Abstract: A sensor for determining an air ratio of a fuel gas/air mixture, wherein a housing is formed, which delimitates a measuring space. The housing has on one side a diffusion passage for coupling with a fuel gas/air mixture flow, wherein the diffusion passage is formed by a gas-permeable separating agent. An electrically operated excitation element is arranged for energy supply into the measuring space in order to induce a chemical reaction of a fuel gas/air mixture in the measuring space. At least one optical detection device is directed into the measuring space with its detection area, wherein the at least one optical detection device detects the intensity of radiation from the reaction position in at least a first wavelength range and produces a signal being allocated to the detected intensity, from which the air ratio is inferable.

Abstract: A sensor for determining an air ratio of a fuel gas/air mixture, wherein a housing is formed, which delimitates a measuring space. The housing has on one side a diffusion passage for coupling with a fuel gas/air mixture flow, wherein the diffusion passage is formed by a gas-permeable separating agent. An electrically operated excitation element is arranged for energy supply into the measuring space in order to induce a chemical reaction of a fuel gas/air mixture in the measuring space. At least one optical detection device is directed into the measuring space with its detection area, wherein the at least one optical detection device detects the intensity of radiation from the reaction position in at least a first wavelength range and produces a signal being allocated to the detected intensity, from which the air ratio is inferable.

Abstract: A method and a device for producing oriented solidified blocks made of semi-conductor material are provided. The device includes a crucible, in which melt is received, and has an insulation which surrounds the crucible at least from the top and from the side and which is arranged at a distance therefrom at least above the crucible, and at least one heating device which is arranged above the crucible. The region inside the insulation above the crucible is divided by an intermediate cover in a process chamber and a heating chamber is arranged thereabove, where at least one heating element is arranged.

Abstract: Embodiments of a system and method for melting feedstock and casting ingots are disclosed. The system comprises a feedstock source, a stationary melting furnace, and one or more solidification modules capable of receiving molten feedstock from the melting furnace. In some embodiments, the system further includes a feed system for transferring feedstock from the feedstock source to the melting furnace. Feedstock is fed into the melting furnace and heated to produce molten feedstock. Molten feedstock flows into a solidification crucible within the solidification module. The solidification crucible is cooled to provide directional solidification and production of an ingot. The melting furnace may include a thermal valve system to prevent molten feedstock from flowing into the solidification crucible until substantially all of the feedstock within the melting furnace is molten. In some embodiments, the feedstock consists essentially of silicon and a multi-crystalline silicon ingot is produced.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing oriented solidified blocks made of semi-conductor material, in addition to a device. Said device comprises a crucible, wherein melt is received, and has an insulation which surrounds the crucible at least from the top and from the side and which is arranged at a distance therefrom at least above the crucible, and at least one heating device which is arranged above said crucible. The region inside the insulation above the crucible is divided by an intermediate cover in a process chamber and a heating chamber is arranged there above, wherein at least one heating element is arranged.

Abstract: A method for producing silicon or a reactive metal is disclosed herein that includes: introducing a silicon-bearing feed or reactive metal-bearing feed into a reactor chamber, wherein the reactor chamber includes a reactor chamber wall having (i) an inside surface facing a reaction space and (ii) an opposing outside surface; generating a first thermal energy within the reaction space sufficient to generate a liquid silicon product or a liquid reactive metal product; generating a second thermal energy exterior to the reactor chamber wall such that a heat flow from the second thermal energy initially impacts the outside surface of the reactor chamber wall; and establishing an inside surface wall temperature within a temperature range that is above or below a melting point temperature of the silicon or the reactive metal by controlling the first thermal energy source and the second thermal energy source.

Abstract: A method for producing solid multicrystalline silicon ingots or wafers, comprising: introducing a silicon-bearing gas into a reactor chamber, wherein the reaction chamber includes a reactor chamber wall having (i) an inside surface facing a reaction space and (ii) an opposing outside surface, and a product outlet; generating a plasma in the reactor space; thermally decomposing the silicon-bearing gas by subjecting the silicon-bearing gas to a sufficient temperature to produce liquid silicon; maintaining the inside surface of the reactor chamber wall at an equilibrium temperature below the melting point temperature of silicon while thermally decomposing the silicon-bearing gas; and introducing the liquid silicon from the product outlet directly into a module for casting the liquid silicon into solid multicrystalline silicon ingots or multicrystalline silicon wafer.

Abstract: Polysilicon is deposited onto a tube or other hollow body. The hollow body replaces the slim rod of a conventional Siemens-type reactor and may be heated internally with simple resistance elements. The hollow body diameter is selected to provide a surface area much larger than that of a silicon slim rod. The hollow body material may be chosen such that, upon cooling, deposited polysilicon readily separates from the hollow body due to differences in contraction and falls into a collection container.

Abstract: For the evaporation of given components from initial multiple-substance mixtures and systems at subatmospheric pressure, individual portions (P1, P2, P3, P4, P5) of the multiple-substance mixture and systems are placed in ring crucibles (17) stacked at several levels. Vapors of the lower-boiling component are drawn off through a vapor exhaust opening in each crucible, while the top ring crucible (17) is closed except for its vapor exhaust opening.

Abstract: Molds (1) with annular mold parts (2, 3) divided by at least one plane of division (E—E) and forming a plurality of cavities (8) disposed at least substantially radially to a centrifugation axis (A—A), serve for the production of precision castings by centrifugal casting, especially of parts made of materials containing titanium for internal combustion engines, the molds (1) and a casting system being contained in a closed chamber. To automate production, at least one mold part (2, 3) is made to rotate in its own rotational guide, and two mold parts (2, 3) together with the corresponding rotational guides are brought to a closed position for the casting and solidification and to an open position for the removal of the precision castings. When cast, the precision castings are preferably joined together at their radially inward pointing ends by a circumferential ring of the solidified metal and thus a circle of castings can be removed from the opened mold by a manipulating system.

Abstract: For the evaporation of given components from initial multiple-substance mixtures and systems at subatmospheric pressure, individual portions (P1, P2, P3, P4, P5) of the multiple-substance mixture and systems are placed in ring crucibles (17) stacked at several levels. Vapors of the lower-boiling component are drawn off through a vapor exhaust opening in each crucible, while the top ring crucible (17) is closed except for its vapor exhaust opening.

Abstract: For the evaporation of given components from initial multiple-substance mixtures and systems at subatmospheric pressure, individual portions (P1, P2, P3, P4, P5) of the multiple-substance mixture and systems are placed in ring crucibles (17) stacked at several levels. Vapors of the lower-boiling component are drawn off through a vapor exhaust opening in each crucible, while the top ring crucible (17) is closed except for its vapor exhaust opening.

Abstract: A device for directional solidification of a fused metal, for example a CoCrAlY alloy, which has been poured into a molding shell, by moving the molding shell out of a heating chamber and by immersing the molding shell in a liquid-metal bath serving as a cooling melt with a lower melting-point than the fused metal in the molding shell, for example tin. The liquid-metal bath is enclosed by several current carrying toroidal coils arranged coaxially relative to one another. For the purpose of orienting the stream filament of the agitated fused metal one or more guide plates are arranged in the space between the lateral circumferential surface of the molding shell and the inner wall of the shell containing the liquid-metal bath which is located opposite the molding shell.

Abstract: A sealed evacuatable crucible (1) for inductive melting of metals or other electrically conductive materials, including a plurality of palisades (2,2', . . . ) which are arranged parallel to one another, and for enclosing the melt and forming the crucible wall, and having a crucible base part (3) which carries the palisades (2,2', . . . ), and having an induction coil (18) which is wound around the palisades (2,2', . . .

Abstract: A casting apparatus has within a heating chamber (6) and a mold (5) which can be removed from the heating chamber into a molten quenching metal (10) disposed underneath it. As a thermal barrier between the heating chamber (6) and the quenching metal (10), a thermal insulating layer (13) floating on the molten quenching metal (10) is provided, through which the mold (5) plunges into the molten quenching metal (10).

Abstract: A casting apparatus has within a heating chamber (6) a mold (5) which can be moved out of the heating chamber (6) into a molten cooling metal (10) disposed beneath it. As heat insulation between the heating chamber (6) and the molten cooling metal (10) a thermal insulation layer (13) floating on the molten cooling metal is provided through which the mold (5) dips into the molten cooling metal (10). To prevent clumping within the thermal insulation layer (13) a rake or stirrer (19) is provided, which is driven by a shaker (17) and whisks or stirs the thermal insulation layer.

Abstract: For the production of particles from castings (10) of metals from the group of the lanthanides, aluminum, boron, chromium, iron, calcium, magnesium, manganese, nickel, niobium, cobalt, titanium, vanadium, zirconium, and their alloys, which have solidified in an oriented manner, especially for the production of materials from the group of magnetic materials, hydrogen storage elements (hydride storage elements), and battery electrodes, a melt of the metal is applied in a nonreactive atmosphere to the inside of an at least essentially cylindrical cooling surface (9) according to the principle of centrifugal casting. The cylinder rotates at high speed around a rotational axis, and the melt is cooled proceeding from the outside toward the inside with an essentially radial direction of solidification. The hollow casting (10) is then reduced to particles.

Abstract: Metal is melted in an induction-heated crucible (13) on which a mold (10) with a downward-facing filling opening (26) is located in the melting position. After melting the metal, the crucible (13) and the mold (10) are jointly rotated about a horizontal axis (A--A) into a tilting position in which the molten material flows from the crucible (13) into the mold (10). In order to melt reactive metals, melting is done in a crucible (13) that is surrounded by a vacuum, this crucible being surrounded by an induction coil (15) outside of the vacuum. The mold (10) is located in a vacuum-sealed casting chamber (6) which is evacuated together with the crucible (13) prior to melting and casting is carried out by a joint tilting of the crucible (13), casting chamber (6) and mold (10) by at least 180 degrees while the vacuum is maintained.

Abstract: During the simultaneous casting and directional solidification of several castings in pre-heated casting moulds (11), these standing around a central cavity (H) on a ring-shaped cooling plate (5) after pouring off are continuously removed from a heating chamber (14) by a vertical movement relative to the heating chamber in accordance with the solidification temperature and the castings are cooled by heat radiation to below the solidus temperature. In order to increase the production rate and the product quality, the casting moulds (11) are moved over a firm heat sink (9) during the directional solidification by continuous relative movement of the cooling plate (5), said heat sink thereby penetrating into the cavity (H).

Abstract: In a process for cleaning oil-wetted structural parts, a vacuum furnace (1) is first evacuated to a defined first pressure to eliminate residual air. Then an inert gas is introduced until a second, subatmospheric pressure is reached, which is above the first pressure, and the inert gas is circulated inside the vacuum furnace. To reduce the heat-up times and to conserve energy and inert gas:(a) the second pressure is above the vapor pressure curve of the wetting oil and is reached by flooding the vacuum furnace (1);(b) the inert gas feed and the evacuation are interrupted after the flooding, and the inert gas and the oil vapors are circulated exclusively in the interior of the vacuum furnace (1); and(c) upon completion of the heat-up period, a connection is established from the vacuum furnace (1) to a condenser (11) and to a vacuum pump (12); the pressure is lowered to a value below the vapor pressure curve; and the oils thus evaporated are withdrawn and condensed.