatment lines, in which lines said strips are caused to pass through heating sections (2) comprising successive and separate heating means (5; 5a; 5b; 5c; 5d), wherein the average slope of the increase in temperature of the strip between the inlet and the outlet of a heating means decreases from one heating means to the following heating means.

Abstract: Method and device for coating a continuously moving metal strip, according to which said strip, after having received its coating, is heated in a heating section, especially for evaporating solvents and for drying or curing the coating, and then cooled in water. A continuous series of sheet-metal elements is provided between the inlet of the tunnel furnace and the outlet of the water cooler so as to make the whole assembly gas-tight, and a device for atmosphere separation by injection of a gas at a temperature above the dew point of the solvents is placed between the outlet of the tunnel furnace and the inlet of the water cooler.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for real-time, continuous adjustment of a set of thermal combustion chambers (2, 2i) having similar characteristics supplied by the same combustive agent (8) and fuel (9) networks, according to which one of the chambers (2i) is used as a reference chamber, combustion parameters are measured (7) in the fumes output from the reference chamber, and the control parameters of all the chambers (2) are adjusted according to the combustion parameters measured at the output of the reference chamber (2i), in particular according to the ratio of combustive agent to fuel and/or the composition of the combustive agent and/or fuel.

Abstract: A method for printing a precision structure on the surface of a glass strip advancing continuously at a rate of at least 1 m/min, using an etching roller (27) applying a printing force against the surface to be etched, the structure to be produced including protruding and recessed regions which have radii of curvature, a preliminary thermal conditioning (26 and 32) being performed upstream of the etching roller; the thermal conditioning is designed to ensure a temperature of the strip (J) over the print thickness and a cooling (29) downstream of the etching roller (27) to ensure a controlled fixing of the structure; the method according to the invention making it possible to determine the parameters that are intimately linked for obtaining a particular structure, notably the print temperature, the printing force and the cooling rate, taking into account a degree of creep between the molding radius (R1) and the post-creep radius (R2).

Abstract: The invention relates to a furnace for melting and fining glass, which includes: a vault provided with a heating means, a hearth (2) forming the bottom of a vat containing a bath (3) of molten glass, a width restriction (4), in particular a corset, defining a downstream portion (5) and an upstream portion (6) in the vat, and an outlet through which the molten glass is discharged, a secondary recirculation loop (B) for the molten glass forming in the bath between a hotter inner area of the furnace and the cooler outlet, said loop passing through the corset; the furnace comprises a means (M) for adjusting the width through which the glass can pass into the secondary recirculation loop, said adjustment means being submerged in the bath and extending vertically over most of the depth of the bath.

Abstract: The invention relates to a glass furnace for heating and melting materials to be vitrified, in which two loops (B1, B2) for recirculating molten glass are formed in the bath between a hotter central area (I) of the furnace and the entrance and exit at a lower temperature, respectively. The furnace comprises a means (X) for slowing the flow of molten glass in the primary recirculation loop (B1).

Abstract: Furnace for melting batch materials comprising: a tank (3) covered by a crown (4); a combustion zone (5) provided with burners (6); an inlet (8) for charging it with the batch materials; a downstream outlet for the melted materials, the tank containing a melt (7) when the furnace is operating and the batch materials forming a batch blanket (G) that floats on the melt and is progressively melted; the furnace includes, near the charging inlet (8), an intense heating means (B), predominantly covering the width of the batch blanket, for melting a surface layer of the materials introduced and for increasing the emissivity of the batch blanket.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for monitoring the cooling of a moving metal belt (B) in a cooling section of a continuous processing line by spraying a liquid or a mixture consisting of a gas and a liquid onto the belt, the cooling depending on parameters including the temperature, speed, and current characteristics of a cooling fluid, wherein according to said method: one or more areas are determined in which cooling parameters are such that the local removal of a vapor film on the surface of the hot belt is carried out or capable being carried out, leading to the redampening of the belt; and at least the temperature of the cooling liquid is adjusted as a cooling parameter in the thus-determined area(s) so as to maintain, or return to, a cooling into a vapor film on the surface of the belt, thus resulting in the overheating of the cooling liquid contacting the hot belt.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for cooling a moving metal belt (2) in a continuous processing line by spraying a gas, a liquid, or a mixture consisting of gas and liquid onto the belt, the processing line including a cooling section (1) followed by a downstream section (4), the inlet (4a) of the downstream section corresponding to the outlet (1b) of the cooling section, wherein according to said method: the change in the temperature cross-section of the belt between the inlet (4a) and the outlet (4b) of the downstream section (4) is evaluated; the temperature cross-section suitable for the inlet of the downstream section is deduced, on the basis of a desired temperature cross-section at the outlet of the downstream section (4), in order to obtain the desired cross-section at the outlet; and the cooling capacity of the cooling section (1) is adjusted according to the width of the belt and over the length of the cooling section, while taking into the account the temperature cross-section of the belt

Abstract: Unit for the surface treatment of flat glass, in particular in the form of a ribbon or a sheet, especially by modifying the chemical, optical or mechanical properties, or the deposition of one or more thin films, comprising heating and cooling means for creating a controlled temperature gradient through the thickness of the glass, means for heating that face to be treated, in order for it to always be at the required temperatures and for the times necessary for obtaining effective treatments of the surface thereof and means for cooling the opposite face in order for this opposite face to have a viscosity of between 1013 dPa·s and 2.3×1010 dPa·s.

Abstract: The invention relates to a heat recuperator (R) for a radiating tube burner having a burner pipe and an exhaust pipe (1), the recuperator being placed at the outlet of the exhaust pipe (1) and including a heat exchanger (E) that comprises: an outgoing section (5) for directing the air to be preheated to a ferrule (6), placed on the end of the recuperator, from the fume intake side, and a return section (7) opening towards a pipe (8) for supplying air from the burner, the assembly being provided such that part of the fumes are led through, and mix with, the combustion air; the heat exchanger (E) occupies only part of the cross-section of the exhaust pipe (1), the other part (1a) of the cross-section remaining free for the fumes; the combustion air is heated by the fumes in the outgoing section (5) and in the return section (7), being radially shifted outside the outgoing section (5) and immersed in the fumes.

Abstract: Process for producing a structure on one of the faces of a glass ribbon, carried out continuously using a printing device, in which: the printing device (8) is placed in a zone (A) in which the ribbon (B) is at an average temperature T1 insufficient for printing the pattern of the printing device onto the ribbon according to the nature of the pattern to be printed, to the pressure between the printing device and the ribbon and to the time during which the ribbon is in contact with the printing device; that face to be etched, upstream of the printing device (8), is heated so as to bring a limited and sufficient thickness of the ribbon to a temperature T2>T1 necessary for printing the pattern of the printing device onto the ribbon according to the nature of the pattern to be etched, to the pressure between the printing device and the ribbon and to the time during which the ribbon is in contact with the printing device, while still keeping the rest of the ribbon at a temperature close to T1; the heat flux tra

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for controlling regenerative burners used as a firing device, particularly for iron and steel product heating furnaces or for radiating tubes for continuous strip steel processing lines, according to which the supply of at least one of the fluids involved in the combustion (fuel and comburent) is carried out through a rotary injector (12) rotating by means of a rotatable actuator (M) so as to supply fluid alternately to one and then the other of the burners (B1, B2), the rotary injector (12) being placed on the comburent inlet duct (6), particularly air, and is provided to partially obstruct the supply pipe (19.1; 19.2) to the burner (B1; B2) such that one portion of the fumes from a regenerator (2.2; 2.1) for the non-operating burner (B2; B1) is led to the operating burner (B1; B2) and such that the other portion of the fumes is discharged to the stack.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for limiting the combustion fume exhaust towards the outside of a continuous furnace, especially a tunnel furnace, for reheating iron and steel products, especially slabs, at the opening located at the entrance of the furnace. The first row of burners consists of at least two burners (2a, 2c) arranged at the same distance (D) from the entrance of the furnace and close thereto, and the burners of the first row of burners are inclined mainly from an angle A towards the discharge area of the furnace.

Abstract: Method of reducing the formation of folds on metal strips (1) exposed to rapid heating in continuous heat-treatment lines, in which lines said strips are caused to pass through heating sections (2) comprising successive and separate heating means (5; 5a; 5b; 5c; 5d), wherein the average slope of the increase in temperature of the strip between the inlet and the outlet of a heating means decreases from one heating means to the following heating means.

Abstract: Method of controlling a reheat furnace (1) for reheating iron and steel products, for example slabs, blooms, ingots or billets, making it possible for the product to be reheated to be brought to the desired temperature for rolling, the furnace being equipped with a heat recuperator (A). The furnace is equipped mostly with regenerative-type burners which include regenerators and operate in on/off mode; the burners operate in time modulation mode; a portion of the combustion gases passes through the regenerators of the regenerative burners so as to preheat one of the fluids (either the fuel or the oxidizer) participating in the combustion; and the remainder of the combustion gases passes through the heat recuperator (A) in order to preheat the fluid (either the oxidizer or the fuel) other than that preheated in the regenerators.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method for cooling metal strips using cooling chambers by blowing a gas, in a continuous heat treatment line, wherein: the chambers (4,4a . . . 4?, 4?a . . .

Abstract: A device enabling limitation of the risk of formation of an explosive atmosphere in the furnace of a continuous heat treatment line of metal strips the sections of which are under an atmosphere consisting of a mixture of inert gas and hydrogen the hydrogen volume content of which is between 5 and 100%, provided with a rapid induction heating section and a rapid cooling section comprising: a chamber (9) maintained under inert gas at the inlet of the rapid heating section of the furnace and at the outlet of the rapid cooling section, the pressure in the chamber (9) being equal to or greater than the atmospheric pressure when the heating of the furnace operates normally; a device (10) for entering the strip into the chamber (9), from the atmospheric air; a device (11) for atmosphere separation and for entering the strip in the heating section of the furnace from the chamber (9) under inert gas, said device (11) being provided with a gas take-off (4); a device (13) for atmosphere separation and for removing the s

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for controlling the homogeneity of the temperature of metallurgical products (B) in a reheating furnace (5) fitted with lateral burners. According to said method, the lateral burners are operated by on/off control, and the operating time and the down time of each burner is regulated in order to obtain the desired temperature. Inshot burners (1-4) are used as the lateral burners. Said burners are operated either at a speed which is close to the maximum speed or at the maximum speed, and the ignition order of the burners (1-4) is selected in such a way as to stimulate the stirring and circulation of the fumes in order to reduce the hot spot of the flame and to improve the homogeneity of the temperature of the walls of the furnace and the products.