An energy conversion, storage and retrieval device and method, comprising: a susceptor crucible encased in a thermal housing, the susceptor crucible having a bottom wall and one or more side walls extending upwardly from the bottom wall, therein defining a crucible interior which contains a thermal energy storage material; a heat generator powered by an electrical energy source and positioned in close proximity to an outside of the side wall of the crucible so as to be able to heat the energy storage material; a regulated fluid flow circuit in the housing that circulates fluid from a fluid circuit inlet, that is heated and circulated to a fluid circuit outlet as heated fluid; wherein when heated, the energy storage material stores thermal energy, and wherein the thermal energy can be retrieved by conduction through the crucible side wall and into the fluid flow circuit thereby heating the fluid therein.

An energy conversion, storage and retrieval device and method, comprising: a susceptor crucible encased in a thermal housing, the susceptor crucible having a bottom wall and one or more side walls extending upwardly from the bottom wall, therein defining a crucible interior which contains a thermal energy storage material; a heat generator powered by an electrical energy source and positioned in close proximity to an outside of the side wall of the crucible so as to be able to heat the energy storage material; a regulated fluid flow circuit in the housing that circulates fluid from a fluid circuit inlet, that is heated and circulated to a fluid circuit outlet as heated fluid; wherein when heated, the energy storage material stores thermal energy, and wherein the thermal energy can be retrieved by conduction through the crucible side wall and into the fluid flow circuit thereby heating the fluid therein.

A CZ crucible for growing a single crystal silicon ingot by a CZ method, where the CZ crucible includes a closed-end cylindrical graphite crucible and a closed-end cylindrical quartz glass crucible disposed inside the graphite crucible, and the CZ crucible includes a gap between an inner surface of a bottom portion of the graphite crucible and an outer surface of a bottom portion of the quartz glass crucible on a central axis of the CZ crucible, the gap keeping the inner surface of the bottom portion of the graphite crucible and the outer surface of the bottom portion of the quartz glass crucible contactless with each other. This provides a CZ crucible that ensures that a closed-end cylindrical quartz glass crucible for growing a single crystal silicon ingot by a CZ method can be stable and self-supporting when disposed inside a closed-end cylindrical graphite crucible.

A cold crucible usable in the field of high-temperature production of monocrystalline materials. The cold crucible includes: a cold cage which has sectors made of a material having good electrical conductivity and in which a charge is melted, and a cooling device with heat transfer fluid, configured to cool each segment of the cold cage from the inside. The cold crucible is essentially such that it further includes at least one device for generating a static magnetic field, each generating device being housed inside one of the sectors of the cold crucible. Each static magnetic field thus generated having the effect of slowing down the electromagnetic stirring of the molten charge, such that it is possible to produce monocrystalline ingots of significantly larger diameter than the diameter of the seed initiating their growth.

A cold crucible usable in the field of high-temperature production of monocrystalline materials. The cold crucible includes: a cold cage which has sectors made of a material having good electrical conductivity and in which a charge is melted, and a cooling device with heat transfer fluid, configured to cool each segment of the cold cage from the inside. The cold crucible is essentially such that it further includes at least one device for generating a static magnetic field, each generating device being housed inside one of the sectors of the cold crucible. Each static magnetic field thus generated having the effect of slowing down the electromagnetic stirring of the molten charge, such that it is possible to produce monocrystalline ingots of significantly larger diameter than the diameter of the seed initiating their growth.

A cold crucible having application in the field of making monocrystalline materials at high temperature. The cold crucible includes: a cold cage having sectors made of a good electrical conductor material and in which a charge is molten, and a cooling device with a heat-transfer fluid, configured so as to cool down, from inside, each segment of the cold cage. At least one sector of the cold crucible includes a housing and is removable, the housing being proper and intended to accommodate at least one so-called functionalising device of the cold crucible. Henceforth, it is possible to functionalise each sector independently of the others, by accommodating therein, a functionalising device configured, inter alia, so as to modify and/or analyse at least one property of the charge, in particular the molten charge, in the cold cage.

A cold crucible having application in the field of making monocrystalline materials at high temperature. The cold crucible includes: a cold cage having sectors made of a good electrical conductor material and in which a charge is molten, and a cooling device with a heat-transfer fluid, configured so as to cool down, from inside, each segment of the cold cage. At least one sector of the cold crucible includes a housing and is removable, the housing being proper and intended to accommodate at least one so-called functionalising device of the cold crucible. Henceforth, it is possible to functionalise each sector independently of the others, by accommodating therein, a functionalising device configured, inter alia, so as to modify and/or analyse at least one property of the charge, in particular the molten charge, in the cold cage.

Disclosed herein are methods for producing an aluminum-scandium alloy comprising 0.41-4 wt % of scandium which can be used in industrial production setting. The method is carried out by melting aluminum and a mixture of salts comprising sodium, potassium and aluminum fluorides followed by performing simultaneously, while continuously supplying scandium oxide, an aluminothermic reduction of scandium from its oxide and an electrolytic decomposition of the formed alumina. Periodically, at least a portion of the produced alloy is removed, aluminum is then charged, and the process of alloy production is continued while supplying scandium oxide. Also disclosed is a reactor for producing an aluminum-scandium alloy pursuant to the methods described herein.

Disclosed herein are methods for producing an aluminum-scandium alloy comprising 0.41-4 wt % of scandium which can be used in industrial production setting. The method is carried out by melting aluminum and a mixture of salts comprising sodium, potassium and aluminum fluorides followed by performing simultaneously, while continuously supplying scandium oxide, an aluminothermic reduction of scandium from its oxide and an electrolytic decomposition of the formed alumina. Periodically, at least a portion of the produced alloy is removed, aluminum is then charged, and the process of alloy production is continued while supplying scandium oxide. Also disclosed is a reactor for producing an aluminum-scandium alloy pursuant to the methods described herein.

A system and method for manufacturing a space-based component in space. The method includes collecting and capturing space debris directly from and suspended in space, heating the collected space debris using solar radiation in a manner that separately and independently melts different constituent elements and compounds in the space debris, collecting the different constituent elements and compounds as they are being separately melted, storing the elements and compounds in a molten, solid or vapor form, and fabricating the space-based component using the stored elements and compounds.