Provided is a discharge device for a sintering furnace. The discharge device includes a material bin connected to a body of the sintering furnace, a conveying hopper, a first valve assembly, a first gas exchange assembly and a controller. The conveying hopper has a feed inlet, a discharge outlet and a first gas exchange port. The first valve assembly is located at the feed channel to control opening or closing of the feed channel. The first gas exchange assembly is connected to the first gas exchange port. The first gas exchange assembly outputs gas from the first gas exchange port and deliver protective gas into the conveying hopper. The controller is electrically connected to the first gas exchange assembly and the first valve assembly to control the first gas exchange assembly to be activated when the conveying hopper has completed conveying and the first valve assembly is closed.

Industrial cars for holding high-temperature materials, such as flat push hot cars for transporting hot coke and deposits, and associated systems and methods are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, an industrial car can include an at least partially enclosed hot box with a base and sidewalls, and one or more of the base or sidewalls can be covered by surface plates. The surface plates can be arranged in a floating configuration with gaps therebetween, such that the surface plates can move relative to one another and thermally expand without exerting excessive compressive force against adjacent surface plates. In some embodiments, the hot box can also include a roof with a first non-curved member and a second non-curved member abutting the first non-curved member. In some embodiments, the industrial car can include one or more emission ducts to remove dust and exhaust from within and around the industrial car.

Industrial cars for holding high-temperature materials, such as flat push hot cars for transporting hot coke and deposits, and associated systems and methods are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, an industrial car can include an at least partially enclosed hot box with a base and sidewalls, and one or more of the base or sidewalls can be covered by surface plates. The surface plates can be arranged in a floating configuration with gaps therebetween, such that the surface plates can move relative to one another and thermally expand without exerting excessive compressive force against adjacent surface plates. In some embodiments, the hot box can also include a roof with a first non-curved member and a second non-curved member abutting the first non-curved member. In some embodiments, the industrial car can include one or more emission ducts to remove dust and exhaust from within and around the industrial car.

A molten metal furnace in which molten metal leakage may be avoided or controlled and heat radiation from the furnace body may be controlled. The molten metal furnace has an outer wall on its outer periphery, a molten metal storage part for holding a molten metal therein, and an inner wall forming the molten metal storage part and having a plurality of lining layers, wherein a first lining layer of the plurality of lining layers, having a surface to be in contact with the molten metal, is formed of a refractory material, wherein a sealing material is provided along at least two boundaries present in a range between the first lining layer and the outer wall, and wherein a lining layer sandwiched between layers of the sealing material is formed of a thermal insulation board containing at least silicon dioxide (SiO.sub.2).

A molten metal furnace in which molten metal leakage may be avoided or controlled and heat radiation from the furnace body may be controlled. The molten metal furnace has an outer wall on its outer periphery, a molten metal storage part for holding a molten metal therein, and an inner wall forming the molten metal storage part and having a plurality of lining layers, wherein a first lining layer of the plurality of lining layers, having a surface to be in contact with the molten metal, is formed of a refractory material, wherein a sealing material is provided along at least two boundaries present in a range between the first lining layer and the outer wall, and wherein a lining layer sandwiched between layers of the sealing material is formed of a thermal insulation board containing at least silicon dioxide (SiO.sub.2).