A retort for thermally processing sinterable objects including a retort body having an interior cavity configured to receive at least one part for sintering. The retort body includes a retort inlet, a fore volume, an inlet plenum, an outlet plenum and a retort outlet. The retort inlet is configured to be fluidly connected to a process gas inlet tube and receive a flow of process gas. The retort inlet is fluidly connected to the fore volume, the fore volume being configured to receive a cleansing object. The fore volume is fluidly connected to the inlet plenum, which is fluidly connected to the interior cavity, which is in turn fluidly connected to the outlet plenum. The outlet plenum is fluidly connected to the retort outlet which is configured to be fluidly connected to an effluent gas outlet tube via a Peclet sealing element.

A heat treatment device includes: a heat treatment chamber which accommodates an object to be treated; a cooling gas supply unit which supplies a cooling gas into the heat treatment chamber; a cooling gas circulation unit which circulates the cooling gas in the heat treatment chamber; and a gas purge unit which gas-purges, with an inert gas, a portion in which there is a possibility of mixing of the cooling gas supplied into the heat treatment chamber and an oxygen gas, in which the cooling gas supply unit supplies a hydrogen gas into the heat treatment chamber as the cooling gas.

A pressurisation and heating device for restoring an insulation system of a power cable, the pressurisation and heating device including: a first part including a first channel configured to receive a portion of the power cable, a second part including a second channel configured to receive a portion of the power cable, wherein the pressurisation and heating device is configured to be set in a closed state in which the first channel faces the second channel thereby forming a heating chamber extending from a first end to a second end, opposite the first end, of the pressurisation and heating device, wherein the pressurisation and heating device is configured to be pressurised to obtain a pressure higher than atmospheric pressure inside the heating chamber when the power cable is arranged sealed in the heating chamber, wherein the pressurisation and heating device has an at least 20 cm long axially extending section which is primarily made of material at most having a conductivity of the order of moo S/m at 20° C.

A pressurisation and heating device for restoring an insulation system of a power cable, the pressurisation and heating device including: a first part including a first channel configured to receive a portion of the power cable, a second part including a second channel configured to receive a portion of the power cable, wherein the pressurisation and heating device is configured to be set in a closed state in which the first channel faces the second channel thereby forming a heating chamber extending from a first end to a second end, opposite the first end, of the pressurisation and heating device, wherein the pressurisation and heating device is configured to be pressurised to obtain a pressure higher than atmospheric pressure inside the heating chamber when the power cable is arranged sealed in the heating chamber, wherein the pressurisation and heating device has an at least 20 cm long axially extending section which is primarily made of material at most having a conductivity of the order of moo S/m at 20° C.

Batch furnace assembly for processing wafers, comprising a process chamber housing defining a process chamber and having a process chamber opening, a wafer boat housing defining a water boat chamber, a door assembly, a differential pressure sensor, and a controller. The door assembly has a closed position in which it closes off the process chamber opening. The door assembly defines in a closed position a door assembly chamber having a purge gas inlet for supplying purge gas to the door assembly chamber for gas sealingly separating the process chamber from the wafer boat chamber. The differential pressure sensor assembly fluidly connects to the door assembly chamber and is configured to determine a pressure difference between a pressure in the door assembly chamber and a reference pressure in a reference pressure chamber. The controller is configured to establish whether the pressure difference is in a desired pressure range.

Batch furnace assembly for processing wafers, comprising a process chamber housing defining a process chamber and having a process chamber opening, a wafer boat housing defining a water boat chamber, a door assembly, a differential pressure sensor, and a controller. The door assembly has a closed position in which it closes off the process chamber opening. The door assembly defines in a closed position a door assembly chamber having a purge gas inlet for supplying purge gas to the door assembly chamber for gas sealingly separating the process chamber from the wafer boat chamber. The differential pressure sensor assembly fluidly connects to the door assembly chamber and is configured to determine a pressure difference between a pressure in the door assembly chamber and a reference pressure in a reference pressure chamber. The controller is configured to establish whether the pressure difference is in a desired pressure range.

The invention relates to a carbonitriding facility (IC) which includes: a heating chamber (CC), for heating at least one steel part (PA) to a first temperature, in the presence of a neutral gas and under a selected pressure; a first enriching chamber (CE1) for enriching the heated part with nitrogen, by nitriding same in α-phase at a second temperature no higher than the first temperature; a second enriching chamber (CE2) for enriching the nitrogen-enriched part with carbon, by carburising same at a third temperature higher than the second temperature; a quench chamber (CT) for quenching the nitrogen- and carbon-enriched part under pressure; a transfer airlock (ST) communicating with the chambers and suitable for temporarily receiving the part in a controlled atmosphere; and transfer means (MT) for transfer-ring the part from one chamber to another chamber via the transfer airlock (ST).

The invention relates to a carbonitriding facility (IC) which includes: a heating chamber (CC), for heating at least one steel part (PA) to a first temperature, in the presence of a neutral gas and under a selected pressure; a first enriching chamber (CE1) for enriching the heated part with nitrogen, by nitriding same in α-phase at a second temperature no higher than the first temperature; a second enriching chamber (CE2) for enriching the nitrogen-enriched part with carbon, by carburising same at a third temperature higher than the second temperature; a quench chamber (CT) for quenching the nitrogen- and carbon-enriched part under pressure; a transfer airlock (ST) communicating with the chambers and suitable for temporarily receiving the part in a controlled atmosphere; and transfer means (MT) for transfer-ring the part from one chamber to another chamber via the transfer airlock (ST).

Disclosed are a continuous heat treatment device and method for a sintered Nd—Fe—B magnet workpiece. The device comprises a first heat treatment chamber, a first cooling chamber, a second heat treatment chamber, and a second cooling chamber continuously disposed in sequence, as well as a transfer system disposed among the chambers to transfer the alloy workpiece or the metal workpiece; both the first cooling chamber and the second cooling chamber adopt a air cooling system, wherein a cooling air temperature of the first cooling chamber is 25° C. or above and differs from a heat treatment temperature of the first heat treatment chamber by at least 450° C.; a cooling air temperature of the second cooling chamber is 25° C. or above and differs from a heat treatment temperature of the second heat treatment chamber by at least 300° C. The continuous heat treatment device and method can improve the cooling rate and production efficiency and improve the properties and consistency of the products.

Disclosed are a continuous heat treatment device and method for a sintered Nd—Fe—B magnet workpiece. The device comprises a first heat treatment chamber, a first cooling chamber, a second heat treatment chamber, and a second cooling chamber continuously disposed in sequence, as well as a transfer system disposed among the chambers to transfer the alloy workpiece or the metal workpiece; both the first cooling chamber and the second cooling chamber adopt a air cooling system, wherein a cooling air temperature of the first cooling chamber is 25° C. or above and differs from a heat treatment temperature of the first heat treatment chamber by at least 450° C.; a cooling air temperature of the second cooling chamber is 25° C. or above and differs from a heat treatment temperature of the second heat treatment chamber by at least 300° C. The continuous heat treatment device and method can improve the cooling rate and production efficiency and improve the properties and consistency of the products.