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.

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.

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 to the current source; a metal or alloy powder disposed in at least a portion of the joint region; and a controller. The first and second major surfaces may be positioned adjacent to each other to define a joint region. The controller may be configured to cause the current source to output an alternating current that passes from the first component, through at least a portion of the metal or alloy powder, into the second component. The frequency of the alternating current may be configured to cause standing electromagnetic waves within at least a portion of the particles of the metal or alloy powder.

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 to the current source; a metal or alloy powder disposed in at least a portion of the joint region; and a controller. The first and second major surfaces may be positioned adjacent to each other to define a joint region. The controller may be configured to cause the current source to output an alternating current that passes from the first component, through at least a portion of the metal or alloy powder, into the second component. The frequency of the alternating current may be configured to cause standing electromagnetic waves within at least a portion of the particles of the metal or alloy powder.

A flowmeter for measuring flow of a conductive liquid includes a structure (20, 220) defining a flow path, electrodes in the flow path and electrodes (34a, 34b, 234a, 234b) exposed within the flow path. An electrical circuit (40, 240) applies a voltage between the electrodes so that an electrical current flows along a conduction path between the electrodes within a liquid flowing in the flow path. Means such as temperature sensors (56, 58, 256, 258) are provided for determining a value representing a temperature rise in the liquid passing through a sensing region of the flow path which encompasses at least a part of the. A monitoring circuit (60, 207) determines a value representing the flow rate based on the value representing the temperature, rise the voltage and the current. The flowmeter may be incorporated in an ohmic heater and elements of the ohmic heater may serve as elements of the flowmeter.

A trench heater includes a case, a connecting unit, and a sub-assembly unit. The sub-assembly unit includes a baffle, a first junction panel, a second junction panel, and an electrical heating unit. The electrical heating unit includes a heating unit that comprises a heating element, a body, and a granular heat transfer medium. Multiple trench heaters may be connected end to end to create longer lengths via a modular platform.

A trench heater includes a case, a connecting unit, and a sub-assembly unit. The sub-assembly unit includes a baffle, a first junction panel, a second junction panel, and an electrical heating unit. The electrical heating unit includes a heating unit that comprises a heating element, a body, and a granular heat transfer medium. Multiple trench heaters may be connected end to end to create longer lengths via a modular platform.

An ohmic heater has a structure (20) defining a flow path extending in a downstream direction (D), a first pair of electrodes (34a,34b) and a second pair of electrodes (36a,36b). The electrodes of each pair are adjacent one another in the downstream direction but spaced from one another in a direction perpendicular to the downstream direction; the pairs of electrodes are spaced apart from one another in the downstream direction. An electrical circuit (40,42,44,46,48,50) is operative to apply a voltage (i) between the electrodes (34a,34b) of the first pair; or (ii) between the electrodes (36a,36b) of the second pair; or (iii) between at least one electrode (34a) of the first pair and at least one electrode (36b) of the second pair, and may vary the applied voltage. The heater can meet varying conditions such as changes in conductivity of the liquid flowing through the heater.

Provided are a heat treatment apparatus for carbonaceous grains and a method therefor allowing drifts and internal clogging in a direct energizing furnace to not occur, allowing heat treatment of the carbonaceous grains to be continued uniformly at high temperatures for a prolonged period of time, and allowing productivity and workability to be improved. A conductive tubular structure 14 is electrically connected to an upper part of a lower electrode 13 in a manner of surrounding an upper electrode 12. The rate of change between the specific electrical resistivity of grains when grains are lightly filled and the specific electrical resistivity of grains when the grains are tap filled is defined (1-tap filling/lightly filling)×100, and the rate of change is equal to less than 70%.