Ovens, discharge nozzle plates for distribution of gas through an oven, and methods to operate an oven

A method for heating a substrate in an oven, comprising:

• supplying heated gas to a supply structure disposed within an interior of the oven, the supply structure comprising a plenum;
• and
• directing at least a portion of the heated gas to a substrate heating volume in the interior of the oven via passages formed in a side wall of the plenum, each of the passages having tapered cross-sectional shapes, a respective single inlet opening, and a respective single outlet opening, wherein the directing of at least the portion of the heated gas into the inlet openings of the passages comprises directing the at least the portion of the heated gas into respective tapered sections of the passages extending between the respective single inlet openings and the respective single outlet openings of the passages to stabilize and align the heated gas.