Abstract: A cold crucible structure according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a cold crucible structure according to an embodiment of the present invention includes: a cold crucible unit including hollow top and bottom caps, a plurality of segments connecting the top cap and the bottom cap, slits disposed between the segments, and a reaction area surrounded by the segments; and an induction coil unit disposed to cover the outer side of the cold crucible unit and disposed across the longitudinal directions of the segments and the slits, in which the diameter of the reaction area is defined as a crucible diameter, the crucible diameter is 100 to 300 mm, and a width of each of the slits is defined by d slit ? 0.3 × ? 50 (mm)(where dslit is the width of each of the slits and Ø is the crucible diameter).

Abstract: Contact plate for placing in contact with the wall of an electrode of an electro-metallurgical furnace. The contact plate includes an internal channel having an inlet and at least one outlet. The inlet and outlet are respectively linked to an external intake duct and to at least one external duct for discharging a fluid. An elongate hole (16) has an elongate partition (35) which has opposing elongate edges (39) adjacent to opposing elongate zones (33) of the elongate hole so as to define, in the hole, elongate spaces (16a-16b) on either side of the elongate partition. The elongate partition defines a connecting passage (41) between the elongate spaces and link holes (29) communicating with the elongate spaces being formed at a distance from the connecting passage. The elongate spaces form portions of the internal channel (59).

Abstract: An induction shield is configured to substantially reduce emissions emitted from an induction heat source (e.g., coil) during use. The shield is positioned adjacent to a vessel (e.g., in an injection system) having a melting portion configured to receive meltable material to be melted therein and an induction heat source positioned adjacent the vessel configured to melt the meltable material received in the melting portion of the vessel. The shield may include a tube configuration configured to flow liquid therein to absorb heat emitted from the heat source. The tube configuration can comprise a single tube or multiple tubes. The shield can be positioned adjacent the induction source in a helical manner, for example, or at ends of the vessel. The shield can be used during melting of amorphous alloy and for forming a part.

Abstract: A cold crucible induction melter includes a wall formed of a plurality of metal sectors insulated by an insulator. Each metal sector includes an inner curved portion which forms an inner surface of the wall and is convex inward relative to the wall, an outer planar portion which forms an outer surface of the wall, and two side planar portions which connect the inner curved portion to the outer planar portion. The metal sector further includes a cooling passage longitudinally formed inside the metal sector, and an insulation layer covering the inner curved portion and the two side planar portions.

Abstract: A low temperature melting furnace using an external cooling passage includes a wall including a plurality of metal sectors, each metal sector including a cooling passage formed along a longitudinal direction thereof, and an extension tube provided outwardly from the wall and connected to the cooling passage.

Abstract: An induction melting furnace having an asymmetrical sloping bottom. The melting furnace includes: an induction coil member provided on the melting furnace so as to melt waste contained in the furnace by vitrification; a bottom unit provided in a lower part of the melting furnace, the bottom unit asymmetrically sloping downward in a direction toward a glass discharge port that is formed through the bottom unit; and a cooling member integrated with the bottom unit. Due to the asymmetrical sloping bottom of the furnace, waste in the furnace can be completely melted and can be easily discharged to the outside and, accordingly, the time and cost required to treat the waste are reduced and this improves work efficiency when treating the waste. Further, due to the insulation material, the melting furnace can be protected from electric damage that may be caused by electric arc.

Abstract: An induction melting furnace having an asymmetrical sloping bottom. The melting furnace includes: an induction coil member provided on the melting furnace so as to melt waste contained in the furnace by vitrification; a bottom unit provided in a lower part of the melting furnace, the bottom unit asymmetrically sloping downward in a direction toward a glass discharge port that is formed through the bottom unit; and a cooling member integrated with the bottom unit. Due to the asymmetrical sloping bottom of the furnace, waste in the furnace can be completely melted and can be easily discharged to the outside and, accordingly, the time and cost required to treat the waste are reduced and this improves work efficiency when treating the waste. Further, due to the insulation material, the melting furnace can be protected from electric damage that may be caused by electric arc.

Abstract: The present invention provides a metal sector and a cold crucible induction melter having the same. The cold crucible induction melter includes a wall formed of a plurality of metal sectors insulated by an insulator. Each metal sector includes an outer curved portion which forms an outer surface of the wall and is convex outward relative to the wall, an inner planar portion which forms an inner surface of the wall, and a side planar portion which connects the outer curved portion to the inner planar portion.

Abstract: The present invention provides a metal sector and a cold crucible induction melter having the same. The cold crucible induction melter includes a wall formed of a plurality of metal sectors insulated by an insulator. Each metal sector includes an inner curved portion which forms an inner surface of the wall and is convex inward relative to the wall, an outer planar portion which forms an outer surface of the wall, and a side planar portion which connects the inner curved portion to the outer planar portion.

Abstract: A low temperature melting furnace having improved cooling flow includes a wall including a plurality of metal sectors, wherein a metal sector includes a first metal sector and a second metal sector, which are formed in one unit, and a cooling passage through which a cooling water flows is formed in each of the first metal sector and the second metal sector, the first metal sector and the second metal sector being connected to each other through a connection unit.

Abstract: A low temperature melting furnace using an external cooling passage includes a wall including a plurality of metal sectors, each metal sector including a cooling passage formed along a longitudinal direction thereof, and an extension tube provided outwardly from the wall and connected to the cooling passage.

Abstract: Process for combustion and vitrification of waste in which at least one oxygen plasma jet is associated with a continuous melting device by high frequency direct induction. The crucible is composed of a continuous external shell and a sole plate, both cooled by a liquid circulating in internal channels. The inductor is placed below the sole plate. There is a gravity drain valve at the bottom or on the side.

Abstract: Vertical segments of a side wall of a crucible for an induction furnace are assembled at an adjustable, invariable position by screws screwed into tapped holes of a flange common to all segments. A precise assembly is thus obtained producing no deformation and no internal stresses. The segments are coated with a ceramic coating for their protection and to prevent formation of electric arcs. Junction edges of faces are rounded to achieve the same effect. Water cooling boxes of the lower furnace hearth are similarly constructed. The apparatus can, as an example, be applied to vitrification techniques.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a device for equalizing the pressures in the melting chamber and in the cooling water system of a special melting unit, for example a pressure electroslag remelting (PESR) unit having a copper ingot mold, or a pressure induction furnace having an induction coil and a cooling water system, designed as a closed, separate pressure circuit.

Abstract: In a special melting unit, in particular a pressure induction furnace having a copper ingot mold (6) and water cooling, in which the cooling water is circulated in a closed pressurized water circuit around the cooling crucible (2) surrounding the ingot mold, a device is provided for equalizing the pressures in the melting chamber (35) and in the cooling crucible (2), comprising a piston-type accumulator (19) which is subdividable by a piston (16) into two variable-volume chambers (17, 18), the one chamber (17) corresponding with the cooling water circuit and the other chamber (18) being connected to a vessel (30) which is approximately half filled with a hydraulic liquid, the other half of the vessel being connected via a pipe (32) to the furnace hood (3) which is under gas pressure.

Abstract: A device for the melting or purifying of inorganic substances, in particular of glass, which comprises a number of metal tubes which may be attached to a cooling medium and which are arranged next to each other, in such a way that together they form a container, a high frequency coil for the injection of energy into the container contents and a plastic coating for the metal tubes, the decomposition temperature of which lies below the temperature of the melt. The cooling system is configured and arranged such that the temperature of the boundary layer of the melt, immediately surrounding the component, lies below that of the decomposition temperature of the coating material.

Abstract: The present invention relates to apparatuses for processing homogeneous/heterogeneous radioactive wastes comprising ion-exchange reisns. A cooled discharge unit comprises a discharge pipe, a cooling jacket having a U-shaped form in cross section, a collector for feeding a coolant into the jacket, a discharge gate comprising a pipe, on one end of which a cone-shaped tip is positioned, on the other end a lid with an aperture. A cooled induction melter comprises a housing, side walls and bottom of which are made of metal pipes disposed with a gap therebetween and combined by a collector for supplying and discharging the coolant, an inductor positioned adaptable for displacement along the longitudinal axis of the melter and concentrically encompassing the side walls of the housing, the gaps between the pipes of which ensure transparency of the housing for an electromagnetic field of the inductor.

Abstract: A method of refining metal to be processed to a high degree of purity by heat-melting the metal in a melting furnace in the form of a metal crucible placed in a vacuum vessel. The method includes evacuating prior to melting, preheating the inside of the entire vacuum atmosphere including the inner wall surface of the vacuum vessel, component parts inside the vessel and the like in order to keep the total pressure within the vessel at 1.times.10.sup.-8 Torr or lower, and effecting high frequency induction heating while controlling the partial pressure of each of O.sub.2, H.sub.2, CO in the atmosphere inside the vessel. Further, the vacuum vessel, the metal crucible and an induction heating coil attached to the crucible, each of which has double jacket structure, are heated or cooled by supplying circulating heating or cooling water in a water-passage space of each of the vacuum vessel, the metal crucible and the induction heating coil, so that the inside of the melting furnace is baked.

Abstract: In a method of operating an inductor of a tapping device of a melt vessel, the inductor couples inductively during a working phase with an electrically conductive shaped component and is cooled by means of a fluid. The inductor is electrically decoupled and cooled by means of a fluid in another working phase.

Abstract: A crucible (10) for the inductive melting or superheating of metals, alloys, or other electrically conductive materials is provided with palisades of approximately equal length, arranged vertically, parallel to, and a certain distance away from, each other around a circle so as to surround the melt. A plate-shaped or ring-shaped part (4) at the bottom ends of the palisades (3, 3', . . . ) holds the palisades (3, 3', . . . ). At least part of the palisades (3, 3', . . . ) are provided with cavities (5, 5', . . . ) or channels, through which a coolant flows. An induction coil (6), through which an alternating current flows surrounds the palisades (3, 3', . . . ) spaced from their outside surfaces. The palisades (3, 3', . . . ) have slots (7a, 7b, 7c;, 7a', 7b', 7c', . . . ), which extend vertically from the palisade-holding part (4) up to a point near the top edge. The inside wall (9, 9', 9", . . .

Abstract: A cold crucible induction melting furnace is provided with a plurality of segments separated by a plurality of slits that surround a bottom member which together form the melting chamber. Each lower end of each segment is overlapped with and spaced from a short part of a vertically extending side wall of the bottom member so as to form a horizontal gap there between. A radially and outwardly extending flange protrudes from the bottom member side wall below each segment lower end to form a lower gap there between. An induction coil is disposed around and spaced from an outer face of the segments with a lower end adjacent to each of the lower segment ends and an upper end adjacent to an upper part of each segment that is in turn connected with an adjacent upper segment part to form a short circuited part.

Abstract: At least three palisades are set up vertically and parallel to each other, spaced apart, and distributed around the arc of a circle in such a way as to surround the melt. A circular, plate-shaped part forms the bottom of the crucible and supports the palisades, the palisades being provided at least in part with cavities through which a coolant flows, and with an induction coil, which is wound around the outside of the palisades a certain distance away and carries an alternating current. At least two groups of palisades are connected to each other by means of an electrically conductive bar or pipe socket, each palisade group or each individual palisade being electrically insulated with respect to adjacent palisade groups or individual palisades.

Abstract: Apparatus for producing a single crystal of semiconductor material in accance with the Czochralski method, has a cooling means which cools the growing single crystal and is constructed in two parts, The first is an upper part duct system through which a liquid coolant flows. The second is a lower part which is a heat-conducting cooling body.

Abstract: A crucible 1 of an induction melting apparatus has a cover 3 closing the crucible off hermetically and having a connection 5 for attaching the cover to a vacuum source 6. At the bottom the crucible 1 has a prolongation 7 in which a mold 9 is sealingly disposed. Thus, the mold 9 is evacuated together with the crucible 1 so that a vacuum chamber enveloping the crucible 1 and the mold (9) is unnecessary.

Abstract: An induction furnace which provides a controlled escape pathway for superheated metal is disclosed. The induction furnace comprises a base layer of refractory material in the bottom of the furnace vessel. The base layer of refractory is composed of a first refractory having a maximum operational temperature and a second refractory having a maximum operational temperature lower than that of the first refractory. At least a portion of the second refractory is arranged in a contiguous zone through the thickness of the base layer. The base layer supports a packed granular refractory lining that extends up along the side wall of the vessel. In one embodiment of the invention, the base layer takes the form of a means for pushing out the packed granular lining from the furnace. The pusher means is arranged for axial movement within the furnace in response to a driving force applied from below the base layer. The pusher means contains the contiguous zone of the second refractory.

Abstract: In a segmented water-cooled induction melting crucible mainly used for melting special metals such as reactive metals or alloys, two adjacent segments are coupled as a segment having two legs, one leg having an inlet water passage and the other leg having an outlet water passage, so that these water passages form a one-way water flow path when they are connected. When the two legs are connected at their top portion to form a shorted portion, the lower end of the legs are insulated from each other and from a base forming a bottom of the crucible. Alternatively the two legs can be entirely separated by elongating the slit and the water passage formed in each leg can be connected throgh an insulative, connecting member.

Abstract: A furnace refractory extraction system and method includes a selectively removable bottom portion which is attached to a refractory extraction device associated with a container for drawing the refractory lining of a coreless induction furnace into the container. A plug portion in the furnace bottom is selectively removable to provide access to a bottom wall of the refractory lining. An opening is made in the bottom wall of the lining through which an extractor shaft is inserted and then attached to the removable bottom portion of the furnace bottom. The other end of the shaft is attached to a piston and cylinder assembly associated with the container at the open end of the furnace. When the piston and cylinder assembly is powered, the lining is drawn into the container.

Abstract: An induction furnace includes a crucible having a plurality of cooled metallic segments (6A, 6B) electrically insulated from each other and an electromagnetic induction coil (5) arranged around the crucible, wherein the electromagnetic induction coil is energized with low frequency electric current. Each of the metallic segments forming the crucible wall is made of a relatively thin sheet, and a cooling pipe is provided on each segment. The cooling pipes (22) are welded or brazed to an outer surface of each corresponding segment. A refrigerant flows through each pipe in order to evacuate heat from the corresponding segment. The furnace further includes a magnetic core (8) disposed above and near the top surface of the charge placed in the crucible. This magnetic core provides local narrowing of the magnetic field lines, causing centripetal motion of the melted part of charge located at or near the top surface of the charge.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming a stream of molten material. The apparatus includes a melt container having a bottom wall in which is formed an aperture. A funnel is adapted and constructed to receive molten material from the aperture in the container, and includes a plurality of fluid-cooled metallic segments. The funnel segments define an inner funnel contour that decreases in cross-sectional area from the inlet end to the outlet end of the funnel. An electrically conductive coil surrounds the funnel, and has a shape corresponding to the outer shape of said funnel. A source of medium-frequency current in selective electrical connection with the coil. The method begins with the step of providing a predetermined quantity of molten material in a melt container. A metallic funnel is provided in fluid communication with the melt container, and includes a plurality of fluid-cooled funnel segments. The method also includes the step of providing an electrically conductive coil surrounding the funnel.

Abstract: The manufacturing of high temperature superconducting crystals and high quality crystals in general requires a furnace design with very precise process control to minimize the crystal defects. A furnace design of this type can be realized by growing crystals in the cavity of the evaporator section of a specially designed heat pipe, since the temperature of the working fluid in the heat pipe, and thus in the cavity and crystal, can be maintained very accurately by the control of the evaporating pressure of the heat pipe's working fluid. The crystals are grown from the melt from the bottom of a cooled and rotating crucible which is placed into the heat pipe evaporator cavity. The growth of high temperature superconducting crystals requires high furnace temperatures and an oxygen atmosphere. The high temperature furnace condition is achieved with sodium and potasium heat pipes.

Abstract: An apparatus for melting metallic stock as a crucible in which the metallic stock is received and melted, the stock in the crucible having an axis along which the force of gravity varies, and an inductive heating system which generates an inductive heating field having an inductive power density which varies along the axis. The inductive heating field interacts with the metallic stock in the crucible so that the radiation energy generated by the inductive heating field counteracts the hydrostatic pressure of the melt in the crucible.

Abstract: A coreless induction furnace comprising a crucible for holding a quantity of metal to be heated by the furnace. The crucible has an open top, side walls and a closed bottom. An induction coil is operatively associated with the crucible for generating a time-varying magnetic induction field. Coupling structure extending above the top of the crucible is provided to couple at least a portion of the induction field to the center portion of the top surface of the metal to be heated.

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: A processor apparatus is provided in which a blackbody radiator having a constant planar energy flux characteristic is placed in opposition to semiconductor material. The blackbody source produces a constant planar energy flux to uniformly heat the material. The source is heated to a sufficiently high temperature for a sufficient time to anneal or activate a semiconductor wafer or to epitaxially regrow a thin epitaxial film. The processor is operated by accomplishing the steps of presenting a blackbody radiator in opposition to semiconductor material to be thermally treated, radiatively heating the material to a sufficiently high temperature for a sufficient time to accomplish the desired process result, and cooling and removing the material. In the interval between presentation of successive samples of the material to the source, the source may be shuttered or idled to reduce energy consumption.

Abstract: A processor apparatus is provided in which a blackbody radiator having a constant planar energy flux characteristic is placed in opposition to semiconductor material. The blackbody source produces a constant planar energy flux to uniformly heat the material. The source is heated to a sufficiently high temperature for a sufficient time to anneal or activate a semiconductor wafer or to epitaxially regrow a thin epitaxial film. The processor is operated by accomplishing the steps of presenting a blackbody radiator in opposition to semiconductor material to be thermally treated, radiatively heating the material to a sufficiently high temperature for a sufficient time to accomplish the desired process result, and cooling and removing the material. In the interval between presentation of successive samples of the material to the source, the source may be shuttered or idled to reduce energy consumption.

Abstract: An electric furnace for induction heating of metallic products comprises a planar inductor providing a sliding magnetic field, the inductor being incorporated in a pair of transversely spaced walls defining between themselves a space into which the product to be heated is inserted, a layer of refractory material at that side of each wall which borders the space and an independent cooling screen sandwiched between each wall and the respective layer of refractory material, in which the screen is constituted by a plurality of parallel, adjacent metal tubes out of mutual contact with each other to define between themselves electrically insulating spaces, preferably filled with electrically insulating material, and in which the tubes extend normal to the flow of the primary current through the inductor. Preferably at least one of the walls together with the respective refractory layer and screen is movable toward and away from the other wall to accommodate metal products of different widths in the space.

Abstract: A rotatable mounting for the crucible of an electric induction furnace is disclosed. The mounting apparatus includes an access cylinder rotatably mounted within a tubular flange on one wall of the furnace enclosure. Positive and negative slip ring assemblies are mounted at the front of the access cylinder together with a hose reel assembly. The slip ring assemblies each comprise a rotor which is secured to the access cylinder and a stator which is attached to the wall of the enclosure. Flexible electric power leads are attached to terminal blocks at the bottom of each stator and provide both water and electricity to the furnace. Flexible hoses leading from the terminal blocks to the hose reel assembly provide water to the electric heating elements, which are colis made of metal tubing. Electricity is conducted through the slip ring assemblies to power leads which are mounted in the positive and negative rotors.