Abstract: A process is described for the incineration and vitrification of mainly mineral waste in which at least one pure or substantially pure oxygen plasma jet is used for melting the waste, the process taking place in a metal crucible containing a tapping valve and its wall is cooled by liquids flowing in internal channels.

Abstract: Furnace for the continuous melting of mixtures of oxides by direct induction at high frequency and a very short refining time and with a low energy consumption, comprising an intake (14) and a nozzle (15) for the continuous discharge of oxides into a metal crucible (3) having cold walls heated by a high frequency coil (5), characterized in that the height of the oxide bath is between 2 cm and 20% of the diameter of the metal crucible and in that the furnace hearth (4) is both transparent to the inducing magnetic field and sufficiently cooled to ensure the formation and maintenance of a protective solid crust at the bottom of the crucible.

Abstract: A crucible is disclosed for use in an induction furnace comprising a bottom wall and a circumferential sidewall. The sidewall comprises a plurality of vertically extending wall elements arranged parallel to each other. Each wall element has circumferentially spaced apart transverse faces and a duct means traversing therethrough in open communication between the spaced apart transverse surfaces. The duct means of each wall element are in aligned facing relation with the duct means of adjacent wall elements. An electrically insulating joint is interposed in sealing relation between each of the adjacent wall elements and having duct openings therethrough in open registry with the ducts presented by adjacent wall elements to form at least one channel interconnected between the crucible wall elements to carry a cooling liquid.

Abstract: Cold cage for a crucible with melting by high frequency electromagnetic induction comprising in per se known manner a series of hollow segments traversed by the cooling water and surrounded by a high or medium frequency induction coil and in which the products to be melted are confined, wherein at least part of the walls of each cage segment is constituted by at least two layers of adjacent materials, whereof the one which resists corrosion is in contact with the products to be melted and whereof the other is a good electricity conductor and wherein the relative thicknesses of these layers as well as the supply frequency of the induction coil are chosen in such a way that the eddy currents induced in the cage mainly develop in a good electricity conducting layer.