Methods for degassing and for removing impurities from molten metals are disclosed. These methods can include operating an ultrasonic device in a molten metal bath, and adding a purging gas into the molten metal bath in close proximity to the ultrasonic device.

Methods for degassing and for removing impurities from molten metals are disclosed. These methods can include operating an ultrasonic device in a molten metal bath, and adding a purging gas into the molten metal bath in close proximity to the ultrasonic device.

A method for producing direct reduced iron having increased carbon content, comprising: providing a carbon monoxide-rich gas stream; and delivering the carbon-monoxide-rich gas stream to a direct reduction furnace and exposing partially or completely reduced iron oxide to the carbon monoxide-rich gas stream to increase the carbon content of resulting direct reduced iron. The carbon monoxide-rich gas stream is delivered to one or more of a transition zone and a cooling zone of the direct reduction furnace. Optionally, providing the carbon monoxide-rich gas stream comprises initially providing one of a reformed gas stream from a reformer and a syngas stream from a syngas source. Optionally, the carbon monoxide-rich gas stream is derived, at least in part, from a carbon monoxide recovery unit that forms the carbon monoxide-rich gas stream and an effluent gas stream. Optionally, the method still further includes providing a hydrocarbon-rich gas stream to one or more of a transition zone and a cooling zone of the direct reduction furnace, with and/or separate from the carbon monoxide-rich gas stream.

There is disclosed a furnace (10), a fluid feed component, a fluid reforming system, and a method of reforming a fluid (20). The furnace (10) comprises a vessel (12) that defines a chamber (14) for holding a body of liquid (16). A fluid inlet (18) is provided for introducing a fluid (20) into the chamber (14) below a level (22) of the body of liquid (16) to cause the fluid (20) to interact with the liquid (16) and to migrate therethrough towards an outlet (24) for discharging a product (26) of the interaction from the chamber (14). A liquid circulation passage (28) is implemented, having a weir (30) which is operatively located near the level of the body of liquid (16), and a port (34) which is located remote from the weir (30) and in fluid (20) communication with the fluid inlet (18) so as to enable the liquid (16) to flow over the weir (30) through the liquid circulation passage (28) and through the port (34).

There is disclosed a furnace, a fluid feed component, a fluid reforming system, and a method of reforming a fluid. The furnace comprises a vessel that defines a chamber for holding a body of liquid. A fluid inlet is provided for introducing a fluid into the chamber below a level of the body of liquid to cause the fluid to interact with the liquid and to migrate therethrough towards an outlet for discharging a product of the interaction from the chamber. A liquid circulation passage is implemented, having a weir which is operatively located near the level of the body of liquid, and a port which is located remote from the weir and in fluid communication with the fluid inlet so as to enable the liquid to flow over the weir through the liquid circulation passage and through the port.

A degassing launder having a plurality of partition plates configured to block a flow of molten aluminum and including a plurality of domes. Two adjacent partition plates and two side walls of the launder form a degassing chamber. A lower portion of the partition plates is provided with a passage through which the molten aluminum flows into a next degassing chamber. The domes are arranged on the bottom of the launder.

A processing apparatus for a thermal treatment of a workpiece is presented. The processing apparatus includes a processing chamber, a workpiece support disposed within the processing chamber, a rotation system configured to rotate the workpiece support, a gas delivery system configured to flow one or more process gases into the processing chamber from the a first side of the processing chamber, one or more gas exhaust ports for removing gas from the processing chamber such that a vacuum pressure can be maintained, one or more radiative heating sources disposed on the second side of the processing chamber, one or more dielectric windows disposed between the workpiece support and the one or more radiative heating sources, and a workpiece temperature measurement system configured at a temperature measurement wavelength range to obtain a measurement indicative of a temperature of a back side of the workpiece.

The present invention describes an improved process for the commercial scale production of high-quality catalyst materials. These improved processes allow for production of catalysts that have very consistent batch to batch property and performance variations. In addition these improved processes allow for minimal production losses (by dramatically reducing the production of fines or small materials as part of the production process). The improved process involves multiple steps and uses calcining ovens that allow for precisely control temperature increases where the catalyst is homogenously heated. The calcining gas is released into a separate heating chamber, which contains the recirculation fan and the heat source. Catalysts that may be produced using this improved process include but are not limited to catalysts that promote CO hydrogenation, reforming catalysts, Fischer Tropsch Catalysts, Greyrock GreyCat catalysts, catalysts that homologate methanol, catalysts that promote hydrogenation of carbon compounds, and other catalysts used in industry.

A processing apparatus for a thermal treatment of a workpiece is presented. The processing apparatus includes a processing chamber, a workpiece support disposed within the processing chamber, a rotation system configured to rotate the workpiece support, a gas delivery system configured to flow one or more process gases into the processing chamber from the a first side of the processing chamber, one or more gas exhaust ports for removing gas from the processing chamber such that a vacuum pressure can be maintained, one or more radiative heating sources disposed on the second side of the processing chamber, one or more dielectric windows disposed between the workpiece support and the one or more radiative heating sources, and a workpiece temperature measurement system configured at a temperature measurement wavelength range to obtain a measurement indicative of a temperature of a back side of the workpiece.