A measurement system is provided for predicting a future status of a refractory lining that is lined over an inner surface of an outer wall of a manufacturing vessel and exposed to an operational cycle during which the refractory lining is exposed to a high-temperature environment for producing a non-metal and the produced non-metal. The system includes one or more laser scanners and a processor. The laser scanners are configured to conduct one or more pre-operational laser scans of the refractory lining prior to the operational cycle to collect data related to pre-operational cycle structural conditions, and one or more post-operational laser scans of the refractory lining after the operational cycle to collect data related to post-operational cycle structural conditions of the refractory lining. The processor is configured to predict future status of the refractory lining after subsequent operational cycles based on the determined exposure impact of the operational cycle.

Some embodiments described here concern a method for melting metal material in an electric arc furnace, which includes a step of loading solid metal material into the electric furnace, a step of powering the electric furnace and of generating an electric arc between at least one electrode and the metal material, and a step of melting the solid metal material to obtain molten material. Some embodiments described here concern an apparatus for melting metal material including an electric arc furnace and an electric power supply apparatus suitable to power the electric furnace.

Some embodiments described here concern a method for melting metal material in an electric arc furnace, which includes a step of loading solid metal material into the electric furnace, a step of powering the electric furnace and of generating an electric arc between at least one electrode and the metal material, and a step of melting the solid metal material to obtain molten material. Some embodiments described here concern an apparatus for melting metal material including an electric arc furnace and an electric power supply apparatus suitable to power the electric furnace.

An immersion probe with a variable connection length is configured to compensate for longitudinal and/or radial length variations in an immersion sublance connected to the immersion probe. The immersion probe is characterized by an adjustable portion that changes length upon engagement with a coupling end of an immersion sublance. The immersion probe can have a sensor head. An immersion assembly of the immersion probe connected to an immersion sublance can be used to take measurements or samples of molten metal in a converter furnace.

An device for manufacturing an active alloy includes: a melting chamber including: a working pipe surrounded by an induction coil and forming a working area; a chamber base disposed below the working pipe and communicated with the working pipe, and including: a gas inlet hole; a vacuum pump connection port; and a vacuum sensor, for measuring a vacuum degree in the working pipe; a chamber door communicated with the chamber base; a first bracket passing through the chamber base, and moving towards a direction away from or near the working area; a second bracket extending into the working pipe, and moving towards a direction away from or near the working area; and a material recycling seat which can extend into the chamber base in a push and pull way.

An inline thermal treatment system for thermally treating a continuous conductive product includes a first electrode configured to contact a continuous conductive product and a second electrode configured to contact the continuous conductive product such that a portion of the continuous conductive product is disposed between the first and second electrodes. The inline thermal treatment system includes a power source coupled to the first electrode and to the second electrode, wherein the power source is configured to apply an electrical bias between the first electrode and the second electrode to resistively heat the portion of the continuous conductive product disposed between the first and second electrodes.

An inline thermal treatment system for thermally treating a continuous conductive product includes a first electrode configured to contact a continuous conductive product and a second electrode configured to contact the continuous conductive product such that a portion of the continuous conductive product is disposed between the first and second electrodes. The inline thermal treatment system includes a power source coupled to the first electrode and to the second electrode, wherein the power source is configured to apply an electrical bias between the first electrode and the second electrode to resistively heat the portion of the continuous conductive product disposed between the first and second electrodes.

An apparatus for direct reduction of iron ore in a solid state including a pre-heating furnace for pre-heating iron ore fragments and biomass in briquettes of these materials to a temperature in the range of 400-900° C.; and a reduction assembly for briquettes from the pre-heating furnace. The reduction assembly includes a reaction chamber, a source of electromagnetic energy in the form of microwave energy, a wave guide for transferring microwave energy to the chamber for heating and reducing iron ore in briquettes from the pre-heating furnace, with biomass acting as a reductant, a source of an inert gas, pipework for supplying the inert gas to the chamber to maintain the chamber under anoxic conditions, and an outlet for discharging an offgas and any retained particulates that are generated in the chamber.

An apparatus for direct reduction of iron ore in a solid state including a pre-heating furnace for pre-heating iron ore fragments and biomass in briquettes of these materials to a temperature in the range of 400-900° C.; and a reduction assembly for briquettes from the pre-heating furnace. The reduction assembly includes a reaction chamber, a source of electromagnetic energy in the form of microwave energy, a wave guide for transferring microwave energy to the chamber for heating and reducing iron ore in briquettes from the pre-heating furnace, with biomass acting as a reductant, a source of an inert gas, pipework for supplying the inert gas to the chamber to maintain the chamber under anoxic conditions, and an outlet for discharging an offgas and any retained particulates that are generated in the chamber.

A method for heating a furnace with a longitudinal direction and a cross plane which is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, which furnace includes at least one heating zone heated using combustion of a fuel with an oxidant, and which furnace is further arranged with a dark zone downstream of said heated zone, to which dark zone no fuel is supplied directly. Wherein the fuel and oxidant supplied to the heating zone is substoichiometric, in that between 10% and 40% of the total oxidant for achieving stoichiometric or near stoichiometric combustion is supplied directly to the dark zone, a flue gas temperature is measured in and/or downstream of the dark zone, and the share of the total oxidant supplied to the dark zone is controlled so as not to exceed a predetermined maximum measured such temperature. The invention further relates to a method for retrofitting an existing furnace, and a furnace.