A metallurgical furnace including a hearth, a sidewall structure, and a surrounding cooling element structure including cooling elements. Each cooling element have a planar back surface. A surrounding binding structure including binding sections surrounds partly the surrounding surface. Adjacent binding sections of the surrounding binding structure are connected by tension assemblies. At least one planar back surface of at least one cooling element is parallel with and is in a horizontal direction of the metallurgical furnace supported by at least one planar surface means of at least one binding section of the surrounding binding structure. Said at least one cooling element of the surrounding cooling element structure is located at least partly between the surrounding surface and said one binding section.

A calcining kettle includes an outer kettle shell, an inner kettle shell, an interior heat exchanger assembly defining at least one tortuous path inside a volume defined by the inner kettle shell, and an agitator within the inner kettle shell. The inner kettle shell is disposed within the outer kettle shell such that the inner kettle shell and the outer kettle shell together at least partially define a jacket adjacent the inner kettle shell. The inner kettle shell and the interior heat exchanger assembly at least partially define a processing volume. The agitator is configured to rotate at least one paddle to cause movement of a feedstock material within the processing volume. A heating device may be structured and adapted to circulate a heat transfer fluid in the at least one tortuous path and the jacket. Calcining methods are also disclosed.

A calcining kettle includes an outer kettle shell, an inner kettle shell, an interior heat exchanger assembly defining at least one tortuous path inside a volume defined by the inner kettle shell, and an agitator within the inner kettle shell. The inner kettle shell is disposed within the outer kettle shell such that the inner kettle shell and the outer kettle shell together at least partially define a jacket adjacent the inner kettle shell. The inner kettle shell and the interior heat exchanger assembly at least partially define a processing volume. The agitator is configured to rotate at least one paddle to cause movement of a feedstock material within the processing volume. A heating device may be structured and adapted to circulate a heat transfer fluid in the at least one tortuous path and the jacket. Calcining methods are also disclosed.

A sintering furnace can have a housing, one or more heating elements, and a conveying assembly. Each heating element can be disposed within the housing and can subject a heating zone to a thermal shock temperature profile. A substrate with one or more precursors thereon can be moved by the conveying assembly through an inlet of the housing to the heating zone, where it is subjected to a first temperature of at least 500? C. for a first time period. The conveying assembly can then move the substrate with one or more sintered materials thereon from the heating zone and through an outlet of the housing.

A sintering furnace can have a housing, one or more heating elements, and a conveying assembly. Each heating element can be disposed within the housing and can subject a heating zone to a thermal shock temperature profile. A substrate with one or more precursors thereon can be moved by the conveying assembly through an inlet of the housing to the heating zone, where it is subjected to a first temperature of at least 500? C. for a first time period. The conveying assembly can then move the substrate with one or more sintered materials thereon from the heating zone and through an outlet of the housing.

A stave comprising an outer housing, an inner pipe circuit comprising individual pipes housed within the outer housing, wherein the individual pipes each has an inlet end and an outlet end and wherein each pipe may or may not be mechanically connected to another pipe, and a manifold, integral with or disposed on or in the housing; wherein the inlet and/or outlet ends of each individual pipe is disposed in or housed by the manifold. The manifold may be made of carbon steel while the housing may be made of copper. Each of the inlet and outlet ends of each individual pipe may be surrounded in part by cast copper within a housing of the manifold.

A stave comprising an outer housing, an inner pipe circuit comprising individual pipes housed within the outer housing, wherein the individual pipes each has an inlet end and an outlet end and wherein each pipe may or may not be mechanically connected to another pipe, and a manifold, integral with or disposed on or in the housing; wherein the inlet and/or outlet ends of each individual pipe is disposed in or housed by the manifold. The manifold may be made of carbon steel while the housing may be made of copper. Each of the inlet and outlet ends of each individual pipe may be surrounded in part by cast copper within a housing of the manifold.

A heating system for heating composite materials includes a housing defining a cavity therein, a vertical conveyor system provided in the cavity of the housing for moving objects through the housing, and a heating arrangement provided in the housing for heating the objects that are moved through the housing. The heating arrangement may include at least one heating element provided in at least one of an upper portion of the housing and a lower portion of the housing. The heating arrangement may include at least one fan to circulate heated air generated by the heating arrangement throughout the cavity of the housing.

A heating system for heating composite materials includes a housing defining a cavity therein, a vertical conveyor system provided in the cavity of the housing for moving objects through the housing, and a heating arrangement provided in the housing for heating the objects that are moved through the housing. The heating arrangement may include at least one heating element provided in at least one of an upper portion of the housing and a lower portion of the housing. The heating arrangement may include at least one fan to circulate heated air generated by the heating arrangement throughout the cavity of the housing.

A stave comprising an outer housing, an inner pipe circuit comprising individual pipes housed within the outer housing, wherein the individual pipes each has an inlet end and an outlet end and wherein each pipe may or may not be mechanically connected to another pipe, and a manifold, integral with or disposed on or in the housing; wherein the inlet and/or outlet ends of each individual pipe is disposed in or housed by the manifold. The manifold may be made of carbon steel while the housing may be made of copper. Each of the inlet and outlet ends of each individual pipe may be surrounded in part by cast copper within a housing of the manifold.