Abstract:
A fluid latent heat absorption electric induction heater is provided for raising the temperature of a fluid supplied to a fluid-driven turbine in a turbine-driven electric power generation system. The fluid latent heat absorption electric induction heater alternatively transfers heat to the fluid by induced susceptor heating, or a combination of inductor Joule heating and induced susceptor heating. The fluid may be water-steam for powering a steam-driven turbine or another fluid used in a phase change system for driving a fluid-driven turbine in a turbine-driven electric power generation system.
Abstract:
Apparatus and method are provided for life cycle wear monitoring of a consumable refractory in an electric induction furnace used for heating and melting materials by accumulating laser imaging data of the refractory's inner surface periodically over the refractory's life cycle while the furnace is utilized in a foundry environment and processing the accumulated imaging data for comparative analysis with previous laser imaging data of the refractory's inner surface.
Abstract:
A method of cooling an electric induction furnace for melting and holding a reactive metal or alloy is provided where the electric induction furnace has an upper furnace vessel and an induction coil in a modular inductor furnace is positioned below the upper furnace vessel with a melt-containing vessel positioned inside the induction coil with a gap between the outside surface of the melt-containing vessel and the inside surface of the induction coil that is used to circulate a cooling fluid for cooling the melt-containing vessel to inhibit leakage of the reactive metal or alloy melt from the melt-containing vessel. The melt-containing vessel can be integrated with a cooling system for cooling the melt-containing vessel. Modularity of the melt-containing vessel, induction coil and cooling system facilitates servicing of the modular inductor furnace without disassembly of the entire electric induction furnace.
Abstract:
An electric induction furnace for melting and holding a reactive metal or alloy is provided with an upper furnace vessel, an induction coil positioned below the upper furnace vessel, and a melt-containing vessel positioned inside the induction coil with a gap between the outside surface of the melt-containing vessel and the inside surface of the induction coil that can be used to circulate a cooling fluid for cooling the wall of the melt-containing vessel to inhibit leakage of the reactive metal or alloy melt from the vessel. The melt-containing vessel can be integrated with a cooling system for cooling the melt-containing vessel. The melt-containing vessel, induction coil and cooling system can be provided as modular components to facilitate servicing of the melt-containing vessel, the induction coil and the cooling system.
Abstract:
A method is provided for life cycle wear monitoring of a consumable refractory in an electric induction furnace used for heating and melting materials by accumulating laser imaging data of the refractory's inner surface periodically over the refractory's life cycle while the furnace is utilized in a foundry environment and processing the accumulated imaging data for comparative analysis with previous laser imaging data of the refractory's inner surface.
Abstract:
An electric induction furnace for heating and melting electrically conductive materials is provided with a lining wear detection system that can detect replaceable furnace lining wear when the furnace is properly operated and maintained. In some embodiments of the invention the lining wear detection system utilizes an electrically conductive wire assemblage embedded in a wire assemblage refractory disposed between the replaceable lining and the furnace's induction coil.
Abstract:
A clean cell environment for a continuous roll-over electric induction batch casting furnace system is provided where each combination of batch charge, for example an ingot, induction melting (ingot-melt) process and mold-pour process are performed in a clean cell environment and each combination ingot-melt and mold-pour process is traceable as to the identity of the specific ingot, or other charge form (composition) and the mold (fabrication identifier).
Abstract:
A renewable energy powered thermal processing system is formed from a renewable energy source operably connected to an inverter via a charge controller. In one embodiment, a solar renewable energy source is operably connected to the inverter via a solar charge controller. The inverter is connected to a renewable energy storage device and further conditions the current for the thermal processing power supply, which then delivers energy to a thermal processing unit. A supplemental renewable energy source, such as wind, may further be operably connected to the inverter via a supplemental charge controller. As such, the thermal processing unit can be powered solely by renewable energy directly or stored renewable energy within the renewable energy storage device to provide a standalone, grid-independent renewable energy powered thermal processing system. Optionally, a grid tie may further selectively connect the system to an external power grid as a backup source of energy.
Abstract:
An apparatus comprising an induction furnace with a thermally and electrically conductive or non-conductive crucible containing an electrically conductive ferrous or non-ferrous material is provided with at least one bottom induction coil, one side induction coil and one top induction coil disposed exteriorly around the bottom, side and over the top surface of the material in the conductive or non-conductive crucible to provide a non-contact temperature boost or a flow rate boost to the material by selectively energizing a combination of the coils. The induction furnace is particularly useful for electrically conductive materials having a relatively low value of thermal conductivity, such as aluminum or an aluminum alloy.
Abstract:
Large steel ingot casting is accomplished with a top suspended induction heating device supplied with variable power and variable frequency from a power source. By the induction heating and stirring provided by the top suspended induction heating device, metal solidification advances progressively upwards from bottom to top, and the upper molten metal in a riser part compensates for shrinkage of the lower solidified metal in the main part. Inclusions are selectively moved out of the molten metal by a variable electromagnetic stirring force and the formation of casting defects is suppressed.