A furnace for removing a molybdenum-alloy refractory metal core through sublimation comprising a retort furnace having an interior; a sublimation fixture insertable within the interior of the retort furnace, the sublimation fixture configured to receive at least one turbine blade having the molybdenum-alloy refractory metal core; a flow passage thermally coupled to the retort furnace configured to heat a fluid flowing through the flow passage and deliver the fluid to the molybdenum-alloy refractory metal core causing sublimation of the molybdenum-alloy refractory metal core.

A system for melting a pelleted charge material including a furnace having a feed end configured to receive a solid pelleted charge material and a discharge end opposite the feed end configured to discharge a molten charge material and a slag, a conveyor configured to feed the pelleted charge material into the feed end of the furnace, at least one oxy-fuel burner positioned to direct heat into a melting zone near the feed end to heat and at least partially melt the pelleted charge material to form the molten charge material and slag, wherein the oxy-fuel burner uses an oxidant having at least 70% molecular oxygen, and at least one flue for exhausting burner combustion products from the furnace.

A heat treatment facility performing a heat treatment on a workpiece, the heat treatment facility includes: a treatment container in which the workpiece is housed; a heater which is provided in the treatment container and heats the workpiece by radiation heat at least from below the workpiece; and a plurality of support posts which are provided in the treatment container and support the workpiece.

A heat treatment facility performing a heat treatment on a workpiece, the heat treatment facility includes: a treatment container in which the workpiece is housed; a heater which is provided in the treatment container and heats the workpiece by radiation heat at least from below the workpiece; and a plurality of support posts which are provided in the treatment container and support the workpiece.

A system and methods are described herein for preheating a preform in a preheater furnace and then transferring the preheated preform to a consolidation furnace for chemical treatment and sintering the preform into a clear glass which can be drawn into optical fiber. In addition, the preheater furnace is described herein which is configured to heat the preform per a predetermined heat-profile until the preform is uniformly heated to a temperature above 1000 C.

A system for melting a pelleted charge material including a furnace having a feed end configured to receive a solid pelleted charge material and a discharge end opposite the feed end configured to discharge a molten charge material and a slag, a conveyor configured to feed the pelleted charge material into the feed end of the furnace, at least one oxy-fuel burner positioned to direct heat into a melting zone near the feed end to heat and at least partially melt the pelleted charge material to form the molten charge material and slag, wherein the oxy-fuel burner uses an oxidant having at least 70% molecular oxygen, and at least one flue for exhausting burner combustion products from the furnace.

A heat treatment facility performing a heat treatment on a workpiece, the heat treatment facility includes: a treatment container in which the workpiece is housed; a heater which is provided in the treatment container and heats the workpiece by radiation heat at least from below the workpiece; and a plurality of support posts which are provided in the treatment container and support the workpiece.

A firing furnace which can shorten the time required for firing is to be provided.

The firing furnace is for firing an object to be fired, and includes a coil and an induction heating element being placed at the inner diameter side of the coil, in which an induced current flows due to a magnetic field generated by the coil, and heat is generated due to the induced current. The induction heating element includes a hollow portion to place the object to be fired. The coil consists of a conducting wire wrapped around an axis as a center. The firing furnace further includes two flow path members placed between the coil and the induction heating element. The one flow path member is arranged at the inner diameter side of the other flow path member, and the two flow path members constitute a gaseous flow path parallel to the axis.

A system and methods are described herein for preheating a preform in a preheater furnace and then transferring the preheated preform to a consolidation furnace for chemical treatment and sintering the preform into a clear glass which can be drawn into optical fiber. In addition, the preheater furnace is described herein which is configured to heat the preform per a predetermined heat-profile until the preform is uniformly heated to a temperature above 1000 C.

A system and methods are described herein for preheating a preform in a preheater furnace and then transferring the preheated preform to a consolidation furnace for chemical treatment and sintering the preform into a clear glass which can be drawn into optical fiber. In addition, the preheater furnace is described herein which is configured to heat the preform per a predetermined heat-profile until the preform is uniformly heated to a temperature above 1000 C.