A method for molding a sheet into a motor-vehicle component includes heating the sheet by a kiln, prior to forming the component. The kiln has a main body with a roller shape, having a plurality of sectors extending along a radial direction with respect to a longitudinal axis of the roller body. The sectors are configured to each receive a sheet, so that the main body with a roller shape is arranged to simultaneously carry a plurality of sheets. The kiln includes a plurality of heating elements in said main body with a roller shape and configured to heat only the first portion of the roller body, so that the roller shaped main body is designed to heat the sheets in a differentiated way, particularly at their areas in contact with said first portion of the roller body. The kiln includes at least one electronically-controlled drive motor, arranged to rotate the roller-shaped main body around the longitudinal axis of the kiln, so as to vary the position of the sectors with respect to the inlet and outlet ports.

A method for molding a sheet into a motor-vehicle component includes heating the sheet by a kiln, prior to forming the component. The kiln has a main body with a roller shape, having a plurality of sectors extending along a radial direction with respect to a longitudinal axis of the roller body. The sectors are configured to each receive a sheet, so that the main body with a roller shape is arranged to simultaneously carry a plurality of sheets. The kiln includes a plurality of heating elements in said main body with a roller shape and configured to heat only the first portion of the roller body, so that the roller shaped main body is designed to heat the sheets in a differentiated way, particularly at their areas in contact with said first portion of the roller body. The kiln includes at least one electronically-controlled drive motor, arranged to rotate the roller-shaped main body around the longitudinal axis of the kiln, so as to vary the position of the sectors with respect to the inlet and outlet ports.

A method for molding a sheet into a motor-vehicle component includes heating the sheet by a kiln, prior to forming the component. The kiln has a main body with a roller shape, having a plurality of sectors extending along a radial direction with respect to a longitudinal axis of the roller body. The sectors are configured to each receive a sheet, so that the main body with a roller shape is arranged to simultaneously carry a plurality of sheets. The kiln includes a plurality of heating elements in said main body with a roller shape and configured to heat only the first portion of the roller body, so that the roller shaped main body is designed to heat the sheets in a differentiated way, particularly at their areas in contact with said first portion of the roller body. The kiln includes at least one electronically-controlled drive motor, arranged to rotate the roller-shaped main body around the longitudinal axis of the kiln, so as to vary the position of the sectors with respect to the inlet and outlet ports.

A method for moulding a sheet into a component of complex shape having areas with different mechanical properties, particularly a motor-vehicle component, includes a first heating step of the sheet carried out by a kiln, prior to forming the component. The kiln has a main body with a roller shape, having a plurality of sectors extending along a radial direction with respect to a longitudinal axis of the roller body. The sectors are configured to each receive a sheet, so that the main body with a roller shape is arranged to simultaneously carry a plurality of sheets. The kiln includes a plurality of heating elements incorporated in the roller-shaped main body, so as to heat the sheets in contact with the roller body. The kiln includes at least one electronically-controlled drive motor, arranged to rotate the roller-shaped main body around the longitudinal axis of the kiln, so as to vary the position of the sectors with respect to the inlet and outlet ports. An additional heating step follows extraction of the sheets from the kiln, wherein the sheets are locally heated only at one area, so as to obtain sheets with areas heated to different temperatures.

A conveyor belt (36) is arranged in at least one spiral conveyor unit (32) or (34) is arranged in tiers forming at ascending spiral stack (38) and/or a descending spiral stack (40). A ceiling or top sheet (58) is positioned over the spiral stack. A circulation fan (60, 62) draws spent thermal processing medium laterally from the tiers of the spiral stack, up the exterior of the stack and across the top of the stack above the ceiling or top sheet and through a heat exchanger (64) located above the ceiling. The treated thermal processing medium is then routed across the remainder of the diameter of the spiral stack and then down the side of the spiral stack diametrically opposite to the circulating fan thereby to enter the spiral stack in a lateral direction diametrically toward the circulating fan. At least one opening (70, 100, 200) is formed in the ceiling between the heat exchanger and the diametrically distal end of the spiral stack from the circulating fan thereby to provide an alternative flow path for a portion of the thermal processing medium to enter the spiral stack from above, thereby resulting in more uniform treatment of the work product being carried by the conveyor of the spiral stack.

A phosphorus production method can include reducing feed containing phosphate ore and providing a silica ratio from 0.3 to 0.7 in a reaction chamber from 1250 to 1380 C. Less than 20% of the phosphate remains in the residue. Another phosphorus production method includes continuously moving a reducing bed through the reaction chamber with the feed agglomerates substantially stable while in the reducing bed. Reaction chamber temperature can be from 1250 to 1380 C. A phosphorus production system includes a barrier wall segmenting the reaction chamber into a reduction zone differentiated from a preheat zone. The bed floor is configured to move continuously from the preheat zone to the reduction zone during operation. A method for producing a reduction product includes exothermically oxidizing reduction/oxidation products in the reaction chamber, thereby adding heat to the reducing bed from the freeboard as a second heat source.

A rotary bed-type electric furnace includes a rotary bed configured to carry material, and a rotator configured to rotate the rotary bed so that material carried on the rotary bed passes through peripheral zones of the rotary bed-type electric furnace. The peripheral zones include a feeding zone configured to receive material on the rotary bed, a drying zone configured to dry and heat material by means of electrical energy, a heating zone configured to heat material by means of electrical energy, a cooling zone configured to lower the temperature of the material and configured to release gases from the material, and a discharging zone configured to discharge material from the rotary bed of the furnace.

A rotary bed-type electric furnace includes a rotary bed configured to carry material, and a rotator configured to rotate the rotary bed so that material carried on the rotary bed passes through peripheral zones of the rotary bed-type electric furnace. The peripheral zones include a feeding zone configured to receive material on the rotary bed, a drying zone configured to dry and heat material by means of electrical energy, a heating zone configured to heat material by means of electrical energy, a cooling zone configured to lower the temperature of the material and configured to release gases from the material, and a discharging zone configured to discharge material from the rotary bed of the furnace.

A rotary bed-type electric furnace includes a rotary bed configured to carry material, and a rotator configured to rotate the rotary bed so that material carried on the rotary bed passes through peripheral zones of the rotary bed-type electric furnace. The peripheral zones include a feeding zone configured to receive material on the rotary bed, a drying zone configured to dry and heat material by means of electrical energy, a heating zone configured to heat material by means of electrical energy, a cooling zone configured to lower the temperature of the material and configured to release gases from the material, and a discharging zone configured to discharge material from the rotary bed of the furnace.

A rotary bed-type electric furnace includes a rotary bed configured to carry material, and a rotator configured to rotate the rotary bed so that material carried on the rotary bed passes through peripheral zones of the rotary bed-type electric furnace. The peripheral zones include a feeding zone configured to receive material on the rotary bed, a drying zone configured to dry and heat material by means of electrical energy, a heating zone configured to heat material by means of electrical energy, a cooling zone configured to lower the temperature of the material and configured to release gases from the material, and a discharging zone configured to discharge material from the rotary bed of the furnace.