The present invention relates to an oven device for heat-treating a blank. The oven device has an oven housing having an oven chamber, in which the blank can be heat-treated with a defined temperature, and a tempering body, which is arranged in the oven chamber. Furthermore, the oven device has a tempering body and a tempering device. The tempering device is arranged within the oven chamber movably between a first position and a second position, such that the tempering device is, at least in the first position, in thermal contact with the tempering body and can, in the second position, be brought in thermal contact with the blank.

Systems and methods of non-contact tensioning of a metal strip during metal processing include passing the metal strip adjacent a magnetic rotor. The magnetic rotor is spaced apart from the metal strip by a first distance. The systems and methods also include tensioning the metal strip through the magnetic rotor by rotating the magnetic rotor. Rotating the magnetic rotor induces a magnetic field into the metal strip such that the metal strip is tensioned in an upstream direction or a downstream direction. In other aspects, rotating the magnetic rotor induces a magnetic field into the metal strip such that a force normal to a surface of the metal strip is applied to the metal strip.

The present invention relates to a sealed plasma melting furnace for treating low- and intermediate-level radioactive waste, which allows the secondary pollutants to be minimized. The sealed plasma melting furnace includes: a waste supply chamber communicatively provided with a hopper; a pyrolysis chamber channel communicatively coupled with the waste supply chamber; a pyrolysis chamber having a burner mounted thereon; a melting chamber channel guiding the waste transferred from the pyrolysis chamber communicatively provided therewith to fall down; a melting chamber provided with a furnace interior portion accommodating a molten substance on a bottom surface thereof; a processed molten substance discharge channel discharging the processed molten substance generated in the melting chamber; a secondary combustion chamber channel inducing and exhausting an off-gas flow generated in the melting chamber; and a secondary combustion chamber inducing complete combustion of the off-gas input from the secondary combustion chamber channel.

A compact heat treatment line can include a short heating zone capable of rapidly bringing a metal strip to a suitable solutionizing temperature through the use of magnetic rotors, such as permanent magnet magnetic rotors. A fast and efficient soaking zone can be achieved as well, such as through the use of magnetic rotors to levitate the metal strip within a gas-filled chamber. Magnetic rotors can further levitate the metal strip through a quenching zone, and can optionally reheat the metal strip prior to final coiling. Magnetic rotors used to heat and/or levitate the metal strip can also provide tension control, can facilitate initial threading of the metal strip, and can cure coatings and/or promote uniformity of coatings/lubricants applied to the metal strip without overheating. Such a heat treatment line can provide continuous annealing and solution heat treating in a much more compacted space than traditional processing lines.

A non-contact heating apparatus uses a series of rotating magnets to heat, levitate, and/or move metal articles therethrough. A first series of rotating magnets heats the metal article to a desired temperature. A second series of rotating magnets levitates the metal article within the heating apparatus and maintains desired tension in the metal article, including urging the metal article through the heating apparatus. The heating apparatus can extend sufficiently far to soak the metal article at the desired temperature for a desired duration. The rotating magnets can be positioned outside of an electrically non-conductive, heat resistant chamber filled with an inert or mildly reactive gas, through which the metal article passes in the heating apparatus.

Disclosed is an apparatus and method of making molten glass. The apparatus includes a vessel for conveying the molten glass and at least one flange configured to supply an electric current to the vessel through the flange, the flange including a first ring extending completely around the vessel in a closed loop, the first ring comprising a first portion including a first thickness and a second portion including a second thickness different from the first thickness, wherein the first portion and the second portion overlap in a plane of the flange such that at least a portion of the first portion is positioned between at least a portion of the second portion and the vessel wall, and neither the first portion nor the second portion extends completely around the vessel. Also disclosed is a method of making glass using the disclosed flange.

A furnace system includes a heating chamber, a retort assembly, and a waveguide. The heating chamber includes a shell encompassing an insulation layer and a working volume, where the working volume is configured to receive at least one part for heat treatment. The retort assembly is supported within the insulation layer and includes an inner retort surface facing the working volume. The inner retort surface is formed of at least one carbon compound reflective of microwave radiation, and the retort assembly defines a retort aperture. The waveguide is configured to direct microwave radiation from a microwave source to the retort aperture.

Systems and methods of hot forming a metal blank include receiving the metal blank at a heater and positioning the blank adjacent a magnetic rotor of the heater. The systems and methods also include heating the metal blank through the magnetic rotor by rotating the magnetic rotor. Rotating the magnetic rotor induces a magnetic field into the metal blank such that the metal blank is heated.

Systems and methods of threading a metal substrate on a rolling mill include receiving a coil of the metal substrate. The method also includes uncoiling the metal substrate from the coil while the coil and guiding the metal substrate to a work stand of the rolling mill with a threading system.

A metal melting and retention furnace is provided, wherein a tubular member in a furnace chamber, a table-like melting part is formed directly below the tubular member and a melting burner is arranged in the furnace chamber, a molten metal retention part in which the melting material which has been melted is introduced and which is provided with a retention burner for heating the introduced molten metal is formed around the outer circumference of the table-like melting part, and the molten metal in the molten metal retention part flows to a molten metal ladle part adjacent to the furnace chamber.