Abstract: In a charging process of a shaft furnace, in particular of a blast furnace, batches of charge material are typically discharged in cyclical sequence into the furnace from a top hopper using a flow control valve. A method and system is proposed for adjusting the flow rate of charge material in such a process. Pre-determined valve characteristics for certain types of material are provided, each indicating the relation between flow rate and valve setting for one type of material. According to the invention, a specific valve characteristic is stored for each batch of charge material, each specific valve characteristic being bijectively associated to one batch and indicating the relation between flow rate and valve setting of the flow control valve specifically for the associated batch.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing an expanded granulate from sand grain-shaped mineral material (1) with a propellant, wherein the material (1) is fed into a vertically upright furnace (2) from above and said material (1) falls along a drop section (4) through multiple heating zones (5) in a furnace shaft (3) of the furnace (2), wherein each heating zone (5) is heatable using at least one independently controllable heating element (6), and the material (1) is heated to a critical temperature at which the surfaces (7) of the sand grains (15) plasticize and the sand grains (15) are expanded by the propellant.

Abstract: A system and method for the calcination of minerals.

Abstract: The invention relates to a shaft furnace (10) and a method for heat treating carbonaceous molded parts, particularly anodes (17), having an arrangement of the molded parts in at least one molded part column (11 to 15) disposed between tempering shaft devices (19, 20, 21) comprising a plurality of molded part rows (16) disposed above each other in a conveyor shaft, the rows being moved past temperature fields of the tempering shaft devices (19, 20, 22) and passing through a heating zone (25), a firing zone (27) having a burner device (28), and a cooling zone (26), wherein thermally insulating intermediate layers are disposed both between the temperature fields of the tempering shaft devices (19, 20, 22) and between the molded part rows of the molded part columns.

Abstract: A method for processing solar cells comprising: providing a vertical furnace to receive an array of mutually spaced circular semiconductor wafers for integrated circuit processing; composing a process chamber loading configuration for solar cell substrates, wherein a size of the solar cell substrates that extends along a first surface to be processed is smaller than a corresponding size of the circular semiconductor wafers, such that multiple arrays of mutually spaced solar cell substrates can be accommodated in the process chamber, loading the solar cell substrates into the process chamber; subjecting the solar cell substrates to a process in the process chamber.

Abstract: A process and an apparatus for producing sponge iron from iron-oxide-containing material in lump form by direct reduction in a reduction shaft using a reducing gas, wherein the entire reducing gas is introduced by means of a number of reducing gas distribution ducts in a star-like arrangement or arranged parallel to one another, preferably into the lower quarter of the reduction shaft, and evenly distributed over the entire cross-section of the reduction shaft.

Abstract: A substrate support instrument includes a first support instrument portion and a second support instrument portion detachably combined with each other. Each of the first support instrument portion and second support instrument portion includes: a ceiling plate and a bottom plate facing each other upward and downward; a support pillar disposed in plurality along a peripheral edge portion of each of the ceiling plate and bottom plate, and configured to connect the ceiling plate and the bottom plate; and a support part disposed at a position corresponding to each of the support pillars, and configured to support a bottom of each substrate. In the support part, a height position is set such that a substrate supported in the first support instrument portion and a substrate supported in the second support instrument portion are alternately arranged, when the first support instrument portion is combined with the second support instrument portion.

Abstract: Disclosed is a composite system that includes a reduction system for reducing oxides in a continuous process, a process assembly for manufacturing liquid metal in a discontinuous process, wherein a reduction product is fed from the reduction system to the process assembly, at least one buffer device for receiving the reduction product and further starting materials and also for charging the process assembly, and a conveyor system for transporting the reduction product from the reduction system into the at least one buffer device.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a vertical furnace for fabricating an artificially lightweight fine-aggregates in that the aggregates can be fired in the vertical furnace in a floating state, so that the contacting time between the aggregates can be minimized, thereby preventing the adhesion between the aggregates and manufacturing the artificially lightweight fine-aggregates as an insulating concrete for building material, sound-absorbing materials, and lagging material.

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 rotary charging device for a shaft furnace commonly comprises a rotary distribution configured to distribute charge material on a charging surface in the shaft furnace. A rotatable structure supports the rotary distribution means and a stationary support rotatably supports the rotatable structure. According to the invention, the charging device is equipped with an inductive coupling device including a stationary inductor fixed to the stationary support and a rotary inductor fixed to the rotatable structure. The stationary inductor and the rotary inductor are separated by a radial gap and configured as rotary transformer for achieving contact-less electric energy transfer from the stationary support to the rotatable structure by means of magnetic coupling through the radial gap for powering an electric load arranged on the rotatable structure and connected to said rotary inductor.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for manufacturing a sulfoaluminous or belitic sulfoaluminous clinker from a raw mix formed from a mixture including minerals containing calcium, aluminum, silica, iron, and sulfur, preferably in sulfate form, and is characterized in that the method comprises the steps including: at least partially dehydrating and decarbonating the mixture through placement in a vertical kiln (1) comprising a substantially vertical chamber (2) wherein the mixture is heated, the chamber (2) of the vertical kiln (1) being supplied with hot gases the temperature of which is between 900 and 1150° C; extracting the dehydrated and decarbonated mixture from the vertical kiln (1) and conveying the same in a continuous kiln (4) comprising a furnace (5) and a transporting means (6) for transporting the mixture across the furnace (5); heating the mixture from the vertical kiln (1) by passing the mixture through the furnace (5) via the transporting means (6) such that a clinkerization of the mixture is ob

Abstract: A driving apparatus for a blast furnace charging distribution chute includes: a driving unit comprising a crankshaft connected to a motor to rotate with a variable rotational radius; a power transmission unit comprising a plurality of connection rods connected to the driving unit to linearly transmit power; and a working unit connected to the power transmission unit and fixed to circumference of a distribution chute to rotate or tilt the distribution chute.

Abstract: A multiple hearth furnace including a rabble arm with a tubular structure and a solid plug body. The latter is received in a socket arranged in an arm fixing node. It has an axial through boring and cooling fluid supply and return channels arranged around this through boring. A clamping bolt is rotatably fitted in the through boring. It has a bolt head, which can be brought by rotation into and out of hooking engagement with an abutment surface on the arm fixing node. A threaded end of the clamping bolt sticks out of the through boring at the rear end of the plug body. A threaded sleeve, which is screwed onto this threaded end, bears on an abutment surface at the rear end of the plug body for exerting a clamping force onto the clamping bolt.

Abstract: A multiple hearth furnace includes a gas cooling system for its central shaft and its rabble arms. This gas cooling system includes within the shaft an annular main distribution channel for supplying a cooling gas to the rabble arms and a central exhaust channel for evacuating the cooling gas leaving the rabble arms. The gas cooling system further includes an annular main supply channel surrounding the annular main distribution channel and being outwardly delimited by an outer shell of the shaft. A cooling gas inlet is connected to the annular main supply channel. A cooling gas passage between the annular main supply channel and the annular main distribution channel is spaced from the cooling gas inlet, so that cooling gas supplied to the cooling gas inlet has to flow through the annular main supply channel through several hearth chambers before it flows through the cooling gas passage into the annular main distribution channel.

Abstract: This invention relates to a casting sand heating apparatus. The purpose of this invention is to provide a casting sand heating apparatus which can heat sand up to 300° C. or higher with high energy efficiency, lower capital investment and lower operating costs. This apparatus is comprised of a furnace body, sand inlet, smoke discharge and dust removing port, hearth and sand outlet. The sand inlet is arranged at the top of the furnace body, the combustion mouth is arranged in the lower part of the furnace body. Additionally, the heat exchange apparatus is arranged in the middle part of the furnace body. This invention can be used for the heating and baking of fresh and used casting sand.

Abstract: A blast furnace head (11) including a material loading device comprising rotary chute (14) driven in rotation about a first, vertical axis of rotation (16), and a loading chute (15) at the outlet of same, driven in rotation about a second, vertical axis of rotation (17) laterally offset relative to the first axis of rotation (16). The gears (20, 21) assigned to both of the chutes (14, 15) are arranged within a sealing chamber (22). Within this sealing chamber (22), a means (28) is arranged for supplying integrated measuring devices (29 or 30), lubrication points or similar maintenance recipients, with these supply means (28) being drivable by one of the gears (20, 21) assigned to the two chutes, in particular by the gear (20) assigned to the rotary chute (14).

Abstract: The temperature of a metallurgical slurry in a heater vessel is accurately controlled by heating a first portion of the slurry in the heater vessel by contact with a heating medium such as steam, and by adding to the heater vessel controlled portions of a slurry at lower temperature. The lower temperature slurry may be added to the heater vessel in an intermittent or continuous manner, with addition of the lower temperature slurry being regulated by a valve, the operation of which is controlled by a control device which receives temperature information from one or more temperature sensors.

Abstract: A loading device for a shaft furnace comprises a chute supported by a suspension rotor (28) in a fixed housing. The rotor (28) is fitted with a cooling circuit, supplied with liquid coolant via a rotating annular joint (44). The latter comprises a fixed ring (60) and a rotating ring (62), and is fitted in an annular leak collecting tank (46) formed by the suspension rotor (28). Fixed ring (60) is supported by the housing (12). Rotating ring (62) is supported entirely by fixed ring (60) via a bearing (64). Selective coupling means (65, 66) connect the rotating ring (62) to the suspension rotor (28) in such a way as to transmit a rotary moment of rotor (28) to rotating ring (62) selectively, while at the same time preventing other forces from rotor (28) being transmitted to rotating ring (62).

Abstract: In order to create a device like a shuttle sluice for sluicing or distributing a hot meal-form material flow, in particular for cement plant construction, whose shuttle valve or shuttle valves is or are easy and inexpensive to repair or renew in case of wear and tear, a shuttle sluice is provided, whose shuttle valve has at least two parts and comprising of an upper suspension part and a lower expendable part, whereby the upper suspension part and the lower expendable part of the shuttle valve are stiff or rigid, i.e., detachably connected to each other, not hinged or pivoted to each other.

Abstract: The invention relates to a shaft furnace, in particular a direct-reduction shaft furnace, with a charge composed of particulate material, in particular a particulate material containing iron oxide and/or sponge iron, the said material being capable of being fed into the shaft furnace from above, and with, arranged in one plane, a multiplicity of gas-inlet orifices for a reduction gas in the region of the lower third of the shaft furnace, the shaft contour having a diametral widening and a cavity being formed between the gas-inlet orifices and the charge. The shaft furnace according to the invention makes it possible to supply gas to the shaft furnace so as to be distributed uniformly over its circumference.

Abstract: In a method for burning carbonate-containing material the latter moves as a result of gravity in counter-current to the cooling and combustion air through a shaft kiln. The fuel supply takes place by means of burning lances introduced into the granular burning material at right angles to the shaft wall. On limiting the grain size and the residence time as a result of this type of fuel supply it is possible to achieve high burning temperatures even suitable for hard burning without there being any sintering together of the granular burning material.

Abstract: A heating furnace is provided to use for medium and small size incinerator, to control air pollution effectively using waste heat generated from the incinerator and not to require large size equipment. The heating furnace includes a first opening for inserting disposal material, a second opening communicating with a furnace body being capable of heating the disposal material, a heat flow passage formed between the first opening and the second opening, and a heating tube having receiving means, the receiving means receiving the disposal material into the heat flow passage and at the same time dropping the disposal material into the furnace body during the rotation. A motor is connected to the furnace body to obtain electric power by heat generated from the furnace body.

Abstract: In a method for burning carbonate-containing material the latter moves as a result of gravity in counter-current to the cooling and combustion air through a shaft kiln. The fuel supply takes place by means of burning lances introduced into the granular burning material at right angles to the shaft wall. On limiting the grain size and the residence time as a result of this type of fuel supply it is possible to achieve high burning temperatures even suitable for hard burning without there being any sintering together of the granular burning material.

Abstract: The invention relates to a shaft furnace (1), in particular a direct-reduction shaft furnace, having a bed (2) of lumpy material, in particular lumpy material containing iron oxide and/or iron sponge, having worm conveyors (3) which penetrate through the shell of the shaft furnace for discharging the lumpy material from the shaft furnace (1), which conveyors are arranged above the base area of the shaft furnace (1) and are mounted in the shell of the shaft furnace.

Abstract: The invention relates to a shaft furnace (1), particularly to a direct-reduction shaft furnace, with a bed (2) of lumpy material, particularly lumpy material containing iron oxide and/or sponge iron, with discharge devices (4) for lumpy material which are located above the bottom area (3) of the shaft furnace (1), as well as with inlet ports (6) for a reduction gas which are arranged above the discharge devices (4). Arrangements (7) for moving the material in the shaft furnace (1) are located between the area formed by the inlet ports (6) and that formed by the discharge devices (4).

Abstract: An apparatus for melting materials is provided comprising a melter body having a batch injection portion including a batch inlet port, a batch melting portion including a batch melting chamber adapted to receive materials from said batch injection portion, and a molten materials delivery portion including a molten materials outlet port. At least one jet stream injection assembly injects a jet stream into said batch melting chamber. The jet stream comprises a fuel, an oxidant, and heated products of combustion and produces a vortex flow pattern in said batch melting chamber. Fuel and oxidant within said vortex flow pattern react to form laminar flamelets within said vortex flow pattern. The heat generated in the flamelets melts the materials.

Abstract: A water cooled finger for a pre-heater of a furnace top holds metal materials of a required amount in a shaft installed at the furnace top for pre-heating metal materials by introducing exhaust gas at high temperature generated in the furnace into the shaft. The water cooled finger is formed of a pair of side aces, an upper plate and a lower plate. The upper plate is fixed to an upper plate of both of the side face portions. The lower plate is fixed to a lower plate of both of the side face portions. The water cooled finger is formed to be hollow as a whole by the side face, the upper plate and the lower plate. The water cooled finger satisfies at least one of the conditions of (A) a thickness of the upper plate is thicker than that of said lower plate, (B) the lower plate is formed to be R-bending processed portions at both ends thereof, and(C) the lower plate is curved outside.

Abstract: A regenerative shaft kiln having at least two vertical shafts and a plurality of lances for introducing fuel into the kiln, with one or more sensor provided proximate a plurality of the lances, each of the sensors producing a first output signal having a magnitude and corresponding to a physical parameter of the kiln adjacent the sensor. Observation of the operating conditions of individual lances enables adjustments to the fuel feed via individual lances to avoid equipment damage and to improve kiln performance.

Abstract: This invention relates to a sealing device useful for attachment to a process equipment such as vertical shaft kiln (VSK) for providing air-seal self-controlled discharge of product from the said equipment, which comprises a chamber (1) having at its top end an inlet (3) with flange (2) for fitting to the discharge chute of a process equipment and a discharge outlet (16) at its bottom end, the said chamber being provided with a partition wall (4) having an inlet gate (5) & a discharge gate (6) hinged to its top & bottom respectively, the free ends of the hinged gates being such as to sit on means (7) and (8) to provide air seal, means (9,10,11,12,13,14,15,17,18,19,20& SOL) being provided for simultaneous operation of the inlet & discharge gates, the said means [9(a) & (b) and SOL] being connected to a control circuit for actuating the movement of the gates, the discharge outlet being fitted onto a volumetric discharge unit (21) provided with means (22) for measuring the quantity of product discharge.

Abstract: An apparatus for melting materials is provided comprising a melter body having a batch injection portion including a batch inlet port, a batch melting portion including a batch melting chamber adapted to receive materials from said batch injection portion, and a molten materials delivery portion including a molten materials outlet port. At least one jet stream injection assembly injects a jet stream into said batch melting chamber. The jet stream comprises a fuel, an oxidant, and heated products of combustion and produces a vortex flow pattern in said batch melting chamber. Fuel and oxidant within said vortex flow pattern react to form laminar flamelets within said vortex flow pattern. The heat generated in the flamelets melts the materials.

Abstract: A top closing device for shaft furnaces, particularly blast furnaces, including an inlet hopper with inlet pipe, a rotating, vertically non-adjustable chute carrier with rotary drive, a pivotable chute in the furnace interior with external drive means, and sealing members between the rotating and stationary components. The rotating chute carrier is mounted with a gear ring attached to a flange in a ball bearing slewing rim arranged on a catch basket. The rotary movement of the rotating chute carrier is effected outside of the furnace space by an electric motor drive with pinion. The catch basket is arranged on the furnace support ring of the gas seal hood. The pivoting or tilting movement of the chute relative to the furnace axis within the rotating chute carrier is effected by a hydraulic or electromechanical drive outside of the furnace space. An annular sealing member for sealing relative to the rotating chute carrier is mounted on the furnace support ring next to the flange of the catch basket.

Abstract: A preheating apparatus for particulate material includes a plurality of vertical chambers, a temperature sensor within each chamber and a particulate discharge mechanism. Each chamber is segregated from an adjacent chamber by a vertical wall and includes a material inlet for receiving particulate material, a material outlet for discharging particulate material, a gas inlet for receiving a gas, and a gas outlet for exhausting gas. The temperature sensor is located within a chamber so as to sense temperature of the gas being exhausted from each chamber. A particulate discharge mechanism discharges particulate material within each chamber through the material outlet, with a flow rate adjusted as a function of temperatures sensed by the temperature sensor. A method for preheating particulate material includes sensing temperature of the gas existing each chamber and adjusting a flow rate of the particulate material through each chamber as a function of sensed temperature of each chamber.

Abstract: A charging device for a shaft furnace with a lower bell comprises lower means of blockage allowing an upper hopper to be isolated in a sealed manner from a lower hopper and allowing the retention of the charging material. In their open position, these lower means of blockage are positioned so that they unblock a free central passage for the flux of material. This flux is established in the form of a compact and focused flux. Means for moving the lower bell are positioned so as not to disturb the focusing of this flux. Positioned above the lower bell is a deflecting surface, which causes the focused flux to diverge with axial symmetry. Inter alia, a better symmetry in the filling of the lower hopper is obtained.

Abstract: A heater for a grain bin is attached to the inlet flange of a centrifugal inline blower and comprises a housing having a vertical front wall attached to the inlet flange of the blower and a parallel vertical rear wall. The front wall has an opening aligned with the opening into the blower. The rear wall has an opening aligned with the opening in the front wall so that the majority of the air entering the blower passes straight through the housing from the rear wall to the front wall. A sleeve surrounds the opening in the rear wall and induces some flow from the housing to mix with the flow into the blower. The combustion chamber is attached to the rear wall through an opening in the rear wall above the sleeve. The housing has two side walls converging to an open top through which air can escape. When heated air is required an air flow is induced from the combustion chamber to mix with the air flow through the housing to heat the total air flow.

Abstract: A storage device 23 for storing a raw material to be calcined is provided at a position above a kiln cover 1, and the storage device 23 is connected to a preheating space 22 in such a manner as to be capable of dropwise supplying the raw material into the preheating space 22 by means of a raw-material supplying pipe 26. An airtight supplying mechanism 24 for dropwise supplying the raw material in a state in which the influx of air from the outside is prevented is provided between the storage device 23 and the raw-material supplying pipe 26.

Abstract: This invention relates to a a vertical shaft kiln (VSK) useful for manufacturing cement and other allied products, which comprises a rotary nodule feeder for feeding the raw materials, fitted above the kiln bed for uniform distribution of nodules of the raw materials, an air blower being placed at the base of the kiln for feeding air through a duct to a common air header having a plurality of outlet air ducts, the air duct being connected to an air cone placed inside an armoured shell of the VSK, the said air cone being provided with a grate assembly having a plurality of peripheral air slots, the air duct being connected to an air box placed above the said armoured shell, the said air box having perforations on the inside vertical wall, the air duct being connected to an air header having air entry nozzles placed in such a manner so as to supply air just below the sintering zone of the VSK, the air duct being connected to the chimney of the VSK, the said chimney being provided with a butterfly valve below th

Abstract: A shaft furnace for reduction of oxides includes a shaft member having an oxide inlet and defining a pre-heating and pre-reducing zone downstream of the oxide inlet, a reducing zone downstream of the pre-heating and pre-reducing zone a transition zone downstream of the reducing zone, and a discharge zone downstream of the transition zone; and a gas reforming zone associated with the shaft member for reforming a methane-containing gas into a reformed gas and for introducing the reformed gas into the reducing zone whereby oxides in the reducing zone are reduced by the reformed gas.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method and an apparatus for the heat treatment of lime sludge (CaCO.sub.3) to form burnt lime (CaO). In the method of the present invention lime sludge is dried in a gas dryer means, to produce a dried lime sludge. The dried lime sludge is separated from the gases and thereafter is first fed to a compacting means wherein it is compacted into a plurality of substantially uniform bodies which are thereafter fed to a shaft kiln in which the compacted dried lime sludge is converted to active burnt lime.

Abstract: Carbothermally reduce a metal oxide to its corresponding metal nitride or metal carbide powder in a vertical gravity flow reactor by adding precursor pellets containing the metal oxide, a thermally decomposed binder material and carbon or a source of carbon directly to a heated reaction zone within the reactor. The pellets form a pellet bed, the top of which must be maintained within the heated reaction zone. The binder material is a blend of wheat and corn starches, optionally in conjunction with another binder such as melamine. The binder material thermally decomposes to a carbonaceous residue which functions both as an additional source of carbon and as a binder for the precursor pellets. The reactor may be modified by adding an internal vent line to remove volatile materials from the heated reaction zone before they have an opportunity to condense on internal reactor surfaces.

Abstract: A control measuring and supply apparatus and method for receiving a substantially, continuous flow of fluent material from a source of supply; the assembly having a bottom-sealed diverter plate, optionally positionable to direct the fluent material, by gravity, to either one or the other of a pair of adjacent, parallel supply chambers, each of the supply chambers having lower, sealed valve plates which can be optionally opened or closed, a and visa versa, one of the supply chambers being filled with the fluent material while the other is simultaneously emptied, and power operated control motors for controlling the operation of the diverter and valve plates; the diverter plate and valve plates cooperating with seals disposed out of the path-of-movement of the fluent material.

Abstract: A vertical bright-annealing furnace 1 for metal strips includes a muffle-type heating station 12, a refractory-type heating station 13. The refractory-type heating station 13 includes a shell 24 lined with a heat-insulating material 26 and a second heater 27. These two stations 12 and 13 are connected to one another by a flexible connecting unit 14 which is extensible in the longitudinal direction of the heating zone. A metal strip S conveyed in the furnace 1 is heated in the muffle-type heating station 12 and subsequently heated in the refractory-type heating station 13 up to a predetermined temperature, for example, about 1,100.degree. C. According to this constitution, a large-sized vertical annealing furnace may be constructed. Also, the period of durability of the muffle may be extended, the running expenses may be decreased, and metal strip having good brightness may be produced.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an improved equipment in semiconductor processing. The invention includes a horizontal quartz tube surrounded with heating element for processing wafers, an inlet pipe of a gas injector mounted at the center of the closed end of a horizontal quartz tube, four sheath supports each being 90 degrees apart located at the closed end of a horizontal quartz tube for supporting a thermocouple sheath. The horizontal quartz tube is rotated 90 degrees every 14 to 15 days in a predetermined direction. As the horizontal quartz tube is rotated, the thermocouple sheath is always inserted into the sheath support located at the bottom of the horizontal quartz tube.

Abstract: A circulating fluidized bed thermal reactor such as a boiler or gasifier, having the riser divided into a sequence of stages by a plurality of restrictions which create multiple beds dynamically suspended. Circulation occurs below transport velocity, solids distribution is substantially uniform, average bed density can be varied from near-zero to very high values, solids mobility is unrestricted, temperature is uniform. Gases follow multistage CSTR flow regime, specially suited for fuels which break down into volatiles upon heating, such as biomass, hazardous wastes and most fuels other than coal.

Abstract: A particulate material drying apparatus and method including a pulse combustor and an associated combustion chamber. Fuel and combustion air are introduced to the combustion chamber whereby the combination of the pulse combustor and combustion chamber generates a pulsating flow of hot gases. A material feed introduction chamber receives the hot gases and material to be dried is delivered into the introduction chamber for contact therein with the flow of hot gases. A drying chamber is connected to the introduction chamber for receiving the mixture of material and hot gases exiting from the introduction chamber. The drying chamber comprises an enclosing wall, a porous inner wall spaced inwardly from the enclosing wall, and an annular space defined between the enclosing wall and the porous inner wall. Fluid under pressure is introduced to the annular space whereby the fluid passes through the porous inner wall and deters build-up of material on the inner surface of the porous inner wall.

Abstract: The kiln operating according to the parallel-flow-regenerative process has two shafts (2, 3), which at the transition from the burning zone (14) to the cooling zone (15) have a widening forming an inner step (38) at which the combustion gases are transferred to the adjacent shaft (2, 3). This widened shaft area continues at least approximately cylindrically up to the bottom opening ( 35 ) of the shafts ( 2, 3 ) closed by a discharge device ( 34 ). This design of the shaft areas makes it possible, preferably together with an improved fuel distribution and charging device and in the case of satisfactory product quality, to burn limestone having particles in the size range 10 to 30 mm, which could hitherto not be burned in shaft kilns.

Abstract: A waste melting furnace has a coke layer formed therein, and an annular combustion space formed circumferentially of the coke layer below an upper surface thereof and communicating with the coke layer. A depending wall projects downwardly from an upper position of the combustion space to mark a boundary between the combustion space and the coke layer. A waste is fed in powder form into the combustion space, and burned in the combustion space and the coke layer to be melted and slagged. The depending wall prevents the waste from passing directly into exhaust gas, and causes the waste to remain in the combustion space for a prolonged time before flowing into the coke layer.

Abstract: A contaminant trap for a high temperature, vertical furnace of the type used in semiconductor fabrication processing. The trap is designed to reduce particulate deposition within the process chamber, thereby decreasing the likelihood of by-product contamination of the wafers. The trap includes a housing having at least one sidewall, a bottom wall and a top wall which together define an inner compartment. The housing is attached to the exhaust port of the process chamber such that exhaust by-products in the process chamber may not be evacuated through the exhaust port around the housing. The housing has an input opening in the sidewall through which exhaust by-products pass from the process chamber into the inner compartment. An output opening extends through the sidewall near the top wall through which exhaust by-products are subsequently removed from the interior compartment of the housing.

Abstract: Process for melting a furnace charge, with post-combustion of the smokes by njecting an oxygenated gas in the furnace atmosphere as a series of jets flowing according to a tangential component in the space between electrodes and cylindrical furnace partition of the furnace, in a direction of injection so as to produce a rotary gas current about the vertical axis of the furnace and preferably in at least two series as two stepped levels to produce gas currents which rotate in opposite directions. Applications to electrical furnaces for the production of steel or ferro-alloys.

Abstract: Conventional presintering and reaction presintering processes for the production of ceramic powders yield products exhibiting an undesired primary particle size distribution along with localized distribution of impurities, which give rise to the formulation of undesired duplex structures during final sintering.In order to avoid formation of undesired duplex structures within sintered ceramic parts a process and a device for producing ceramic powders based on single- or multi-phase metal oxides (including SiO.sub.2 - compounds), exhibiting a narrow particle size distribution, i.e. with a maximum deviation of the primary crystal size (REM) of +/- 0.75 .mu.m, preferentially less than +/- 0.25 .mu.m, within an average particle size of 0.05 up to 10.0 .mu.m, is conceived. The raw feed material exhibits a specific surface area of 0.05 up to 500 m.sup.2 /g (BET), preferentially 5.0 up to 50 m.sup.