Abstract: In a method for reducing metal-oxidic slags or glasses and/or degassing mineral melts, solid particles and/or melts are charged onto an at least partially inductively heated bed or column containing lumpy coke, and the reduced and/or degassed melt running off is collected. The device for reducing metal-oxidic slags or glasses and/or degassing mineral melts, which includes a charging opening (1) for solid or molten material and a tap opening (12) for the treated melt, is characterized by a tubular or channel-shaped housing (3) for the reception of lumpy coke (6), and a heating means surrounding the housing and including at least one induction coil (7, 8, 9).
Abstract: A method of operating a channel induction furnace to process a feed material and obtain therefrom at least one of a molten metal product, a vapor phase metal product and a slag product. The method involves maintaining a slag layer on the molten bath that has a thickness that is sufficient to support the feed material while minimizing heat transfer through the slag layer and minimizing the resistance of vapor phase components from transferring through the slag layer. The fluidity of the slag layer is controlled by heating the slag layer and adjusting the chemistry of the slag layer.
Type:
Application
Filed:
March 14, 2008
Publication date:
September 17, 2009
Inventors:
James E. Bratina, Thomas Edward Roberts
Abstract: A method of operating a channel induction furnace to process a feed material and obtain therefrom at least one of a molten metal product, a vapor phase metal product and a slag product. The method includes applying a controlled vacuum on the headspace of the channel induction furnace to controlling the amount of ambient air that enters the furnace or adding oxygen into the channel induction furnace. The method also includes controlling the carbon concentration in the molten bath in the channel induction furnace to control the fluidity of the bath.
Type:
Application
Filed:
March 14, 2008
Publication date:
September 17, 2009
Inventors:
James E. Bratina, Thomas Edward Roberts
Abstract: A method of operating a channel induction furnace to process a feed material and obtain therefrom at least one of a molten metal product, a vapor phase metal product and a slag product.
Type:
Application
Filed:
March 14, 2008
Publication date:
September 17, 2009
Inventors:
James E. Bratina, Thomas Edward Roberts
Abstract: A method of operating a channel induction furnace to process a feed material and obtain therefrom at least one of a molten metal product, a vapor phase metal product and a slag product. The method includes avoiding the formation of islands of materials that are fed into the channel induction furnace. The method also involves breaking up islands of materials that are formed within the channel induction furnace. The method further involves adding a heat-conducting metal material into the channel induction furnace together with the feed material.
Type:
Application
Filed:
March 14, 2008
Publication date:
September 17, 2009
Inventors:
James E. Bratina, Thomas Edward Roberts
Abstract: A method of operating a channel induction furnace to process a feed material and obtain therefrom at least one of a molten metal product, a vapor phase metal product and a slag product. A molten metal bath is maintained in the channel induction furnace and the method includes adding a reductant such as carbon or a carbon containing material directly into the molten metal bath independently of the feed material.
Type:
Application
Filed:
March 14, 2008
Publication date:
September 17, 2009
Inventors:
James E. Bratina, Thomas Edward Roberts
Abstract: The present application relates to a process for recovering precious metals from anode slime or granulated material through the use of an inductive system for the melting that uses an induction source and a furnace with a tilting system where the load or material to be melted is placed. The present invention further relates to the product recovered via such process.
Type:
Application
Filed:
November 5, 2008
Publication date:
May 14, 2009
Applicant:
Ingenieria y Desarrollo Technologico S.A.
Inventors:
Patricio L. Lagos, Gustavo R. Cartagena, Jorge G. Estrada
Abstract: A system and process for reclaiming nickel and cadmium from a feed source such as Ni—Cd batteries. The feed source is shredded to produce feed particles, screened to size the particles, magnetically separated to remove non-metallic materials, and induction heated to generate nickel and cadmium products.
Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus and process wherein an intermediate form of a Group IVB metal, such as titanium sponge, is produced by reduction of a feedstock of the Group IVB metal in a reactant liquid bath, for example where the feedstock, titanium tetrachloride, is reduced by molten magnesium to titanium sponge, and the reactant liquid bath is inductively stirred during the reduction process. The reduction process with induced stirring may be performed in an electric induction cold crucible, with or without a liner. Subsequent purification and melting of the intermediate form of the Group IVB metal can be accomplished in the electric induction cold crucible so that purified Group IVB metal can be supplied from the cold crucible.
Abstract: Thus, as shown by an exact electrodynamic computation of EMBF and the estimations described above of the velocity of turbulent flows arising due to their effect, application of amplitude- and frequency-modulated helically traveling (rotating and axially traveling) electromagnetic fields in metallurgical and chemical technologies and foundry can considerably increase the hydraulic efficiency of MHD facilities, intensify the processes of heat and mass transfer in technological plants, significantly increase their productivity, considerably decrease energy consumption for the production of metals, alloys, cast articles, and chemical products, and improve their quality.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
February 28, 2007
Date of Patent:
June 3, 2008
Assignee:
Energetics Technologies, L.L.C.
Inventors:
Irving I. Dardik, Arkady K. Kapusta, Boris M. Mikhailovich, Ephim G. Golbraikh, Shaul L. Lesin, Herman D. Branover
Abstract: In wire cross-linking process, after microwave is launched into the inside of the waveguide coaxial converter, the coated wire is inserted into the wire insertion pipe. The coated wire is cross-linked by high frequency heat and a coating insulator is adhered well to an electric conductor by heat shrinking.
Abstract: A process for producing liquid smelting iron in an electric arc furnace includes several electrodes, equipped with a hearth, and containing a heel covered with a non-foaming liquid slag. The process further includes the reduction of the metallic fines, in order to form pre-reduced metallic fines containing an excess of free carbon; the hot transfer of the pre-reduced metallic fines within a curtain of inert gas into the heel contained in the electric arc furnace; the agitation of the heel by the injection of gas in such a manner that the formation of crusts is avoided; and the smelting of the pre-reduced metallic fines in the electric arc furnace in order to obtain the liquid smelting iron.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
February 20, 2002
Date of Patent:
January 30, 2007
Assignee:
Paul Wurth S.A.
Inventors:
Emile Lonardi, Jean-Luc Roth, Paul Berg, Fred Weisgerber, Fred Parasch
Abstract: A high-frequency induction-heating device preferably comprises an introduction part which introduces a gas to be treated; a pyrolysis part which pyrolyzes the gas to be treated; an induction heating coil provided around the outer circumference of the pyrolysis part so as to surround and heat the pyrolysis part, and an exhaust part which exhausts the gas having been decomposed in the pyrolysis part; wherein the pyrolysis part comprises a cylindrical body both ends of which are sealed, slits which communicate the interior with the exterior of the cylindrical body provided on the outer surface of the cylindrical body, and a communication pores to be communicated with an introduction tube which introduces the gas to be treated into the interior of the cylindrical body.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
July 19, 2002
Date of Patent:
September 7, 2004
Inventors:
Ken Kansa, Yoshihide Mukouyama, Masatoshi Matsuba
Abstract: A manganese alloy sputtering target characterized in that oxygen is 1000 ppm or less, sulfur is 200 ppm or less and a forged texture is provided, and a method for producing a forged manganese alloy target stably by eliminating the drawbacks of manganese alloy that it is susceptible to cracking and has a low rupture strength. A manganese alloy sputtering target which can form a thin film exhibiting high characteristics and high corrosion resistance while suppressing generation of nodules or particles is thereby obtained.
Abstract: A method for synthesizing a nano-structured material, including four primary steps: (A) providing a reaction chamber wherein the nano-structured material is generated from at least a starting material selected from the group consisting of a metal, a metal alloy, a metal compound, and a ceramic; (B) operating a twin-wire arc nozzle, comprising two wires and a working gas being controllably fed into the chamber, to form an arc between two converging leading tips of the two wires to heat and melt the starting material at the leading tips for providing a stream of liquid droplets traveling in a predetermined direction (preferably vertically downward); (C) operating at least a second high energy source for producing a vaporizing zone adjacent to the arc and inside the chamber wherein the liquid droplets are vaporized to form vapor species; and (D) cooling the vapor species for forming the nano-structured material.
Abstract: The process and the device serve for decreasing the oxygen content of a copper melt. One or more [porous] flushing plugs, from which a scavenging gas emerges, are arranged in the perpendicular direction in the lower region of the copper melt. The scavenging gas ascends into the copper melt, and the copper melt itself is electrically stirred. The copper is initially melted in a shaft furnace, and then it is led to a treatment furnace via a transportation channel. As a result of flowing out of the [porous] flushing plugs, the scavenging gas ascends into the copper melt both in the region of the transportation channel and also in the region of the treatment furnace. The scavenging gas flows out of at least one of the [porous] flushing plugs with a composition corresponding to 30% to 70% reducing gas and 70% to 30% inert gas.
Type:
Application
Filed:
July 18, 2003
Publication date:
January 15, 2004
Inventors:
Heinrich Schliefer, Alexander Khoury, Stefan Schneider
Abstract: For the evaporation of given components from initial multiple-substance mixtures and systems at subatmospheric pressure, individual portions (P1, P2, P3, P4, P5) of the multiple-substance mixture and systems are placed in ring crucibles (17) stacked at several levels. Vapors of the lower-boiling component are drawn off through a vapor exhaust opening in each crucible, while the top ring crucible (17) is closed except for its vapor exhaust opening.
Abstract: Apparatus for a metal reduction and melting process, in which a metal and carbon-containing burden is heated in an induction furnace including a heating vessel in which the burden can float in at least one heap on a liquid metal bath in the vessel, is characterized in that the apparatus includes at least one induction heater or inductor located at the bottom center line of the vessel, with the longitudinal access oriented perpendicular to the access of the vessel.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
March 9, 2001
Date of Patent:
March 25, 2003
Assignee:
Ipcor NV
Inventors:
Louis Johannes Fourie, Johan Pierre Devilliers
Abstract: In a process for separating impurities from a raw gallium material containing impurities, a process for refining gallium comprising progressively solidifying a raw gallium material provided in a liquid state inside a vessel while applying stirring, such that the diameter of the tubular solidification boundary gradually advances from the inner wall plane of the vessel towards the center of the vessel to reduce the diameter of the tubular solidification boundary, and separating the liquid phase remaining in the central portion of the vessel from the solidified phase before the entire raw material inside the vessel is solidified. The process above is repeated as required by using, as the raw gallium material, the solidified phase from which the liquid phase is separated. A metallic gallium favorably used for the preparation of a compound semiconductor can be obtained by analyzing the impurity concentration of the impurity-concentrated Ga separated from the solidified layer.
Abstract: A method of alnico alloy melting includes melting a charge, oxidizing refining of the melted charge, with the melting including introducing the charge into a flux that is heated try electrical current, maintaining a temperature of the flux in a range of 1500-1800° C., and carrying out the oxidizing refining until an aluminum content reaches 0.05-1.0%.
Abstract: A device for induction-heat melting treatment of metal-oxide-powders includes a closed hopper, a heat-resistant piping, for supplying a powder to an induction heating pipe which is made of dielectric material and comes in contact with the lower end part of the heat-resistant pipe in a vertically sliding manner, a raising/lowering drive mechanism for the induction heating pipe, a receiving container, which receives the melt of the powder that has been melted in the induction heating pipe, a cylindrical upper vacuum chamber, which encloses the abovementioned components, an induction heating coil, which externally surrounds the lower part of the cylindrical upper vacuum chamber, an electric precipitation mechanism, disposed at the upper part of the interior of the cylindrical upper vacuum chamber, a tilting pan, which relays the melt that overflows and flows down from receiving container, a tilting mechanism for the tilting pan, a melt storage tank, which receives and stores the melt that flows down from the til
Abstract: A method of extracting amounts of precious metals from target materials. The target material in particulate form is mixed with particulate copper and coarse-ground wheat flour and roasted at least once in an induction furnace. The roasted mixture is transformed into particulate form and may be re-roasted with additional flour or roasted in a hydrogen furnace, after which it is again transformed into particulate form, mixed with borax and smelted. The result of the smelt contains amounts of precious metals economically recoverable through conventional refining processes, such as electrical-refining.
Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a device for the continuous degassing of molten metals and subsequent casting of the degassed metal, according to which the molten metal is guided into a vacuum for the purpose of degasification and after degasification is transferred into a casting chamber. To make it possible to carry out these operations continuously and to prevent the degassed metal from coming into contact with untreated metal, the invention provides for the molten metal to be transferred from a first chamber via an ascension pipe having an inlet opening located below the level of the metal bath into a vacuum chamber serving as degasification chamber by utilizing only the lift force resulting from the pressure differential between the vacuum chamber and the first chamber and no other means of transport. From the vacuum chamber the molten meal by gravity flows into the downpipe whose outlet opening is below the level of the molten metal bath in the casting chamber and enters the casting chamber.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
December 15, 2000
Date of Patent:
September 24, 2002
Assignee:
Induga Industrieofen und Giesserei-anlagen GmbH & Co.
KG
Inventors:
Hans Bebber, Juan Fähnrich, Günter Phillipps
Abstract: A metallothermy method includes continuously withdrawing an ingot of a metal product such as uranium or a uranium alloy as it is formed from an oxide or salt of the metal. The method employs upper and lower communicating crucibles. The upper crucible contains a layer of reducing medium floating on a solvent medium. The metal oxide or metal salt is reduced as it is introduced into the layer reducing medium to form metal particles and slag. The settling metal is melted by further induction heating, collected in the lower crucible and withdrawn. The slag is absorbed by the solvent medium which is regenerated with the use of electrolysis.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
April 10, 2000
Date of Patent:
June 25, 2002
Assignee:
Compagnie Generale des Matieres Nucleaires
Abstract: An energy efficient, coal-based method and apparatus that are environmentally friendly which produce under pressure metallized/carbon product and molten metal directly from abundant coal or other carbonaceous material, and low cost fines (or ore concentrate) wherein the metal is devoid of gangue material and possesses the inherent advantage of retaining the heat for subsequent processing. This method and apparatus which are modular and highly integrated significantly reduce capital and operating costs; they also provide the capability selective placement of the reductant for the delivery of high levels of thermal energy input which leads to ease of desulflurization and high productivity. The technology herein disclosed is entirely closed and is applicable to various ores including ferrous and non-ferrous.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
March 16, 2001
Date of Patent:
June 25, 2002
Assignee:
Calderon Energy Company of Bowling Green, Inc.
Abstract: For the evaporation of given components from initial multiple-substance mixtures and systems at subatmospheric pressure, individual portions (P1, P2, P3, P4, P5) of the multiple-substance mixture and systems are placed in ring crucibles (17) stacked at several levels. Vapors of the lower-boiling component are drawn off through a vapor exhaust opening in each crucible, while the top ring crucible (17) is closed except for its vapor exhaust opening.
Type:
Application
Filed:
October 30, 2001
Publication date:
April 25, 2002
Inventors:
Manfred Raschke, Wilfried Goy, Franz Hugo, Erwin Wanetzky, Albrecht Melber
Abstract: A consumable electrode feed system for a refining system provides consumable electrodes to a refining system. The consumable electrode feed system comprises a side feed device that feeds consumable electrodes to a refining system in a first direction; a refining feed device that feeds consumable electrodes to a refining system in a second direction, in which the second direction being generally orthogonal to the first direction; and a connection system for connecting fed consumable electrodes to each other. The consumable electrode feed system allows for a predetermined amount of a consumable electrode to be refined in the refining system, and can position another consumable electrode above a previously fed consumable electrode. The connecting system then can connect a fed consumable electrode to a previously fed consumable electrode thus avoiding refining operation.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
February 23, 2000
Date of Patent:
April 23, 2002
Assignee:
General Electric Company
Inventors:
Bruce Alan Knudsen, Robert John Zabala, Mark Gilbert Benz, William Thomas Carter, Jr.
Abstract: A method for combining a first metal with a second metal where the melting point of the second metal is higher than the melting point of the first metal. The first and second metals are melted in separate crucibles. The second molten metal is introduced onto or into the first molten metal. Also described is a two-zone furnace for carrying out the method.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
December 27, 1999
Date of Patent:
January 22, 2002
Assignee:
Energy Conversion Devices, Inc.
Inventors:
Krishna Sapru, Subramanian Ramachandran, Lu Ming
Abstract: The flowrate of a stream discharged from a drain in a vessel is measured by imaging the stream, measuring a diameter of the stream image, and calculating the flowrate based on the measured diameter. A video camera may be aimed below the drain for imaging the stream. A computer is joined to the camera for measuring the diameter of the stream and calculating a corresponding flowrate therefor.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
December 28, 1998
Date of Patent:
September 11, 2001
Assignee:
General Electric Company
Inventors:
William Thomas Carter, Jr., Russell Scott Miller, Mark Gilbert Benz, Robert John Zabala, Bruce Alan Knudsen
Abstract: A method for the direct preparation of metal from metal containing ore by applying microwaves, alone or in combination with other heating means, to extract metal from masses made by forming a powder of ore and an optional reducing agent. The method minimizes the expenditure of energy used to refine the metal, the level of contamination introduced into the metal, and the production of environmental pollutants.
Abstract: There is disclosed a process for reducing oxidic slags or combustion residues above a metal bath. The metal bath is formed of an iron alloy containing metals nobler than iron and whose redox potential is adjusted such FeO is reduced to Fe not at all or only partially.
Abstract: There is provided a process of recovering copper from winding composed of an enameled copper wire having a polyester and/or a polyurethane based insulating coating thereon, and the process includes the steps of immersing the winding into an alkali solution, removing alkali attaching to the winding, and melting the winding using high frequency heating.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
April 8, 1997
Date of Patent:
May 22, 2001
Assignee:
Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
Abstract: An apparatus and a method for melting solid metals, including iron, are provided. The apparatus includes a vertical shaft furnace through which the metal is fed. The shaft furnace is mounted on a horizontal induction furnace containing a molten pool of metal. Metal solids are charged at the top of the vertical shaft furnace down onto a refractory pedestal in the molten metal pool or suspended magnetically in the vertical shaft above gas burners. The metal is melted by contact with the molten metal pool. The combination of oxygen fuel burner preheating and induction melting creates an extremely efficient melting unit that can process metal at a much lower cost than conventional systems while preventing the oxidation problems incurred by apparatuses which melt metal using combustion only.
Abstract: A metal reduction and melting process which involves the heating of a burden comprising a metal containing component and a carbon containing component in a channel type induction furnace in order to reduce such metal containing component, in which at least part of the gaseous products of the process is utilized for preheating the burden; and apparatus for carrying out such preheating.