Abstract: The temperature stabilization body is made of pulverized aluminum nitride with a first additive of pulverized aluminum present between 0.05% to 2%, and a grain size of under 1 micrometer, and a second additive of from 0.1% to 10% of an oxide, preferably yttrium oxide, present at about 1%--all precentages by weight, in which the mixture is ground in a ceramic ball mill to a grain size of not over 0.1 mm, subjected to cold isostatic pressure in the order of 2500 bar to form a green, pressed body, and then sintered at a sintering temperature of between 1750.degree. C. to 2000.degree. C. The heat conductivity of the densely sintered aluminum nitride body will then be at least 140 W/m .degree.K., and a heat conductivity of twice as much can be obtained, the body being non-toxic and not subject to creep under temperatures up to at least 1700.degree. C.

Abstract: An apparatus for heat treating a work item includes a cover member and a base member on which the cover member is supported. A work space is defined between the base member and the cover member for receiving at least one work item which is positioned therein. A seal member is located between the base member and the cover member for sealing the work space against the entry and exit of gas. A valving system is provided for regulating the entrance and exit of a gas to and from the work space. The valving system is in fluid communication with the work space and includes a relief valve member for allowing the exhaust of the gas from the work space when gas pressure therein exceeds a predetermined limit.

Abstract: The method relates to the hardening of form substances made of building materials and containing binding agents in a pressure chamber of an autoclave to which is conveyed a gaseous heating medium, the temperature of which is increased during a heating-up phase up to a given upper limit value. During a holding phase, the temperature is maintained at least until a given equalization temperature is reached on the inside of the form substances. Subsequently, during a cooling-down phase, the temperature is reduced by reducing the pressure to the expulsion temperature. Porous light building materials in a conventional process would absorb a high amount of water through the condensation of water resulting from steam having been conveyed into the autoclave for the purpose of hardening.

Abstract: The invention provides an apparatus and method for heating a vessel having a vessel bottom and at least one vessel side wall. The invention includes a furnace housing which is adapted to contain the vessel and which has a housing bottom and at least one housing side wall. A heater mechanism, located at the housing bottom and at the housing side wall, heats the vessel and is adapted to contact selected portions of the vessel bottom and vessel side wall. Thermal insulation is disposed about the housing for reducing heat loss therefrom, and an extendable temperature sensor is adapted to contact the vessel and monitor the temperature thereof.

Abstract: A heat-treatment furnace for thermally treating materials such as iron or steel products therein has a plurality of burners selectively actuable in different combinations at successive stages of a predetermined combustion control pattern or one of such patterns. At least one of the selected burners is alternately turned on and off during its operation in each stage. The combustion control pattern may be selected which corresponds to one of a plurality of temperature distribution patterns as sensed by temperature sensors located in the furnace at different positions. With the method of the invention, the furnace can be heated efficiently according to a predetermined optimum combustion pattern without consuming an excess amount of fuel and discharging unwanted exhaust pollutants.

Abstract: A process for controlling a calciner system is disclosed wherein the temperatures of the calcined product and the flue gas, and the rate of fuel flow to the burner are measured. A fuel flow set point is determined from the product and flue gas temperatures and the rate of fuel flow to the burner is controlled to the set point.

Abstract: An efficient method for using a periodic kiln to heat ceramic material to a state of maturation, and the apparatus for carrying out the method, duplicate the action of pyrometric cones. In a microcomputer, data is stored describing the relationship between rates of temperature increase and deformation temperatures for several numbered pyrometric cones. The kiln operator selects the cone number for use in the firing operation and then activates both the apparatus and the kiln's heating elements. Using a thermocouple, the microcomputer periodically measures kiln temperature and calculates the average rate of temperature increase inside the kiln (the rate need not be controlled). The rate is then used, in conjunction with the stored data, to determine the temperature at which the ceramic material will have matured. If the present temperature in the kiln is greater than or equal to this maturation temperature, the microcomputer sounds an alarm or shuts off the heating elements.

Abstract: Disclosed is a surge control method and apparatus for a combustion air blower used with a metal melting furnace which includes a variable restriction on the blower inlet regulated by a pressure sensing means near the blower outlet.

Abstract: Gases are blown into the kiln through its shell by means of shell pipes or nozzle blocks. The rates at which gases actually enter the kiln are ascertained in that the pressure in each supply duct is pneumatically tapped at a constriction and is applied to a transducer, which is secured to the kiln. A differential pressure is ascertained by the transducer and converted to an electric signal, which is delivered to a control station via slip rings, which are secured to the kiln, and stationary taps.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for automatically controlling a carbon bake furnace to thereby reduce uniformly baked anodes is disclosed. In its method aspects, the invention contemplates the use of flue and pit temperatures to produce a control signal to operate a valve for varying the air fuel mixture of a burner associated with said valve. In its apparatus aspects, the invention utilizes a plurality of infrared detectors to measure the pit and flue temperatures. The signals produced by these sensors are fed to a computer which produces a control signal for operating a valve associated with at least one of a plurality of burners which is to have its air/fuel ratio adjusted to thus adjust the temperature in the pit heated by the selected burner to a desired target temperature.

Abstract: An apparatus which monitors and controls the mass flow rates of two or more fuels and air is connected to a burner of a conventional asphalt drum mixer. Several fuels are combined and ignited to produce predictable burner temperatures. In this manner, fuels which ordinarily burn inefficiently can be used in conjunction with other more combustible fuels to produce hot mix asphalt. The regulation of the total fuel to air ratio results in controlled combustion which reduces overheating of the asphalt.

Abstract: In controlling a slab reheat furnace, the average temperature of each slab in a zone, is predicted as a function of the radiation heat source temperature in the zone, and the thermal properties, dimensions, location, velocity, and past thermal history of the slabs. The predicted slab temperatures are compared with a range of desired slab temperatures and the slab requiring the greatest time to be heated to its desired temperature is identified. The furnace is controlled in such a manner that the identified slab will be heated to the desired temperature. Slabs likely to be overheated are identified and, if a predetermined temperature limit is to be exceeded, the furnace is controlled to prevent further heating of the slabs. Gas temperatures throughout the zone are predicted based upon only one sensed temperature in the zone.

Abstract: A method for controlling furnace temperatures of a multi-zone heating furnace having a feedback control system for detecting and inputting a furnace temperature and a furnace temperature setting device or a combustion control computer of the type for determining an optimum furnace temperature for each slab and outputting it as a set point to said feedback control system, the method comprising the steps of determining, under predetermined limit conditions which are required for the operations of the furnace, a furnace temperature pattern or a slab temperature rise curve which may minimize the overall flow rate of fuel, heating the furnace along the furnace temperature pattern or the slab temperature rise curve which is determined, reducing, in response to the instruction for suspending the discharge of slabs from the furnace, the flow rate of fuel to be supplied to the furnace to a predetermined level, and heating the furnace along a new slab temperature rise curve which is obtained by shifting the steady stat

Abstract: Method and apparatus are disclosed for accurately controlling the temperature of a moving metal strip in a continuous heat treating operation. A plurality of temperature sensors are located at fixed intervals along the path of the metal strip through the heat treating apparatus, e.g., the cooling tunnel following an annealing oven, employed to control the application or extraction of heat and thereby the rate of temperature change of the strip. Errors in sensor readings are compensated by secondary averaging of adjacent temperature differential measurements to provide a more accurate temperature control.

Abstract: A method of controlling a heating furnace for steel ingots, particularly a soaking pit for steel ingots, which is charged with a basic fuel quantity for heating the ingots to rolling temperature. The surface temperature of the ingots and thermal data of the furnace are measured and heat balances are established. From the resulting furnace balance temperatures, together with the surface temperature of the ingots, an estimated value for the center temperature of the ingots is determined in an estimating device. The estimated ingot center temperature and the ingot surface temperature as actual temperatures are compared with predetermined ingot core and surface temperatures as nominal temperatures. The resulting difference is used to correct the basic fuel quantity fed to the furnace. The surface temperature of each individual ingot in a furnace may be measured.

Abstract: This metal heating method includes burning an air-gas fuel mixture as it flows into a furnace, flowing hot exhaust gases out of the furnace to an exhaust stack after it has impinged on or been brought into association with the metal in the furnace for heating the same, and thereafter measuring the temperature of gases in the stack. This gas temperature is used for controlling the pressure of the air and also of the gas fuel supplied to the furnace for combustion and with the pressure supplied being reduced when temperatures excessive to predetermined temperatures exist in the stack, but at the same time, a desired high fuel-to-air ratio is maintained to provide a reducing atmosphere in the furnace.

Abstract: An elongated article is heated in a heating zone positioned adjacent a conveying zone for conveying the elongated article by actuating the heating zone and controlling the temperature of the heating zone to a first temperature, then actuating the conveying zone after passage of a first period of time followed by controlling the temperature of the heating zone to a second temperature after the passage of a second period of time.

Abstract: A method of independently adjusting the fuel mixture composition and heating rate for a multiburner shaft furnace for the melting of metal, particularly copper and its alloys, fed in lump form to the shaft furnace, in which the burners are supplied with air and fuel gas and the heating rate is adjusted by controlling the pressure of one of the components of the fuel mixture (air or gas) in the manifold for supplying this component to a group of burners. The other fuel mixture component has its pressure controlled in its manifold by a single controller constituted by a pressure ratio controller.

Abstract: Reasons of ecology, health and prevention of corrosion require firing methods and furnaces with which the contents of soot and uncombustible gases such as carbon monoxide, hydrogen, hydrocarbons as well as nitrogen oxides and sulfur trioxides do not excess certain levels. This is obtained by a firing method in which a fuel is decomposed with deficient amounts of primary combustion air to combustible gases. Such gases are combusted by the admixture of secondary and tertiary combustion air amounts whereby a flame is obtained which is extended in space and time and, thus, the temperature of which does not rise above moderate values such as 1400.degree. centigrade. Prior to being exhausted, the combustion gases are thoroughly mixed so as to obtain perfect combustion of possibly subsisting combustible substances. Exhausting takes place with heat withdrawal so that cool and pure combustion gases enter the ambiency.

Abstract: An arrangement for providing controlled annealing of parts within a furnace comprising a series of heat radiation distributors, thermal conduction dosing devices and heat accumulators positioned within the furnace to provide a temperature gradient in the radial direction of the furnace cross section. The controlled temperature distribution within the furnace provides a controlled temperature distribution to the objects within the furnace during the annealing process. This controlled annealing process is particularly applicable to a method for controlling the coercive force distribution within a magnetically hard reed armature for matching the coercive force distribution along the armature to the magnetic flux intensity of the reed contact assembly.

Abstract: In the calcination of petroleum coke in a rotary kiln, procedure wherein air is controllably supplied internally of the kiln to burn the removed volatiles, as by selection or adjustment of the amount of such air and of the speed of coke travel down the kiln, so that all or nearly all of the heat for calcining the coke is provided by such combustion, and so that a suitably high temperature is reached for effective calcination at an efficiently large feed rate of coke, a special feature being to maintain a significantly long travel time of the coke from a region of intense calcining activity to the product discharge end of the kiln. High production rates, of coke calcined well and uniformly, are economically attained, with ease of control and with unusual stability of kiln operation.