The invention relates to a method for the open-loop and/or closed-loop control of a heating of a cast or rolled metal product, comprising the following steps: —determining the total enthalpy of the metal product from a total of the free molar enthalpies (Gibbs free energy) of all phases and/or phase fractions currently present in the metal product; —determining a temperature distribution within the metal product by means of a dynamic temperature calculation model by using the determined total enthalpy; and —open-loop and/or closed-loop controlling of the heating of the metal product according to at least one initial variable of the temperature calculation model.

The invention relates to a method for the open-loop and/or closed-loop control of a heating of a cast or rolled metal product, comprising the following steps: —determining the total enthalpy of the metal product from a total of the free molar enthalpies (Gibbs free energy) of all phases and/or phase fractions currently present in the metal product; —determining a temperature distribution within the metal product by means of a dynamic temperature calculation model by using the determined total enthalpy; and —open-loop and/or closed-loop controlling of the heating of the metal product according to at least one initial variable of the temperature calculation model.

An oven for elimination of harmful organisms which pose phytosanitary risks and are present in material of plant origin in the form of particles is provided. The oven includes: (a) first and second circular plates mounted in rotation about an axis Z, the surface of said plates being perforated and permeable to air and water, (b) a means for transferring the collected particles from the first plate to the second plate, and (c) a gas-blowing means forming a closed gas cycle. The gas-blowing means includes a blower for accelerating a flow of gas and directing it towards a heating station in order to heat the gas and directing it parallel to the axis Z towards the first plate, passing through the perforated surface of the first plate, then directly afterwards through the perforated surface of the second plate, in order to return to the blower and recommence the gas cycle.

An oven for elimination of harmful organisms which pose phytosanitary risks and are present in material of plant origin in the form of particles is provided. The oven includes: (a) first and second circular plates mounted in rotation about an axis Z, the surface of said plates being perforated and permeable to air and water, (b) a means for transferring the collected particles from the first plate to the second plate, and (c) a gas-blowing means forming a closed gas cycle. The gas-blowing means includes a blower for accelerating a flow of gas and directing it towards a heating station in order to heat the gas and directing it parallel to the axis Z towards the first plate, passing through the perforated surface of the first plate, then directly afterwards through the perforated surface of the second plate, in order to return to the blower and recommence the gas cycle.

A process for measuring wear of a refractory lining of a receptacle intended to contain molten metal, containing the following steps: scanning a first surface of the refractory lining using a first laser scanner in order to obtain a first initial set of data representative of the first surface, scanning a second surface of the refractory lining using a second laser scanner, distinct from the first laser scanner, in order to obtain a second initial set of data representative of the second surface, wherein the second surface includes a grey zone for the first laser scanner, the receptacle defining an obstacle located between the first laser scanner and the grey zone during scanning by the first laser scanner, and calculating a final set of data using the first initial set of data and the second initial set of data, the final set of data being representative of a surface of the refractory lining including the first surface and the second surface.

A heating system for use in the manufacture of copper coated double-layer steel tubes having a casing (10) in which the roll-wrapped tube is heated to a predefined temperature value. The heating system comprises a sensor (17) configured in an outer portion of the casing (10) such that the sensor (17) is able to determine a temperature value within the casing (10).

An oxygen sensor for a gas, coal, oil or wood fired kiln that is orders of magnitude cheaper than the current state of the art oxygen sensors. It uses a TiO.sub.2 tip sintered between and bridging a 1 mm spacing between a pair of 22 gauge Nichrome® series 90 round annealed resistance wires (0.64 mm diameter and having 0.648 Ohms/ft resistance). The Nichrome® 90 wires do not contact each other. One of the wires is a signal wire that resides down the center of an insulating sheath and the other wire is a ground wire that is wound around the outside of a high temperature ceramic insulating sleeve. The sensor needs no temperature compensation and exhibits an approximate 50,000 ohms of resistance change from a neutral (ambient) atmosphere and a fully reduced atmosphere.

An oxygen sensor for a gas, coal, oil or wood fired kiln that is orders of magnitude cheaper than the current state of the art oxygen sensors. It uses a TiO.sub.2 tip sintered between and bridging a 1 mm spacing between a pair of 22 gauge Nichrome® series 90 round annealed resistance wires (0.64 mm diameter and having 0.648 Ohms/ft resistance). The Nichrome® 90 wires do not contact each other. One of the wires is a signal wire that resides down the center of an insulating sheath and the other wire is a ground wire that is wound around the outside of a high temperature ceramic insulating sleeve. The sensor needs no temperature compensation and exhibits an approximate 50,000 ohms of resistance change from a neutral (ambient) atmosphere and a fully reduced atmosphere.

Systems and methods for annealing, carburizing and/or other treatments of metallic articles include a retort furnace having a retort. The metallic articles are fed into a chamber of the retort through an inlet section of the retort and are subjected to heating. The retort is oscillated and/or rotated back and forth as the metallic articles are heated, causing the metallic articles to be moved along the chamber of the retort to a discharge.

Systems and methods for annealing, carburizing and/or other treatments of metallic articles include a retort furnace having a retort. The metallic articles are fed into a chamber of the retort through an inlet section of the retort and are subjected to heating. The retort is oscillated and/or rotated back and forth as the metallic articles are heated, causing the metallic articles to be moved along the chamber of the retort to a discharge.