Abstract: The present invention provides a method for producing a high quality positive electrode active material for lithium ion batteries at low cost and at excellent production efficiency. The method for producing a positive electrode active material for lithium ion batteries includes a step of firing a powder of lithium-containing carbonate that is a precursor for positive electrode active material for lithium ion batteries in a rotary kiln. In the step, a temperature at a powder feed part inside of the rotary kiln is kept at 500° C. or more.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a device for thermally treating workpieces that are equipped with electrical and electronic components, including at least one process chamber in which at least one heating or cooling zone is formed or disposed, wherein a temperature-controlled gaseous fluid can be introduced into said heating or cooling zone, wherein the workpieces pass through the heating or cooling zone and heat is transferred in a convective manner between the workpieces and the temperature-controlled fluid, and including at least one temperature measuring element disposed in the process chamber, wherein at least one sensor element that has a defined mass is disposed in the process chamber, such that heat is convectively transferred between the sensor element and the fluid, and an apparatus is provided for cooling and/or heating the sensor element, wherein the temperature of the sensor element can be measured by the temperature measuring element.

Abstract: Various embodiments provide methods and apparatus for active cooling regulation of a melting process. In one embodiment, a meltable material can be melted in a vessel that includes cooling channel(s) configured therein. A contact temperature TContact of the vessel at an interface with the melt can be measured and compared with a skull forming temperature TSkull and a wetting temperature TWetting of the melt on the vessel. A cooling rate can be regulated to regulate TContact to be TSkull<TContact<TWetting. In another embodiment, TContact can be regulated in a value close or equal to a wetting threshold temperature TTh-I, wherein TTH-I=TWetting—a temperature safety margin for TWetting. In yet another embodiment, TContact can be regulated such that TTh-II?TContact?TTh-I, wherein TTh-II=TSkull plus a temperature safety margin for TSkull.

Abstract: Method for cooling granular solid materials from a continuous curing facility having at least one area for burning a fuel to cure granular materials, wherein the curing of the granular materials, then the cooling of the cured granular materials is carried out in two consecutive steps, a first cooling step in a first cooler and a second cooling step in a second cooler, the method including: providing a cold air source for cooling the granular materials, the cold air source directly supplying air to the second cooler by blowing, and the air heated by the cured granular materials being used during the cooling as combustion gas for the burning area. All gases generated by the first and second coolers are routed to the burning area for use as a combustion gas, and the amount of cold air blown to the second cooler is adjusted to cover the air combustion needs.

Abstract: A heat treatment apparatus and control method enabling the apparatus to settle down the internal temperature of a treating vessel to a target temperature accurately and quickly. The apparatus includes a furnace body with a heater on an inner circumferential surface thereof, a treating vessel disposed inside the furnace body, a cooling medium supply blower and cooling medium release blower connected to the furnace body, and a temperature sensor provided inside the treating vessel. A signal from the temperature sensor is sent to a heater output computing unit of a controller. The computing unit determines a heater output level to be obtained during temperature regulation with the heater only, the heater output level being based on a preset temperature that has been determined by a temperature determining unit and temperature detected by the temperature sensor. A blower output computing unit activates blower output based on the heater output level.

Abstract: A heat treatment apparatus and control method enabling the apparatus to settle down an internal temperature of a treating vessel to a target temperature accurately and quickly. The heat treatment apparatus includes a furnace body with a heater on an inner circumferential surface thereof, the treating vessel disposed inside the furnace body, a cooling medium supply blower and cooling medium release blower each connected to the furnace body, and a temperature sensor provided inside the treating vessel. A signal from the temperature sensor is sent to a heater output computing unit and blower output computing unit included in a controller. The heater output computing unit determines a heater output level based on a heater output numerical model and the signal from the temperature sensor. The blower output computing unit determines a blower output level based on a blower output numerical model and the signal from the temperature sensor.

Abstract: A circulating fluidized bed boiler having improved reactant utilization. The circulating fluidized bed boiler includes a circulating fluidized bed having a dense bed portion and a lower furnace portion above the dense bed portion. At least one secondary air and recirculated flue gas injection device is downstream of the circulating fluidized bed for providing mixing of the reactant and the flue gas in the furnace above the dense bed. The present invention also includes methods of operating a fluidized bed boiler.

Abstract: An oven apparatus has an oven enclosure with a heating zone and has two fans that remove air from the heating zone during purging and during normal operations. One of the two fans, called the exhaust fan, is a fixed speed fan in some embodiments. The second fan is a variable speed fan in some embodiments. The oven apparatus may have a vestibule at a conveyor opening with a fan dedicated to exhausting the vestibule. The oven apparatus may have an air seal between the vestibule and a heating zone of an oven chamber.

Abstract: The invention provides a heat treatment apparatus, in which an intake valve (91a) is mounted on an ambient gas feed pipe (91) connected to a heating chamber (12), an exhaust valve (131a) is mounted on an exhaust pipe (131), and a pressure sensor (150) is provided on the heating chamber (12). Through the control of a control unit (80) connected to the pressure sensor (150), to the intake valve (91a) and to the exhaust valve (131a), the intake valve (91a) and the exhaust valve (131a) are opened or closed, thus supplying ambient gas into the heating chamber (12) or exhausting ambient gas from the cooling chamber (13) depending on an internal pressure of the heating chamber (12). Thus, the amount of ambient gas used in heat treating workpieces (1) is minimized and thus operational costs are reduced. It is possible to prevent accidents such as gas explosions as well as to reduce environmental contamination caused by the combustion of ambient gas.

Abstract: An inward opening oven intake for a gas chromatographic (GC) oven includes an inward opening intake flap that opens into the GC oven near the bottom of the GC oven. Opening at a flap angle, the inward opening intake flap creates a low-pressure region to draw a large amount of airflow into the GC oven during cool-down. In addition, the inward opening oven intake manipulates the airflow within the GC oven to more efficiently draw heat away from the oven walls. This greater efficiency allows for faster cycle time and higher sample throughput.

Abstract: The method of preparing an oxide superconducting wire comprises steps of preparing a wire by coating raw material powder for a Bi—Pb—Sr—Ca—Cu—O based oxide superconductor including a 2223 phase with a metal and heat treating the wire in a pressurized atmosphere containing oxygen in a prescribed partial pressure, and the total pressure of the pressurized atmosphere is at least 0.5 MPa. The pressure heat treatment apparatus comprises a pressure furnace storing and heat treating a target in a pressurized atmosphere, a pressure regulator for measuring the total pressure in the pressure furnace, an oxygen concentration meter for measuring the oxygen concentration in the pressure furnace and a controller for controlling the oxygen partial pressure in the pressure furnace in response to the total pressure measured by the pressure regulator and the oxygen concentration measured by the oxygen concentration meter.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a cooling system of a furnace, more particularly, to a multi-cycle cooling system, located by the furnace door. The multi-cycle cooling system comprises the first gas cooling cycle, the second gas cooling cycle, the first liquid cooling cycle, the second liquid cooling cycle, the heat sinks and the heat insulation slot. When inside the process tube proceeds the high temperature process like depositing process, the first gas cooling cycle and the second gas cooling cycle are opened and the second liquid cooling cycle is closed at the same time. The second gas cooling cycle and the second liquid cooling cycle are assembled in the first flange, which is located on the process tube and contacts with the door. The first liquid cooling cycle in the second flange, which is located on the process tube and contacts with the first range, is always opened.

Abstract: A soldering machine using lead-free solders is provided which can uniformly heat a printed circuit board and electronic parts to be mounted thereon, and which can solder the electronic parts without thermally damaging them. A porous member having a number of holes formed therein is disposed between a blower fan and a heater for making uniform the pressure of a fluid. A radiation plate is disposed between the heater and a heating target for blowing the fluid having been heated by the heater to the heating target in the form of a turbulent flow. The heated fluid is blown to the heating target for heating the same, whereby solder is melted.

Abstract: A method and implementing system is provided in which a gas, such as oxygen, is injected on to area of a circuit board to which an electronic component is being mounted. The injected gas causes a formation of a coating or surface alloy layer such as tin-oxide, on the solder joint. The coating causes the solder bead or joint to have a higher surface tension and a higher reflow temperature. In an exemplary double-sided double-pass assembly operation, circuit boards pass through a soldering oven on a first pass to attach components to a first side, and then the board is inverted and passed through the oven on a second pass while components are mounted on the opposite side of the board. During the second pass, a gas injection device is aimed at the component-to-board connection points on the inverted side of the board which were soldered on the first pass. The gas is injected at the point in the soldering reflow oven at which the temperature begins to exceed the solder reflow temperature.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for selectively providing convective heat to an object with a dual mode convection oven that is alternatively operable in either a running mode or a bypass mode. Convective heat is channelled into a supply hood through a supply duct. Convective heat is also channelled out of a suction hood through a return duct. An operating mode for the convection oven is selected. If the selected operating mode is the running mode, then convective heat is applied to the object by channelling the convective heat from the supply hood through a heat application zone and into the suction hood, the heat application zone being positioned between the supply hood and the suction hood.

Abstract: A method of manufacture of a low-capacitance programmed cell structure for read-only memory circuits comprises a field-effect transistor having conventional source and drain regions separated by a channel region overlaid by the gate of the transistor. This ROM memory cell is programmed by a channel implant extending only from the source region for a selected distance into the channel region.

Abstract: A heat treatment system is fabricated from a loading section, a heat treatment section and a outlet section integrated with one another, and the heat treatment section comprises a transfer mechanism provided between the loading section and the outlet section for successively transferring silicon wafers, a heating unit provided along the transfer mechanism for heating the silicon wafers, and a cooling unit provided along the transfer mechanism and closer to the outlet section than the heating section for cooling the silicon wafers so that the silicon wafers are continuously treated with heat for annihilating thermal donors produced from oxygen during the growth of a silicon crystal without any handling by operators.

Abstract: The invention relates to the cooling of hot, layered, granular material supported on an air permeable grate through which cooling air passes constantly. Some zones of the material layer have a higher temperature than other zones. Pulses of additional cooling air are passed through the higher temperature zones at such velocity as to enhance cooling and to relayer the material at such zones. In this way the degree of recuperation of the grate cooler can be substantially improved.

Abstract: A kiln for reclaiming quick lime from calcium carbonate sludge formed in the production of cooking liquors in a wood pulping process for the production of paper. The kiln provides increased output with lower energy input due to: measurement and control of oxygen content in the kiln; non-air mixing burner; castable refractory liner with tumbler ribs; a heat transferring chain system; and a variable speed exhaust fan and air flow control. The output of the kiln was increased by more than ten percent along with a forty-five percent improvement in energy efficiency at substantial cost reduction due to its efficient use of energy.

Abstract: A process is provided for cooling fired products such as tiles in a kiln by repeating a cooling step to cool down said products, the cooling step comprising blowing a cooling gaseous fluid, e.g., cooling air, to the fired products in the kiln, alternately with a non-cooling step to moderate a sharp temperature gradient between the surfaces and the interior regions of the products, the non-cooling step comprising stopping or suppressing the blowing of cooling gaseous fluid between cooling steps. The process of the invention can achieve rapid cooling without giving rise to dunting due to thermal stresses and thus can increase the productivity of kilns. When the invention is applied to a tunnel kiln, the kiln can be considerably shortened.

Abstract: Cermic materials (i.e. architectural face-bricks) are fired in a tunnel kiln of the type having a firing zone and a downstream cooling zone. The cooling zone is segregated into indirect and direct cooling zones via a sealed gate structure therebetween. The heated gases in the indirect cooling zone are thus preliminarily cooled by suitable means (for example, a heat exchanger) and the cooled gases are returned via a closed-loop path to the indirect cooling zone. The fired ceramic materials in the direct cooling zone are finally cooled by the direct introduction of an oxygen-rich gas (i.e. ambient air). In such a manner, a reducing atmosphere may be maintained in the firing zone and in the indirect cooling zone while final cooling of the bricks occurs in the direct cooling zone. Thus, the oxygen-rich atmosphere of the direct cooling zone is prevented from entering the indirect cooling zone via the sealed gate structure thereby permitting frost-resistant bricks to be fired and cooled on a continual basis.

Abstract: The invention resides in the temperature control of the oven of a gas chromatograph. A variable speed fan circulates air within the oven. Vents in the oven wall open automatically in response to pressure imbalances between the ambient atmosphere and the oven interior. Temperature is controlled by regulated exchanges of ambient and oven air produced by variations in fan speed.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for removing volatile contaminants from scrap metal is disclosed. The process is carried out in a furnace maintained at a relatively constant temperature and having a first zone in which volatiles contained on the surface of the metal are vaporized and a second zone in which carbon contained on the surface of the metal is pyrolyzed. The furnace also has a conveyor for transporting metal therethrough at a specific speed to ensure complete vaporization and pyrolysis of the contaminants. The process includes the steps of sufficiently vaporizing the volatiles without oxidizing the metal, the vaporizing producing fumes containing unburned hydrocarbons. The hydrocarbon fumes are then burned to produce hot gas which is recirculated to the furnace. The hot gas contacts the incoming metal and vaporizes the volatiles contained thereon.

Abstract: A preheating mechanism for preheating a source metal for melt includes a combination of independent combustion and preheating devices. The mechanism also includes a high-temperature gas conduit for connecting the combustion device and the preheating device, a low-temperature gas conduit for connecting the preheating device and an exhaust gas chimney, a branch pipe branched from the low-temperature gas conduit and connected to the high-temperature gas conduit, and a short-cut gas conduit for connecting a conduit portion at a combustion device side from a coupling portion between the high-temperature gas conduit and the branch pipe to a conduit portion at an exhaust gas chimney side from a branch portion between the low-temperature gas conduit and the branch pipe. A diluting mechanism is arranged in the short-cut gas conduit. A valve with a variable motor is arranged in the branch pipe.

Abstract: This invention relates to an improved method of controlling temperatures within a cleaning or reclamation furnace which is normally used to reclaim metal parts contaminated with combustible materials by pyrolyzing the combustible materials. A reclamation furnace usually includes a primary heat-input burner employed to heat the contaminated parts in the primary heating chamber, an afterburner chamber contained within the heating chamber having a secondary burner to burn volatile gases which are given off by the combustible materials as the parts are heated, and two separately-controlled automatic valve and spray nozzle assemblies connected to the primary heating chamber. Each nozzle assembly is connected to a pressurized water source to deliver a water-spray injection into the heating chamber.

Abstract: A fume incineration system for an industrial process site such as a paint-drying oven (10) producing a combustible effluent. A first duct system (34, 38, 42) conveys effluent to the incinerator (14). A second duct system (44, 48) conveys incinerated effluent back to the site. A third duct system (52, 56) conveys part of the incinerated effluent to an atmospheric vent (57). Control dampers (50, 74) in the duct systems operate sequentially to handle temperature changes, and control damper (84) controls system air flow balance. All ducts and thermal devices except the incinerator are located in an insulated housing (12). A thermal incinerator (14) having an internal preheater comprising an annular tube bundle is disclosed.

Abstract: A recirculation device for recirculating a selected volume of preheated gas exhausted from a heating chamber in a mixture with fresh air back to the heating chamber. The device comprises a first passageway having an entrance and a pair of exits; a second passageway having a pair of inlets and an outlet; and a third passageway connecting one exit and one inlet. The other exit communicates with a preheated gas exhaust, and the other intake communicates with a source of fresh air. A back pressure damper is secured adjacent the other exit. A manual control assembly is connected to the back pressure damper so that the volume of preheated gas flowing into the preheated gas exhaust may be selectively determined. A mixing damper is secured adjacent the other intake. An automatic temperature dependent control assembly is connected to the mixing damper so that the mixture of preheated gas and fresh air entering the heating chamber is dependent upon the temperature in the heating chamber.

Abstract: This invention relates to a fluidized bed for use in heat treating articles, the bed having a container for containing a mass of refractory particles. The container has a porous base and a supply pipe for supplying a fluidizing gas to the underside of the porous base from which the gas will flow through the porous base and into the mass of refractory particles. The fluidizing gas flows through an adjustable control valve arranged in the supply pipe. There are also provided at vertically spaced positions above the upper surface of the porous base a pair of temperature transducers which are connected together to provide a signal which is dependent upon the difference in the temperatures at the vertically spaced positions, there being also provided power actuated means in the form of an electric motor which in use is arranged to receive the signal from the temperature transducers and then actuate the adjustable valve in accordance with the signal received.

Abstract: A continuous cold rolling and annealing apparatus for a steel strip so that interruption of a cold rolling mill part does not directly cause a continuous annealing furnace part to be interrupted, in which apparatus at least one cold rolling mill is located upstream of the entrance of a continuous annealing furnace and an intermediate reel for supplying a spare steel strip coil to said continuous annealing furnace, is arranged between the cold rolling mill and the continuous annealing furnace.

Abstract: A method for preventing fires and explosions and thus controlling excess temperature within a burn-off or reclamation furnace including a water injection nozzle within the furnace, an automatic valve assembly connected to a source of water under pressure to turn the water on and off, an input burner to heat contaminate materials, an afterburner to burn volatile gases given off by the contaminate materials as they are heated, a temperature sensor located in the discharge from the afterburner to actuate the automatic valve assembly open and closed responsive to the temperature of the discharge, the temperature of the discharge depending on the rate of emission of volatile gases from the contaminate material so that if a high emission rate causes a predetermined temperature to be exceeded the valve assembly opens and the water injection nozzle sprays water on the contaminate materials to cool them and decrease the emission rate until the valve assembly closes.

Abstract: A high efficiency system and method for supplying heat energy to a combustible effluent producing primary process, such as to a paint drying oven, in which the output of an incinerator-heater is controlled in order to be matched to the heat energy requirements of the process. At the same time, the incinerator burner temperature is sufficiently high to incinerate the combustible effluent developed by the primary process. Effluent laden air is circulated from the process site through a preheat heat exchanger into which is transferred a portion of the heat of the incinerated air prior to entry into the incinerator chamber. The incinerated air is recirculated to the process site in order to provide the heat energy requirements of the drying oven or other process. A proportion of the incinerated air is vented to an exhaust stack via an air-to-air heat exchanger which preheats incoming fresh air circulated to the process site to make up the vented flow of incinerated air.

Abstract: A system for drying and burning wet waste materials includes a multiple hearth furnace having an upper, drying zone and a lower, burning zone. Wet waste material is introduced into the upper, drying zone and dried with a stream of hot air, and the stream of air is then conveyed to a condenser to remove water. The stream of air from the condenser is then conveyed to the center column of the furnace wherein it is heated, and the hot air is then introduced into the lower, burning zone of the furnace to aid combustion. Hot gaseous products of combustion are conveyed from the burning zone to an afterburner, and the gases leaving the afterburner are transferred to a heat exchanger and then discharged. In the heat exchanger a stream of ambient air is heated, and the heated air is then conveyed to the upper, drying zone.

Abstract: A burner within which there is a jet pump means. High pressure primary combustion air is fed to an inlet in the burner housing and then through the jet pump means. The high pressure air flowing through the jet pump means draws a secondary low pressure, high temperature air into the burner. The jet pump means entrains the secondary air within the primary air to form a combustion air mixture. A fuel means feeds fuel to the burner housing and the combustion air and fuel combine to form a suitable mixture for ignition. A swirler can be located within the means to feed the primary air to the inlet or within the burner itself. By swirling the primary air the flame pattern of the burner can be controlled. The burner of the present invention is particularly adaptable for soaking pits having a tile recuperator and the metallic recuperator disposed within a flue gas passageway.

Abstract: A cooling vent within a thermal system, which has heat otherwise supplied to regulate the temperature thereof, is controlled to open and close incrementally so that temperature control near room ambient is facilitated.

Abstract: An annealing lehr comprised of a plurality of serially arranged heating and cooling sections which form a continuous treating chamber through which the ware passes during the annealing operation. An endless foraminous conveyor belt moves through the treating chamber and supports the ware to be annealed, with both the charging and return flights of the belt being located within the heating section to pre-heat the return flight. At least one burner is mounted adjacent the top and at each side of each heating section, and the burners fire directly into a duct which communicates with the inlet of a fan positioned centrally above the treating chamber. The circulating system includes down ducts at each side of the treating chamber and electrical heating elements can be located in the down ducts for providing the necessary heating, in lieu of the gas burners.

Abstract: A system for controlling the operation of a multiple hearth furnace over a diverse range of operating conditions at a minimum level of energy consumption. Relatively low temperature gases are controllably recirculated from the drying zone to the combustion zone of the furnace, and/or gases are controllably discharged from the combustion zone and/or drying zone to regulate drying zone temperature, combustion zone temperature and the quantity of excess air required to provide optimum furnace operating conditions. The system is particularly useful for controlling the incineration in a multiple hearth furnace of sludge from waste water treatment plants.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to a method and apparatus for annealing glassware by passing the ware continuously through a tunnel in which the application of heat and recirculation of the gaseous treating medium is regulated to establish and maintain independently controllable heating and cooling zones. An endless perforated conveyor passes from end to end of the tunnel and the ware is placed on the conveyor in alignment with and beneath a jet-like blast of the treating medium internally and externally of the ware simultaneously to subject all of the ware to uniform treatment in minimum time. The treating medium in the heating zones of the tunnel is recirculated and furnace pressure and temperature is regulated by circulating fans and by dampers between the furnace chambers with the outside atmosphere.