Embodiments concern a plant for melting and/or heating metal material and a corresponding method to supply electrical energy. The plant comprises at least one induction furnace (11) and means (12) for supplying electrical energy to the induction furnace 11), wherein the electric power supply means (12) comprise at least one transformer (13) connected to an alternating current mains power network (14), at least one rectifier (15) located downstream of the transformer (13), at least one converter (16) located downstream of the rectifier device (15), and at least one coil (17) for melting and/or heating metal material.

Provided is an induction heating device with which discharging can be easily avoided even when a large electric current is used. The induction heating device comprises a high-frequency power supply provided with a connection portion for an alternating-current power supply, and a heating coil portion connected to the high-frequency power supply. In the heating coil portion, a plurality of coils include n coils surrounding a cavity portion in a plane, wherein the plurality of coils are mutually connected in series via one of a plurality of capacitors.

A plant for melting and/or heating metal material includes a furnace, electrical energy feed means and an electric power apparatus connected between the feed means and the furnace; and a corresponding method to power the melting and/or heating plant.

An asphalt processing system is formed from a heating chamber, a transfer system and an induction heating system. A plurality of paddles, conveyor flights, or conveyor belts having a U-shaped blade move the asphalt through the system while concurrently mixing the material to ensure consistent temperatures through the asphalt cement. The asphalt is heating using one or more induction heating systems to quickly heat the asphalt to between 300° F. and 350° F. The system can include a convection system designed to collect air from the heating chamber, further heat it, and recirculate the air to enhance the asphalt heating. A water condenser can be employed to remove moisture during air recirculation, reducing moisture content in the asphalt cement. The asphalt cement is optionally then modified by addition of one or more rejuvenation oils. This system is particularly useful for recycled asphalt pavement, but can be used for all asphalt products.

An apparatus for detecting ground faults in a multifurnace installation with at least two induction furnaces and a multifurnace installation are described. A ground-fault sensor is associated with each induction furnace and is connected to the electrical supply line to the induction furnace coil. Furthermore, the apparatus has a ground-leak sensor. Moreover, the apparatus includes an additional ground-fault sensor that measures at the same location as the ground-leak sensor. In this manner an improvement of security during the operation of the system is obtained.

A crucible apparatus includes a crucible and one or more induction coils arranged around the crucible. Upon application of electric power to the one or more induction coils, a first thermal zone is generated in at least a first portion of the crucible and a second thermal zone is generated in at least a second portion of the crucible, wherein a first thermal characteristic of the first thermal zone is different from a second thermal characteristic of the second thermal zone.

A system (5) and method (800) for unit cell casting of titanium or titanium-alloys is disclosed herein. The system (5) comprises an external chamber (45), a crucible (10) positioned within the external chamber (45), an induction coil (15) positioned around the crucible, an internal chamber (40) positioned within the external chamber (45), and a mold (30) positioned within the internal chamber (40). The external chamber (45) is evacuated and a pressurized gas is injected into the evacuated external chamber (45) to create a pressurized external chamber (45). An ingot (20) is melted within the crucible utilizing induction heating generated by the induction coil (15). The internal chamber (40) is evacuated to create an evacuated internal chamber (40). The titanium alloy material of the ingot (20) is completely transferred into the mold (30) from the crucible (10) using a pressure differential created between the external chamber (45) and the internal chamber (40).

Various embodiments provide apparatus and methods for melting materials and for containing the molten materials within melt zone during melting. Exemplary apparatus may include a vessel configured to receive a material for melting therein; a load induction coil positioned adjacent to the vessel to melt the material therein; and a containment induction coil positioned in line with the load induction coil. The material in the vessel can be heated by operating the load induction coil at a first RF frequency to form a molten material. The containment induction coil can be operated at a second RF frequency to contain the molten material within the load induction coil. Once the desired temperature is achieved and maintained for the molten material, operation of the containment induction coil can be stopped and the molten material can be ejected from the vessel into a mold through an ejection path.

A plant for melting and/or heating metal material includes a furnace, electrical energy feed means and an electric power apparatus connected between the feed means and the furnace; and a corresponding method to power the melting and/or heating plant.

Provided is an apparatus for controlling a coating layer in a physical vapor deposition (PVD) plating process that forms a coating layer on a steel sheet with metal vapor by PVD. The apparatus for controlling a coating layer comprises: a crucible into which a molten material is introduced; an electromagnetic induction coil disposed around the outer periphery of the crucible to heat the molten material introduced into the crucible and form a molten metal to generate metal vapor from the molten metal; a power supply unit for supplying an electric current to the electromagnetic induction coil; and a control unit for measuring the impedance of the electromagnetic induction coil and controlling the electric current supplied to the electromagnetic induction coil so that the impedance is kept constant according to the molten material which is introduced into the crucible at a constant feed rate.