A continuous annealing furnace for annealing steel strips has a reaction chamber wherein the steel strips are transported vertically, the reaction chamber having openings supplied with a reactant, also called reactant openings, located at the top or at the bottom of the reaction chamber, wherein the reaction chamber further has other openings supplied with an inert gas, also called inert gas openings, the inert gas openings being located on the lateral sides of the reaction chamber.

Resistance annealing furnace to anneal at least one metal or metal alloy wire, strand, string, wire rod or strip, the annealing furnace having at least two electric axles provided with respective electric contact rings for conveying the metal or metal alloy wire, strand, string, wire rod or strip, and a DC voltage generator, which can be supplied by an AC voltage (Uac) to generate an annealing voltage (Uann) applied between the two electric axles so as to produce an electric current in the portion of the metal or metal alloy wire, strand, string, wire rod or strip extending between the two electric axles, which provokes an annealing due to the Joule effect. At least one of the electric contact rings is made of a non-metal electric conductor material, for example graphite.

A heat treatment apparatus includes: a furnace core tube made of silica glass; a heater provided adjacent to the furnace core tube, the heater heating a heating region; and a moving mechanism supporting a porous glass base material and relatively moving the porous glass base material with respect to the heater in the furnace core tube in a state where the heating region is heated by the heater to make the porous glass base material pass through the heating region. The heat treatment apparatus includes a thin-walled part provided in a region adjacent to a portion located in the heating region in the furnace core tube, the thin-walled part having a thickness of glass less than that of the portion located in the heating region.

One embodiment is directed to an apparatus comprising a firing furnace comprising a heating chamber configured to fire a metallization layer of photovoltaic devices and a cooling chamber configured to cool the photovoltaic devices that have been heated by the heating chamber. The cooling chamber comprises lights to light anneal the photovoltaic devices to reduce light induced degradation as the photovoltaic devices are cooled in the cooling chamber. The cooling chamber of the firing furnace is configured to use residual heat from heating performed in the heating chamber of the firing furnace as heat for the light annealing of the photovoltaic devices. Light annealing is not performed in the heating chamber of the firing furnace.

One embodiment is directed to an apparatus comprising a firing furnace comprising a heating chamber configured to fire a metallization layer of photovoltaic devices and a cooling chamber configured to cool the photovoltaic devices that have been heated by the heating chamber. The cooling chamber comprises lights to light anneal the photovoltaic devices to reduce light induced degradation as the photovoltaic devices are cooled in the cooling chamber. The cooling chamber of the firing furnace is configured to use residual heat from heating performed in the heating chamber of the firing furnace as heat for the light annealing of the photovoltaic devices. Light annealing is not performed in the heating chamber of the firing furnace.

A vessel having an opening for receiving the product and walls surrounding the vessel at all sides except the opening. The interior of the vessel is filled with a fluid having a specific gravity lower than a specific gravity of a medium surrounding the walls outside the vessel. While the vessel is oriented with the opening facing downwards, the vessel and/or product is/are conveyed to ensure that the product enters the interior through the opening.

An installation for melting metallic scraps, and particularly adapted for melting aluminium scraps, includes a system for cleaning the metallic scraps, and in particular for cleaning the scraps from organic compounds.

An installation for melting metallic scraps, and particularly adapted for melting aluminium scraps, includes a system for cleaning the metallic scraps, and in particular for cleaning the scraps from organic compounds.

A solidifying device is for solidifying a substrate which includes a middle and two side portions. The thermostability of the middle portion is greater than that of the side portions. The solidifying device includes a housing, a heating member, a temperature control air-floating member and a conveyor. The housing defines a working space. The heating member is in the working space. The substrate has a heat receiving surface facing the heating member. The temperature control air-floating member is in the working space and below the heating member. The conveyor is for transporting the substrate into the working space and between the temperature control air-floating member and the heating member. The heating member is for providing heat to the substrate. The temperature control air-floating member is for supplying air towards the substrate to allow the substrate to float in the working space and form a high-temperature and two low-temperature areas.

A solidifying device is for solidifying a substrate which includes a middle and two side portions. The thermostability of the middle portion is greater than that of the side portions. The solidifying device includes a housing, a heating member, a temperature control air-floating member and a conveyor. The housing defines a working space. The heating member is in the working space. The substrate has a heat receiving surface facing the heating member. The temperature control air-floating member is in the working space and below the heating member. The conveyor is for transporting the substrate into the working space and between the temperature control air-floating member and the heating member. The heating member is for providing heat to the substrate. The temperature control air-floating member is for supplying air towards the substrate to allow the substrate to float in the working space and form a high-temperature and two low-temperature areas.