The present invention describes an improved process for the commercial scale production of high-quality catalyst materials. These improved processes allow for production of catalysts that have very consistent batch to batch property and performance variations. In addition these improved processes allow for minimal production losses (by dramatically reducing the production of fines or small materials as part of the production process). The improved process involves multiple steps and uses calcining ovens that allow for precisely control temperature increases where the catalyst is homogenously heated. The calcining gas is released into a separate heating chamber, which contains the recirculation fan and the heat source. Catalysts that may be produced using this improved process include but are not limited to catlaysts that promote CO hydrogenation, reforming catalysts, Fischer Tropsch Catalysts, Greyrock GreyCat™ catalysts, catalysts that homologate methanol, catalysts that promote hydrogenation of carbon compounds, and other catalysts used in industry.

A transport device comprises: a plate 10; an unloading apparatus 30 to push a plurality of articles 20 disposed on the plate 10; a conveyor 40 to transport the articles pushed from the plate 10; and a pusher 80 to push articles 20, from among the articles 20 pushed onto the conveyor 40, that have not tipped over back toward the plate 10, and to separate, on the conveyor 40, articles 20A that have not tipped over from articles 20Z that have tipped over.

A substrate processing apparatus, comprising a substrate support (32) provided with a support surface (34) for supporting a substrate or a substrate carrier (24) thereon and a support heater (50) constructed and arranged to heat the support surface (34). The apparatus comprises a heat shield constructed and arranged to cover and shield the substrate support (32) when no substrate or substrate carrier (24) is on the support surface.

Disclosed is a sintering furnace comprising a furnace body and a lifting device, wherein the furnace body comprises a furnace chamber (10) and a furnace mouth (20), the furnace chamber (10) is connected with the furnace mouth (20), wherein the sintering furnace further comprises a sealing member (30) provided at the lifting device; when the sintering furnace is in a loading or unloading condition, the sealing member (30) blocks the furnace mouth (20). When the sintering furnace is in an unloading condition, the sealing member (30) can block the furnace mouth (20), the furnace chamber (10) does not contact with the outside directly, thus the temperature in the furnace chamber (10) will not drop sharply, and the service life of the sintering furnace will be increased.

Disclosed is a sintering furnace comprising a furnace body and a lifting device, wherein the furnace body comprises a furnace chamber (10) and a furnace mouth (20), the furnace chamber (10) is connected with the furnace mouth (20), wherein the sintering furnace further comprises a sealing member (30) provided at the lifting device; when the sintering furnace is in a loading or unloading condition, the sealing member (30) blocks the furnace mouth (20). When the sintering furnace is in an unloading condition, the sealing member (30) can block the furnace mouth (20), the furnace chamber (10) does not contact with the outside directly, thus the temperature in the furnace chamber (10) will not drop sharply, and the service life of the sintering furnace will be increased.

A substrate processing apparatus includes: a heat processing unit configured to perform a heat process on a substrate having a film formed on the substrate; and a control unit configured to control the heat processing unit, wherein the heat processing unit comprises: a heater configured to support and heat the substrate; a chamber configured to cover the substrate supported on the heater; a gas ejector having a head in which ejection holes are formed, and configured to eject a gas from the ejection holes toward a surface of the substrate; an outer peripheral exhauster configured to evacuate a processing space inside the chamber from an outer peripheral region located further outward than a peripheral edge of the substrate supported on the heater; and a central exhauster configured to evacuate the processing space from a central region located further inward than the peripheral edge of the substrate supported on the heater.

A conveyer system for vertically and helically conveying a workpiece includes a main bracket, on which interconnected heating furnace and cooling furnace are arranged in parallel. The heating furnace includes a 1.sup.st spiral supporting plate, a conveyer belt arranged on the 1.sup.st spiral supporting plate along the spiral direction and one or multiple gas inlet/inlets to fill protective gas into the heating furnace. The cooling furnace includes a 2.sup.nd spiral supporting plate, the conveyer belt extended from the heating furnace arranged on the 2.sup.nd spiral supporting plate along the spiral direction and one or multiple gas inlet/inlets to fill protective gas into the cooling furnace. A drive mechanism for a conveyer belt is installed on the main bracket. The conveyer belt runs through the heating furnace and cooling furnace and forms one loop via the drive mechanism.

A conveyer system for vertically and helically conveying a workpiece includes a main bracket, on which interconnected heating furnace and cooling furnace are arranged in parallel. The heating furnace includes a 1.sup.st spiral supporting plate, a conveyer belt arranged on the 1.sup.st spiral supporting plate along the spiral direction and one or multiple gas inlet/inlets to fill protective gas into the heating furnace. The cooling furnace includes a 2.sup.nd spiral supporting plate, the conveyer belt extended from the heating furnace arranged on the 2.sup.nd spiral supporting plate along the spiral direction and one or multiple gas inlet/inlets to fill protective gas into the cooling furnace. A drive mechanism for a conveyer belt is installed on the main bracket. The conveyer belt runs through the heating furnace and cooling furnace and forms one loop via the drive mechanism.

The present invention relates to a plasma furnace capable of separating and discharging different kinds of molten material, which comprises a furnace body 110; and a heating portion 140 for heating the lateral discharge gate 120, 130, wherein the furnace body comprises a melt discharge portion formed through a lower portion of the melting chamber 101 provided for accommodating molten material; and at least two lateral discharge gates 120, 130 provided at different heights capable of discharging molten material.

Disclosed is a blast furnace apparatus includes: a rotating chute; a profile measurement device configured to measure surface profiles of a burden charged into the furnace; and a tilt angle controller configured to control a tilt angle of the chute, in which the device includes a radio wave distance meter installed on the furnace top and configured to measure the distance to the surface of the burden, derives the profiles on a basis of distance data for the entire furnace obtained by scanning a detection wave of the distance meter in the furnace in a circumferential direction, and includes at least one of arithmetic units configured to command during rotation, on a basis of the surface profiles obtained, the controller to change the tilt angle of the chute, or a controller to change a rotational speed of the chute or a feed speed of the burden fed to the chute.