Abstract:
One or more electric arcs take place from fluid-cooled arcing surfaces at fixed positions along the path of movement of a slab which is to have defects removed therefrom, and magnetic fields generated in the electrodes cause the arcs to move substantially continuously in repetitive paths over the arcing surfaces and over the surfaces of the slab. The repetition rate of movement of the arcs is sufficiently large and the rate of movement of the slab is sufficiently small whereby the arc spot occurs at substantially every point on the slab surface. Additionally, means is provided for quickly cooling successive portions of the surface of the slab after said portions have been heated by the electric arc or arcs. In some embodiments all surfaces of the slab are heated during linear movement of the slab in one direction; in another embodiment, two surfaces of a slab generally rectangular in cross section are heated while the slab moves in one direction, the slab is thereafter turned over and moved back in the opposite direction during which later movement the other two surfaces of the slab are heated.
Abstract:
A GAS ARC HEATER FOR CHEMICAL PROCESSING IN ONE EMBODIMENT HAS CONCENTRIC ANNULAR ELECTRODES EACH HAVING A MAGNETIC FIELD COIL THEREIN NEAR THE ARCING SURFACE SO THAT A RRADIALLY EXTENDING ARE BETWEEN ELECTRODES IS CAUSED TO MOVE SUBSTANTIALLY CONTINUOUSLY IN AN ANNULAR PATH AROUND THE ARCING SURFACES OF THE ELECTRODES. A PROCESS GAS TO BE PYROLIZED IS ADMITTED INTO THE ARC CHAMBER AT A PLURALITY FO PERIPHERALLY SPACED POSITIONS WHERE IT PASSES DIRECTLY THROUGH THE ROTATING ARC PATH AND IS PYROLIZED BY THE ARC. A QUENCHING GAS IS ADMITTED AT A PLURALITY OF PERIPHERALLY SPACED POSITIONS WHICH MAY BE AROUND THE OUTSIDE OF THE ELECTRODE OF LARGER DIAMETER OR AROUND THE INSIDE OF THE ELECTRODE OF SMALLER DIAMETER, OR BOTH, THE QUENCHING GAS MIXING WITH PYROLIZED PROCESS GAS AND PRODUCING A GAS MIXTURE IN WHICH DESIRED RECOMBINATION PRODUCT IS PRESENT AT A CERTAIN TEMPERATURE IN SUBSTAINTIAL PROPORTION. A TUBE SLIDABLE INTO THE ARCH CHAMBER THROUGH THE CENTRAL A PERTURE OF THE ANNULAR ELECTRODE OF SMALLER DIAMETER HAS A NUMBER OF SMALL PASSAGEWAYS THEREIN FOR, IF DESIRED, INTRODUCING A QUENCHING FLUID OR A FLUID TO "FREEZE" THE RECOMBINATION PRODUCT TO PREVENT FURTHER UNDESIRED CHEMICAL REACTIONS. ADDITIONALLY A GAS OR OTHER FLUID, PROCESS, QUENCHING OR OTHER, MAY BE INTRODUCED INTO THE ARC CHAMBER AT A PLURALITY OFPERIPHERALLY SPACED POSITIONS AROUND THE OUTSIDE OF THE NOZZLE, AND THE NOZZLE HAS A PLURALITY OF AXIALLY AND PERIPHERALLY SPACED BORES PASSING THROUGH THE SURFACE THEREOF ALL COMMUNICATING WITH FLUID FLOW PASSAGEWAYS FOR COOLING FLUID FOR INJECTING A "FREEZING" FLUID INTO THE GAS MIXTURE AS IT LEAVES THE NOZZLE. THE INVENTION INCLUDES MEANS FOR ACCOMPLISHING QUENCHING BY CAUSING A FIAS FLOW RATE IN THE ARC CHAMBER WHICH CAUSES PYROLIZED GAS TO MOVE IN A PREDETERMINED TIME TO A PREDETERMINED POSITION DISTANT FROM THE ARC
PATH WHERE THE PYROLYZED GAS IS COOLED TO A QUENCHING TEMPARTURE DUE TO THE NORMAL DROP IN ARC CHAMBER TEMPERATURE AT THAT POSITION. IN ANOTHER EMBODIMENT THE HEATED GAS MIXTURE IS CAUSED TO FLOW THROUGH A NARROW THROAT PORTION OF A NOZZLE AND THE SPEED THEREOF INCREASED THENCE EXPANDING INTO A PORTION OF LARGE VOLUME WHERE THE SPEED OF THE GAS IS FURTHER INCREASED WITH A CONVERSION OF HEAT ENERGY TO KINETIC ENERGY OCCURRING AND FURTHER COOLING OF THE GAS OCCURS. THE SECOND EMBODIMENT MAY INCLUDE MEANS FOR INJECTING A "FREEZING" FLUID IF DESIRED, AND MAY INCLUDE HEAT EXCHANGER MEANS IF DESIRED.