Apparatus and methods for stirring a molten metal are provided. The apparatus comprising: two or more discrete units, each unit including a core (7), the core (7) being provided with two or more teeth (5, 13, 17), the core (7) being provided with at least one electrically conducting coils (3, 15,19); in use, mounting a first discrete unit in proximity to the container (23) at a first location; in use, mounting a second discrete unit in proximity to the container (23) at a second location; electrical connections between the two or more discrete units and a common control unit, thereby providing an electromagnetic stirrer. The apparatus format allows the discrete units to be position between different pairs of elements or parts of furnaces and the like to allow retrofitting of electromagnetic stirring where access is restricted.

A method and apparatus for moving molten material within a container are provided. The method comprising: providing apparatus including an electromagnetic mover adjacent a part of the container, wherein the electromagnetic mover has a primary motion axis, the primary motion axis being aligned along the direction of the maximum linear force generated by the electromagnetic stirrer; applying a current to the electromagnetic mover such that changes in magnetic field configuration cause movement of the molten metal within the container; wherein the primary motion axis is inclined relative to the vertical in two different planes; or wherein the longitudinal axis is inclined relative to the vertical in two different planes. The method and apparatus are designed to generate a plurality of different flow zones within the container and/or larger container, the different flow zones differing from one another in terms of their position in the container and/or larger container and/or the different flow zones differing from one another in terms of the relative flow velocities and/or the different flow zones differing from one another in terms of the relative directions of flow.

A downhole tool includes a housing configured to be placed into a subterranean environment and a mixer disposed in the housing. The mixer includes a first inlet configured to receive a fusible metal or alloy component and a second inlet configured to receive a solid metal or semi-metal component. Additionally, the mixer includes a mixing chamber configured to mix the fusible metal or alloy component and the solid metal or semi-metal component to form a liquid or partially liquid alloy. Further, the mixer includes an outlet configured to discharge the liquid or partially liquid alloy into the subterranean environment. The liquid or partially liquid alloy is configured to harden into a solid alloy over time.

A method for electromagnetic stirring of liquid metal in a continuous charge electric arc furnace, in which there are positioned a first electromagnetic field along a first axis of electromagnetic stirring and a second electromagnetic field along a second axis of electromagnetic stirring.

A downhole tool includes a housing configured to be placed into a subterranean environment and a mixer disposed in the housing. The mixer includes a first inlet configured to receive a fusible metal or alloy component and a second inlet configured to receive a solid metal or semi-metal component. Additionally, the mixer includes a mixing chamber configured to mix the fusible metal or alloy component and the solid metal or semi-metal component to form a liquid or partially liquid alloy. Further, the mixer includes an outlet configured to discharge the liquid or partially liquid alloy into the subterranean environment. The liquid or partially liquid alloy is configured to harden into a solid alloy over time.

An apparatus for separating a mixture of two liquids of different densities which liquids are substantially insoluble in one another includes a hollow permeable body having a recess for receiving a first fluid which can flow from the recess through the permeable body to an exterior of the permeable body. A housing surrounds and is spaced from the exterior of the permeable body. The housing has an inlet for a second fluid and an outlet for a mixture of the first and second fluid. A baffle or baffles are provided in the space between the exterior of the permeable body and the housing, and to define a mixing channel in space between the exterior of the permeable body and the housing so that the second fluid can enter the housing inlet and flow through the mixing channel to the outlet, while picking up fluid on the exterior of the permeable body.

Methods and systems are provided for producing solid carbon from carbon dioxide and/or hydrocarbons such as methane (CH.sub.4). A metallic media, either in liquid or semi-liquid (semi-solid) form and having a range of liquid and semi-liquid metallic chemistries, is used alone or in combinations with other liquid or semi-liquid metalin a reactive metallurgical process for carbon capture and conversion.

To provide a technique that reliably and quickly melts conductive metal, there is provided a conductive metal melting method including: rotating a magnetic field device formed of a permanent magnet, which includes a permanent magnet, about a vertical axis near a driving flow channel of a flow channel that includes an inlet through which conductive molten metal flows into the flow channel from the outside and an outlet through which the molten metal is discharged to the outside and includes a vortex chamber provided between the driving flow channel provided on an upstream side and an outflow channel provided on a downstream side, and moving lines of magnetic force of the permanent magnet while the lines of magnetic force of the permanent magnet pass through the molten metal present in the driving flow channel; allowing the molten metal to flow into the vortex chamber by an electromagnetic force generated with the movement to generate the vortex of the molten metal in the vortex chamber into which the raw material is to be put; and discharging the molten metal to the outside from the outlet. The conductive metal melting method further includes driving the molten metal present in the outflow channel toward the outlet by an electromagnetic force generated with the movement of the lines of magnetic force as necessary.

An apparatus for separating a mixture of two liquids of different densities which liquids are substantially insoluble in one another includes a hollow permeable body having a recess for receiving a first fluid which can flow from the recess through the permeable body to an exterior of the permeable body. A housing surrounds and is spaced from the exterior of the permeable body. The housing has an inlet for a second fluid and an outlet for a mixture of the first and second fluid. A baffle or baffles are provided in the space between the exterior of the permeable body and the housing, and to define a mixing channel in space between the exterior of the permeable body and the housing so that the second fluid can enter the housing inlet and flow through the mixing channel to the outlet, while picking up fluid on the exterior of the permeable body.

Device and method for melt treatment of aluminium alloys having excessive inclusions, impurities and unwanted gases to be removed, by (a) cooling the melt at an appropriate cooling rate to a temperature below the liquidus by shearing the melt associated with the introduction of at least one type of inert gases into the melt to form fine bubbles and high shear in the melt, and (b) purifying inclusions in the melt by floating them to the top surface, degassing the undesirable gases by reacting with the inert gas, and forming solid intermetallics containing impurity elements and transferring the melt mixture by the shearing device into a holding furnace, and (c) maintaining the melt in the holding furnace at a temperature below the liquidus and above the solidus temperature to settle the solid intermetallics formed by impurity elements as sediment at the bottom of the holding furnace while flowing the melt with much reduced inclusions, impurities and unwanted gases out of the holding furnace as applicable materials. The method is advantageously applicable for upgrading aluminium alloys from recycled and/or scrapped materials.