Abstract: An inductively coupled plasma device includes a rotary furnace tube and an inductively coupled plasma source. The rotary furnace tube has a first end, a second end and a longitudinal axis. In a first embodiment, the inductively coupled plasma source is disposed proximate to the first end of the rotary furnace tube and is aligned with the longitudinal axis of the rotary furnace such that the inductively coupled plasma source discharges a plasma into the rotary furnace tube. In a second embodiment, the inductively coupled plasma source is a ground electrode disposed within and aligned with the longitudinal axis of the rotary furnace tube, and a second electromagnetic radiation source disposed around or within the rotary furnace tube that generates a wave energy. The inductively coupled plasma source discharges a plasma within the rotary furnace tube.

Abstract: The present invention describes an inoculation process for inoculating a nucleating additive to a cast iron alloy in a pouring distributor by means of using a transferred arc plasma torch, with an anode partially immersed in the cast iron alloy and a cathode located on the surface of said alloy, the anode or the cathode or both comprising graphite, preferably synthetic crystalline graphite, which supplies said nucleating additive to the iron alloy. The invention thus describes an inoculation device useful for carrying out the inoculation process.

Abstract: A material is melted in an arc furnace by a plasma arc produced by at least one electrode. The plasma arc is regulated by one or more additional substances which influence the plasma composition introduced into the plasma, increasing the efficiency and output of the arc furnace.

Abstract: Thermoplastic pellitized materials are melted in gravity flow through coaxially oriented perforated cylindrical metal susceptors. The susceptors are equally energized by the interception of a common magnetic field formed by a high frequency powered inductor coil.

Abstract: The Inventive System disclosed herein relates to an improved system for extracting metals from ore.

Abstract: A diode pumped, high power (at least 20W), short pulse (up to 2 ps), chirped pulse amplified laser using Yb:YAG as the gain material is employed for material processing. Yb:YAG is used as the gain medium for both a regenerative amplifier and a high power 4-pass amplifier. A single common reflective grating optical device is used to both stretch pulses for amplification purposes and to recompress amplified pulses before being directed to a workpiece.

Abstract: A plasma processing system provided with a vacuum chamber for accommodating a substrate and for generation of plasma in a space in the front of the same, an antenna provided at the vacuum chamber, and a high frequency power source for supplying high frequency power to the antenna. The antenna emits high frequency power, generates plasma inside the vacuum chamber, and processes the surface of the substrate by the plasma. In the plasma processing system, the antenna has a disk-shaped conductor plate having a predetermined thickness. A coaxial waveguide having a folded portion is formed around the disk-shaped conductor plate. The folded portion of the waveguide is provided with a short-circuit 3 dB directional coupler having an impedance matching function. The antenna having the above structure prevents the generation of a standing wave in the high frequency wave propagation path from the high frequency power source to the vacuum chamber and generates high density plasma by supply of a large power.

Abstract: A plasma processing system provided with a vacuum chamber for accommodating a substrate and for generation of plasma in a space in the front of the same, an antenna provided at the vacuum chamber, and a high frequency power source for supplying high frequency power to the antenna. The antenna emits high frequency power, generates plasma inside the vacuum chamber, and processes the surface of the substrate by the plasma. In the plasma processing system, the antenna has a disk-shaped conductor plate having a predetermined thickness. A coaxial waveguide having a folded portion is formed around the disk-shaped conductor plate. The folded portion of the waveguide is provided with a short-circuit 3 dB directional coupler having an impedance matching function. The antenna having the above structure prevents the generation of a standing wave in the high frequency wave propagation path from the high frequency power source to the vacuum chamber and generates high density plasma by supply of a large power.

Abstract: The present invention provides tunable waste conversion systems and apparatus which have the advantage of highly robust operation and which provide complete or substantially complete conversion of a wide range of waste streams into useful gas and a stable, nonleachable solid product at a single location with greatly reduced air pollution to meet air quality standards. The systems provide the capability for highly efficient conversion of waste into high quality combustible gas and for high efficiency conversion of the gas into electricity by utilizing a high efficiency gas turbine or an internal combustion engine. The solid product can be suitable for various commercial applications. Alternatively, the solid product stream, which is a safe, stable material, may be disposed of without special considerations as hazardous material.

Abstract: The present invention provides a relatively compact self-powered, tunable waste conversion system and apparatus which has the advantage of highly robust operation which provides complete or substantially complete conversion of a wide range of waste streams into useful gas and a stable, nonleachable solid product at a single location with greatly reduced air pollution to meet air quality standards. The system provides the capability for highly efficient conversion of waste into high quality combustible gas and for high efficiency conversion of the gas into electricity by utilizing a high efficiency gas turbine or by an internal combustion engine. The solid product can be suitable for various commercial applications. Alternatively, the solid product stream, which is a safe, stable material, may be disposed of without special considerations as hazardous material.

Abstract: A method for providing main gas into a pool of molten metal, which is particularly useful for use in an electric arc furnace. The method employs combustion of secondary oxygen with fuel to form a flame envelope around a main gas stream which protects the main gas from entrainment of ambient gases as it passes through the headspace of the furnace. This enables the gas to retain to a substantial degree its original force upon injection into the headspace and thus may be injected into the furnace at a safe distance from the molten metal surface while still achieving substantially complete penetration into the molten metal.

Abstract: The present invention provides a relatively compact self-powered, tunable waste conversion system and apparatus which has the advantage of highly robust operation which provides complete or substantially complete conversion of a wide range of waste streams into useful gas and a stable, nonleachable solid product at a single location with greatly reduced air pollution to meet air quality standards. The system provides the capability for highly efficient conversion of waste into high quality combustible gas and for high efficiency conversion of the gas into electricity by utilizing a high efficiency gas turbine or by an internal combustion engine. The solid product can be suitable for various commercial applications. Alternatively, the solid product stream, which is a safe, stable material, may be disposed of without special considerations as hazardous material.

Abstract: A plasma melting furnace has a melting chamber having an anode torch and a cathode torch made of graphite and having a electric conductor disposed on the bottom thereof. When the furnace is operated, the anode torch, having an inflow of electrons, which forms an unstable plasma arc is contacted with the electric conductor and is not used, while the cathode torch, having an outflow of electrons, which forms a stable plasma arc, is utilized for heating, whereby the furnace can be stably and continuously operated. Thus, since the cathode torch which is used is not heated so much and the anode torch, which is liable to be heated to a great degree, is not used, the electrode consumption rate can be greatly reduced.

Abstract: The ash melting furnace disposes the combustion ash resulted from incineration of municipal or other sorts of waste by melting it utilizing as the main fuel the unburnt carbon contained in the ash itself. The ash melting furnace includes a stationary plasma torch which uses air for the working gas, and which is so placed facing the combustion ash heaped up within the furnace as to project its hot gas jet thereon. The furnace further includes a torch unit controller that actuates the plasma torch to secondarily heat and melt the ash.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for the synthesis of ultra-free (submicron) ceramic carbides in a thermal plasma torch reactor using primarily silica, boron oxide, titanium dioxide or other oxides as metal sources and methane as a reductant. A plasma torch operated with both argon and helium as plasma gases and having methane as a primary carrier gas is connected to the plasma reactor for providing the heat necessary to carry out the reaction. A collection chamber with both interior and exterior cooling is connected to the reactor for quenching of the reactants. Cooling is provided to the torch, the reactor and the collection using coils, baffles and jackets.

Abstract: A DC power supply for producing plasma for a DC arc torch. The DC power supply includes a controlled switch for coupling and decoupling a direct current source from the DC arc torch. The DC power supply also includes an inductance for supplying current to the DC arc torch when the direct current source is decoupled from the DC arc torch. A freewheeling diode is used to provide a current path from the inductance to the DC arc torch. A switch driver drives the coupling and decoupling of the controlled switch at a particular frequency and at a variable duty cycle. A feedback circuit varies a variable duty cycle of the switch driver in response to the amount of current detected flowing to the DC arc torch.

Abstract: Chemical waste is burned in oxygen using an electric plasma flame to heat a stream of gas which contains at least 70% by weight oxygen. Liquid waste in fine droplet form is introduced into the gas stream via a two-fluid atomizer using a carrier gas also preferably oxygen. The total amount of oxygen present is at least 30% more than required for complete combustion of the liquid waste. The reaction mixture is maintained at a temperature of at least 1450.degree. C. for a time of at least 2 milliseconds prior to cooling rapidly of the reaction products to a temperature below 300.degree. C.

Abstract: A method of controlling the course over time of a target temperature of a molten metal in a ladle, for example, in which the required heating power is produced by at least one plasma torch. Determination is made of the variation with time of a target temperature, the mass of an outwardly flowing melt, and a specific heat value of the melt present in the ladle. From the foregoing values there is ascertained the course of a corresponding setting signal for obtaining the heating power necessary to obtain the desired temperature course. Simultaneously and continuously the actual temperature of the melt is measured. When the actual temperature of the melt deviates from its target temperature in excess of a predetermined tolerance, the setting signal for the heating power is changed by decreasing such setting when an actual temperature exceeds the target temperature, and increasing such setting when an actual temperature is less than the target temperature.

Abstract: A method for melting iron and steel scrap wherein scrap is fed through a shaft furnace countercurrent to a reducing gas. The reducing gas is formed by passing air through a plasma generator and injecting coal and/or hydrocarbon into the hot air so that the ratio (CO.sub.2 +H.sub.2 O)/(CO.sub.2 +H.sub.2 O+CO+H.sub.2) of the resulting gas becomes less than 0.2. The energy needed for melting is supplied as sensible heat of the reducing gas. The energy for preheating the scrap is supplied by introducing oxygen containing gas into the preheating zone at a plurality of positions along the flow path of the reducing gas to provide stepwise combustion of the reducing gas. The introduction of the oxygen containing gas at said plurality of positions is balanced to keep the gas reducing to the metal scrap at scrap temperatures above 1000.degree. C., and preferably even above 800.degree. C.

Abstract: A method of reducing contamination caused by high intensity heating of metals is taught. Splatter, vapor droplets and particulate matter is collected to avoid return to the melt. An electric field is established in the heating zone to attract the vapor droplets and particles to charged plates.

Abstract: A clear optical path is provided in a furnace in which high intensity top surface heating is carried out. The path extends through a viewport to the interior of the furnace chamber. The path extends to a clear metal mirror surface and from the mirror surfaced to other portions of the furnace chamber which are not viewable directly through the viewport.

Abstract: A method of continuously overheating large volumes of gas wherein a gas flow is heated in a cylindrical pipe by means of an electric arc generated between two electrodes arranged in the pipe and axially spaced from each other, the gas being introduced in the tube at a speed of 15-100 m/s and supplied with a quantity of energy amounting to 0.1-0.5 kWh/m.sup.3.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for heating a metallic melt with plasma torches is disclosed which is characterized by its ability to reduce the amount of contamination that is introduced into the metallic melt during the heating process. The apparatus and method includes a furnace chamber having a hearth for receiving a metallic melt. Mounted to the furnace chamber are a pair of plasma torches and an external electrode that is adapted to contact the metallic melt contained in the hearth. A separate direct current power supply is provided to operate such plasma torch. During operation of the apparatus, two separate circuits of opposite polarity are established through the metallic melt utilizing the plasma torches and the external electrode in contact with the melt. While these circuits are maintained, the external electrode is withdrawn from contact with the melt, thereby establishing a single series circuit which includes both plasma torches, both power supplies and the metallic melt.

Abstract: A high power generator for an ion discharge device used for the thermal treatment of metals in a rarified gaseous atmosphere. A variable width pulse generator is used to vary the input power to an inductance means. The frequency of the input pulses is held constant, while the pulse width is varied. An arc protection circuit is provided to sense and prevent an incipient arc across the secondary of the transformer. The arc protection circuit includes a voltage detector and a current detector with logic means to sense an under voltage-over current condition that presages the beginning of an arc. A second embodiment is disclosed which uses two circuits in parallel to drive the ion generator. One circuit is charged while the other is discharged. A third embodiment is disclosed which was a thyristor network for selectively loading the primary circuits of a pair of inductance circuits in response to an inductance-capacitance time constant.