A high organic concurrent decoating kiln includes a low-oxygen zone and a high-oxygen zone. The disclosed kiln allows a gas low in free oxygen to be used in the initial stages of decoating, while a gas higher in free oxygen can be used in the final stages. The total amount of free oxygen used throughout the kiln, in particular at the upstream portion of the kiln, is kept low. Exhaust gas can be recirculated for use in a burner-fired chamber that provides the initial low-oxygen gas to the kiln.

A method for cleaning and/or evaluating a food products mould drum and a combination of such a food products mould drum and a mould drum cleaning and/or evaluating device are disclosed. The mould drum cleaning and/or evaluating device includes one or more pressure housings arranged against the outside of and over one or more mould cavities and form, together with the mould drum, an outside chamber. The outside chamber includes a chamber port connectable to a pressure line of a fluid circuit, and the mould drum includes a passage port connectable to a return line of the fluid circuit. Cleaning/evaluating occurs by allowing a pressurized fluid stream to enter via the chamber port into mould cavities and then via a wall part porous structure through a passage, and exit via the passage port to the return line of the fluid circuit.

A method for preventing the collapse of patterned, high aspect ratio features formed in semiconductor substrates upon removal of wash solutions of the type used to clean etch residues from the spaces between the features. In the present method, the spaces are at least partially filled with a displacement solution, such as via spin coating, to substantially displace the wash solution. The displacement solution includes at least one solvent and at least one fill material which is a polyalkene carbonate (PAC) and/or a saccharide. The solvent is then volatized to deposit the fill material in substantially solid form within the spaces. The fill material may be removed by thermal degradation via heat treatment, wherein the need for removal of the fill material by plasma ashing is obviated in order to prevent or mitigate silicon loss.

A cyclone temperature control system for a cyclone of a decoating system includes a controller, a gas mover, and a control valve that is movable between a fully open position and a closed position. A method of controlling the temperature of the cyclone includes determining a cyclone temperature of the cyclone and comparing the cyclone temperature to a cyclone threshold temperature. The method also includes opening the temperature control valve and directing at least some heated gas from an afterburner of the decoating system to mix with exhaust gas from a kiln of the decoating system to increase the temperature of the exhaust gas if the cyclone temperature is less than the cyclone threshold temperature.

A cooling system for a decoating system may include a kiln sprayer configured to selectively inject a coolant into the kiln to control a temperature of a gas within the kiln. The cooling system may also include a return sprayer configured to selectively cool a gas flowing from the afterburner to the kiln with a coolant. Alternatively or additionally, a heat exchange system for a decoating system may be used that includes a heat exchanger and a steam generator. The heat exchanger is configured to cool a gas flowing from the afterburner to the kiln, and the steam generator is configured to cool gas discharged from the afterburner and not directed to the heat exchanger.

A method of using an aerosol-generating device is provided, including bringing a heating element of the aerosol-generating device into contact with an aerosol-forming substrate, raising a temperature of the heating element to a first temperature to heat the aerosol-forming substrate sufficiently to form an aerosol, removing the heating element from contact with the aerosol-forming substrate and heating the heating element to a second temperature, higher than the first temperature, to thermally liberate organic materials adhered to or deposited on the heating element. An aerosol-generating device is also provided, including a heating element coupled to a controller configured to heat the heating element to the first temperature and to the second temperature.

A cleaning device includes a supporting mechanism, a clamping mechanism arranged on the supporting mechanism and used to clamp a spray head, a heating mechanism, an adjusting mechanism, and a cleaning mechanism. The heating mechanism, the adjusting mechanism, and the cleaning mechanism are arranged on the supporting mechanism. The heating mechanism is used to heat the spray head clamped by the clamping mechanism. The cleaning mechanism is used to inject cleaning liquid into the spray head, dredge the spray head, and detect the spray head. The adjusting mechanism is used to rotate and adjust a position of the cleaning mechanism to complete different tasks on the spray head.

The invention relates to a method for cleaning a structured surface (1) of a press tool (2), in particular a press plate or an endless press belt, the contaminations on the surface being burnt away by at least one laser beam and combustion residues being subsequently removed from the surface by means of an air or gas stream.

An aerosol-generating device is provided, including a heating element coupled to a controller, wherein the controller is programmed to actuate the heating element through: a first thermal cycle in which a temperature of the heating element is raised to a first temperature to form an aerosol from an aerosol-forming substrate disposed in proximity to the heating element; a second thermal cycle in which the temperature of the heating element is raised to a second temperature, higher than the first temperature, to thermally liberate organic material adhered to or deposited on the heating element; and the second thermal cycle automatically when the aerosol-forming substrate is removed from contact with the heating element. A method of controlling an aerosol-generating device having a reusable heating element is also provided.

An apparatus for removing a coating from a lengthwise section of an optical fiber includes a heater at least partially defining an elongate heating region configured for receiving the lengthwise section of the optical fiber, wherein the heater is configured for heating the heating region to a temperature above a thermal decomposition temperature of the at least one coating; a sensor configured for providing a signal indicative of explosive removal of the at least one coating from the lengthwise section of the optical fiber; and at least one device operatively associated with the sensor and the heater for receiving and processing the at least one signal from the sensor, and deactivating the heater. The at least one device may be configured for determining how much time passes between occurrence of the heater being deactivated and the at least one coating being removed from the lengthwise section of the optical fiber.