Crucible furnace

Abstract

Abstract A CRUCIBLE FURNACE FOR THE MELTING OF METAL OR OTHER SUBSTANCES HAVING HIGH MELTING POINTS WHICH INCLUDES A REFRACTORY VESSEL OR CRUCIBLE FOR CONTAINING THE MATERIAL TO BE MELTED, THE VESSEL BEING SURROUNDED BY A BAFFLE GENERALLY CONFORMING IN SHAPE TO VESSEL. EXTERNAL TO THE BAFFLE IS A CHAMBER AT THE BASE OF WHICH FUEL AND COMBUSTION AIR, AT TIMES PREHEATED, ARE SEPARATELY INTRODUCED, TUBULENTLY MIXED AN IGNITED. THE BAFFLE IS PERFORATED IN A PATTERN OF HOLES WHICH SERVE TO DIRECT COMBUSTION GASES IN THE FORM OF JETS UPON THE OUTER WALL OF THE VESSEL. THIS ACTION ENHANCES HEAT TRANSFER BY DISRUPTING STAGNANT BOUNDARY LAYERS OF GAS ALONG THE WALL OF THE CRUCIBLE, CONTRIBUTES TO THE UNIFORMITY OF HEAT DISTRIBUTION IN THE ERUCIBLE, AND CONTRIBUTES IN ACHIEVING HIGH OVERALL HEAT TRANSFER COEFFICIENT. THE PRODUCTS OF COMBUSTION ARE DRAWN OUT ON AN ANNULAR SPACE ABOUT THE UPPER PERIPHERY OF THE CRUCIBLE WHICH IS SEALED SO THAT NO CONTACT WITH THE CONTENTS OF THE CRUCIBLE IS POSSIBLE. THE PRODUCTS OF COMBUSTION MAY ALSO BE PASSED THROUGH A RECUPERATOR WHEN PREHEATING OF THE INCOMING COMBUSTION AIR IS DESIRABLE TO INCREASE EFFICIENCY AND FLAME TEMPERATURE.

Inventors

• 👤 Lazaros J Lazaridis

Bibliographic Details