A system may include a current source; a first metal or alloy component with a first major surface electrically coupled to the current source; a second metal or alloy component with a second major surface electrically coupled in series to the first component and the current source via an external electrical conductor, where the first and second major surfaces are positioned adjacent to each other to define a joint region; a metal or alloy powder disposed in at least a portion of the joint region; and a controller. The controller may be configured to cause the current source to output an alternating current that conducts through the first component and the second component to induce magnetic eddy currents, magnetic hysteresis, or both within at least a portion of the metal or alloy powder disposed in at least the first portion of the joint region.

An electric heating pot including a body unit and a heating unit configured to provide heat to the body unit. The body unit includes an accommodation space configured to accommodate liquid, the heating unit includes a housing formed such that electrolyzed water is disposed therein, and an electrode portion that is disposed in the housing, formed such that at least one region thereof is in contact with the electrolyzed water in the housing, and includes a plurality of electrodes.

A liquid heater is described including a chamber for receiving a liquid, pairs of electrodes located within the chamber for applying electric current to the liquid, input terminals for connection to a power supply, a plurality of switches for connecting the pairs of electrodes to the input terminals, and a control unit for controlling the switches. The switches have a plurality of different states for selectively connecting pairs of electrodes to the input terminals in one of a plurality of electrode configurations, the electrodes having a different total electrical resistance in each electrode configuration. When switching between a first electrode configuration and a second electrode configuration having a second lower total electrical resistance, the control unit controls the switches such that switching between the electrode configurations occurs in response to zero-crossings in a voltage of the power supply or the electrodes of the second electrode configuration are energised with a voltage having a higher duty than the electrodes of the first electrode configuration.

A liquid heater is described including a chamber for receiving a liquid, pairs of electrodes located within the chamber for applying electric current to the liquid, input terminals for connection to a power supply, a plurality of switches for connecting the pairs of electrodes to the input terminals, and a control unit for controlling the switches. The switches have a plurality of different states for selectively connecting pairs of electrodes to the input terminals in one of a plurality of electrode configurations, the electrodes having a different total electrical resistance in each electrode configuration. When switching between a first electrode configuration and a second electrode configuration having a second lower total electrical resistance, the control unit controls the switches such that switching between the electrode configurations occurs in response to zero-crossings in a voltage of the power supply or the electrodes of the second electrode configuration are energised with a voltage having a higher duty than the electrodes of the first electrode configuration.

Disclosed is a system for ohmic heating of a fluid which includes at least one chamber for receiving the fluid and at least two units each including at least one electrode. Each of the at least one electrode is associated to at least one device for galvanic separation. The electrodes of each of the two units are disposed in the chamber at a distance apart from one another and the device for galvanic separation is disposed outside of the chamber. The system also includes at least one frequency inverter that is electrically connected to the at least two electrode-units for operating the at least two electrode-units.

Disclosed is a system for ohmic heating of a fluid which includes at least one chamber for receiving the fluid and at least two units each including at least one electrode. Each of the at least one electrode is associated to at least one device for galvanic separation. The electrodes of each of the two units are disposed in the chamber at a distance apart from one another and the device for galvanic separation is disposed outside of the chamber. The system also includes at least one frequency inverter that is electrically connected to the at least two electrode-units for operating the at least two electrode-units.

A die or piston of a spark plasma sintering apparatus, wherein the die or piston is made from graphite and the outer surfaces of the die or piston are coated with a silicon carbide layer with a thickness of 1 to 10 micrometres, the silicon carbide layer being further optionally coated with one or more other layer(s) made from a carbide other than silicon carbide chosen from hafnium carbide, tantalum carbide and titanium carbide, the other layer(s) each having a thickness of 1 to 10 micrometres. A spark plasma sintering (SPS) apparatus comprising the die and two of the pistons, defining a sintering, densification or assembly chamber capable of receiving a powder to be sintered, a part to be densified, or parts to be assembled. A method of sintering a powder, densifying a part, or assembling two parts by means of a method of spark plasma sintering (SPS) in an oxidising atmosphere, using the spark plasma sintering (SPS) apparatus.

A die or piston of a spark plasma sintering apparatus, wherein the die or piston is made from graphite and the outer surfaces of the die or piston are coated with a silicon carbide layer with a thickness of 1 to 10 micrometres, the silicon carbide layer being further optionally coated with one or more other layer(s) made from a carbide other than silicon carbide chosen from hafnium carbide, tantalum carbide and titanium carbide, the other layer(s) each having a thickness of 1 to 10 micrometres. A spark plasma sintering (SPS) apparatus comprising the die and two of the pistons, defining a sintering, densification or assembly chamber capable of receiving a powder to be sintered, a part to be densified, or parts to be assembled. A method of sintering a powder, densifying a part, or assembling two parts by means of a method of spark plasma sintering (SPS) in an oxidising atmosphere, using the spark plasma sintering (SPS) apparatus.

Proposed is a device (110) comprising at least one pipeline (112) for receiving at least one feedstock. The device (110) has at least one current-conducting medium (129). The device (110) has at least one current or voltage source (126) which is configured to generate an electrical current in the current-conducting medium (129), which heats the pipeline (112) by means of Joule heating which is produced when the electrical current passes through the current-conducting medium (129).

A temperature control system for an electrical storage battery (12) includes the battery and a vessel (20) adapted to contain a liquid (L). The vessel is in thermal communication with the battery. An ohmic heater includes electrodes (42) disposed within the vessel in contact with the liquid (L), and a controller (44) operative to apply different electrical potentials to different ones of the electrodes (42) so that an electrical current flows between the electrodes so as to heat the liquid and thus heat the battery. A temperature sensor (46) measures temperature of the battery, and the controller is responsive to the measured temperature of the battery to control the electric current and thereby control the heating.