Westinghouse Electric Corporation

Other

Maurice G Fey

Francis J Harvey, Ii

Charles B Wolf

Thomas N Meyer

Edna A Dancy

Frank G Arcella

Jack McDonald

Frederick A Azinger, Jr

George A Kemeny

Carl Baldwin Freidhoff

Alan T Male

Paul G Slade

David F Ciliberti

Natraj C Iyer

Robert Mazelsky

William R Lovic

William H Reed

Paul E Martin

Joachim V Heberlein

Raymond F Taylor, Jr

William J Lange

Joseph W George

John E Heidrich

John H Fatum

Stefan L Thunberg

High density compacts are made by providing a compactable particulate combination of Class 1 metals selected from at least one of Ag, Cu and Al, with material selected from at least one of CdO, SnO, SnO.sub.2, C, Co, Ni, Fe, Cr, Cr.sub.3 C.sub.2, Cr.sub.7 C.sub.3, W, WC, W.sub.2 C, WB, Mo, Mo.sub.2 C, MoB, Mo.sub.2 B, TiC, TiN, TiB.sub.2, Si, SiC, Si.sub.3 N.sub.4, usually by mixing powders of each, step (1); uniaxially pressing the powders to a density of from 60% to 95%, to provide a compact, step (2); hot densifying the compact at a pressure between 352 kg/cm.sup.2 (5,000 psi) and 3,172 kg/cm.sup.2 (45,000 psi) and at a temperature from 50.degree. C. to 100.degree. C. below the melting point or decomposition point of the lower melting component of the compact, to provide densification of the compact to over 97% of theoretical density; step (3); and cooling the compact, step (4).

Methods of making high performance compacts and products

An electrical vacuum interrupter comprising a pair of separable contacts enclosed within a vacuum enclosure whose walls have joints formed of a polymeric material which can maintain sufficient vacuum, mechanical, thermal, and electrical properties to permit proper operation. Major part of the vacuum enclosure, in addition to the joint, may be formed of a polymeric material. A method of assembly is provided that avoids need for high temperatures and includes use of electrical discharge between the contacts for cleaning the interior of the vacuum enclosure.

Vacuum interrupter with simplified enclosure and method of assembly

A method for processing metallurgical waste characterized by collecting metallurgical waste containing oxides of such metals as lead and zinc which when reduced form volatile and non-volatile metals; compacting a mixture of metallurgical waste, carbonaceous material and silica into pellets; heating the pellet at a temperature sufficient to reduce the oxides to vapors of elemental metals; and condensing the vapors to liquid or solid status of the elemental metal.

Method for processing oxidic materials in metallurgical waste

An arc-heated plasma lance characterized by an elongated tubular housing containing arc heater ports for producing a plasmic jet at one end of the housing and service ports for providing electric power, gas, and coolant fluid to the arc heater ports, and the service means extending into the housing from the other end.

Arc-heated plasma lance

This invention relates to an electric arc heater process and apparatus for the essentially complete decomposition of hazardous materials including polychlorinated biphenyls. Finely divided liquid or gaseous hazardous material is injected into a primary gas stream which has been superheated in an electric arc heater. The mixture is directed into a primary reactor for complete decomposition with dwell times in the reactor being in the order of 0.05 to 0.15 seconds. The decomposition products are neutralized with the gases being released to atmosphere and any remaining particulates being collected for ultimate disposal. Large solid hazardous material is first shredded then heated in a roaster or rotary kiln to vaporize the primary gas stream. A soaking reactor is provided where increased dwell times are required for the decomposition of thermally stable compounds which may be formed in the primary reactor. When these compounds are absent the soaking reactor can be by-passed.

Electric arc heater process and apparatus for the decomposition of

An apparatus and process for the reduction in a plasma stream of a feed material including a comminuted metal oxide, a slag former and a reductant utilizing an enclosed horizontal reactor having a reduction chamber and a filter chamber therein separated by an either common partition having a plurality of holes therethrough or a refractory lined passageway. Coke filter media in the filter chamber act to filter out entrained molten metal contained in the plasma stream with the partition or passageway preventing entry of the coke from the filter chamber into the metal bath contained in the reduction chamber thereby limiting the amount of carbon entering the metal produced. Unreduced metal oxide is provided in the slag layer of the metal bath to maintain the stoichiometric ratio between the metal and reductant in the reduction chamber. In alternate embodiments of the invention, the reactor is provided with a sloped floor or with a rocker mechanism to control the residence time of the metal with the coke thus limiting the amount of carbon entering the metal product. The exhausted plasma stream can be recycled for preheating and prereducing the incoming feed material.

Apparatus and process for reduction of metal oxides

A high power non-transferred electric arc heater utilizing interelectrode segments which create a stepped arc chamber intermediate two hollow, substantially cylindrical, axially spaced electrodes. Gas to be heated is admitted upstream of the arc chamber and between adjacent segments. Gas is used to form a cold boundary layer about the expanding core of arc-heater gas. Additional secondary gas inlets adjacent the electrode provide fluid dynamic means for arc positioning on the electrode segments. Gas pressures of less than or in the range of about 1 atmosphere to about 50 atmospheres are used with power levels of about 10 MW being possible. The stepped arc chamber facilitates arc transfer to the downstream electrodes and allows a larger diameter for the arc heated gas while the boundary layer of gas maintaining comparable spacing along the length of the arc-heated gas and the surface of the arc chamber reducing the rate of heat transfer from the arc heated gas to the segments of the arc heater. In an alternate embodiment, field coils are provided around the interelectrode segments and electrodes for the magnetic rotation of the arc within the arc chamber. In a further embodiment, a resistor is interconnected between each interelectrode segment and the electrode segment that is connected as the cathode. These resistors assist in arc initiation and reduce the possibility of strikeover to the interelectrode segments during operation. Multiple electrode segments connected as anode or cathodes can also be provided.

High power arc heater

A melting furnace or cupola utilizing electric arc heaters to provide an arc-heated air stream to melt loose metal chips as well as larger pieces of metal scrap. In one embodiment, the arc-heated gas stream and metal chips are directed into a melting segment with the melted chips and gas stream passing therefrom into the furnace through a tuyere. In another embodiment an electric arc heater serves as a tuyere for the furnace with the metal chips being fed into the arc-heated stream at the outlet of the arc heater. The chips and arc-heated air stream immediately enter the furnace wherein melting of the metal chips occurs. With either embodiment, recycling of the gases in the furnace and metal chip preheat can be provided.

Electric arc fired cupola for remelting of metal chips

This invention relates to an electric-arc fired blast furnace system for the reduction of iron-bearing material utilizing electric-arc heated air containing a reducing gas or carbon-containing fuel allowing for a decrease in the amount of coke normally used in the reduction process. The excess reducing gases exiting the furnace are utilized as a source of power via a system consisting of turbines, compressors and a heat exchanger to drive the electrical generators which are used to provide electricity to the arc heaters. This arrangement forms an essentially closed loop furnace system for metal reduction. Injection of finely-divided coal into the arc-heated air to provide reductants is also employed.

Electric arc-fired blast furnace system

A DC electric arc furnace utilizing a magnetic field stabilized electric arc. A DC magnetic field is employed to cause rotation and angular deflection of the electric arc about the surface of the melt. In one embodiment the DC magnetic field is induced by a field coil. In an alternate embodiment a specially shaped electrical insulating member can be positioned in the melt so that the flow of arc current through the melt creates a magnetic field which is used to cause arc rotation. In a further embodiment a plurality of coil sets are located about the periphery of the furnace are used in conjunction with current reversing and current sequencing means to create a rotating DC magnetic field which is used to rotate the arc. A ceramic electric insulator can also be supplied in the chamber of the furnace to prevent arc fixation in the region wherein the DC magnetic field is substantially parallel to the flow of arc current. Another embodiment utilizes a center insulator having an arm radially extending arm to the sidewall. Current flow through the melt to an electrode therein creates a magnetic field for precession of the arc. The arm prevents reversal of current flow in the melt to assure unidirectional arc precession. A split-ring electrode having an insulating ceramic insert can also be used in place of the center insulator and arm to produce precession.

Magnetic field stabilized transferred arc furnace

A blast furnace for reducing iron ore characterized by a vertical tubular refractory shell forming an upper reduction zone and a lower hearth which shell is adapted to contain a charge of iron ore and ore reductance, at least one arc heater mounted on the shell and extending therethrough for injecting an arc heated mixture of gas containing carbon monoxide into the reduction zone.

Method and apparatus for electrically firing an iron blast furnace

A process for converting silicon intermediates to high purity silicon by an arc heater characterized by the steps of preliminarily reacting gaseous silicon intermediate, such as a silicon halide, with a metal reductant, such as sodium, to form preliminary reaction products including small solid silicon particles and droplets of salt of the metal reductant, at temperatures below the boiling point of the metal reductant, subsequently heating the reaction products to temperatures above said boiling point in an arc heater chamber to convert the reaction products to droplets of silicon to merge and form larger silicon droplets, and thereafter separating the mixture of silicon droplets and salt vapor.

Production of high purity silicon by a heterogeneous arc heater reduction

Apparatus for melting metal chips comprising a preheating chamber, a prereducing chamber, and a melting chamber, the latter comprising a metallurgical vessel having a refractory wall with arc heater means mounted on the wall and extending therethrough which arc heater means provides an electric plasma arc which extends through an opening in the refractory wall, and the arc heater means comprising a downstream cylindrical electrode extending through the refractory wall for improved heating efficiency.

Arc heater melting system

A method for melting machine chips characterized by a preheating zone, a prereducer zone, and a melting zone the latter of which is heated by an arc heater through which a reducing inert gas is introduced into the communicating zones, whereby metal chips entering the preheating zone move through the subsequent zones in counterflow to the reducing gas flow.

Method for melting machine chips

A liquid silicon casting control mechanism characterized by means for producing liquid elemental silicon and comprising a collecting vessel having a tap hole therein for periodically removing liquid silicon in a controlled manner, and comprising a tubular constricted opening.

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Plum Borough, PA, United States of America

Maurice G Fey