Induction furnace for heating granules
OwnerOleg S. Fishmaninventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Apparatus and method is provided for the heating of granules by the use of induction power. A rotating furnace chamber is provided with interior conveying elements that transport granules through the furnace. The furnace body, or alternatively, a susceptor surrounding the furnace body is inductively heated. Heat is transferred by conduction from the furnace body or susceptor to the granules traversing the furnace chamber. Multiple induction coils and switching arrangements can be used to provide varying degrees of heat along the length of the furnace chamber.
Claims20
An induction furnace for heating a plurality of granules comprising:
- a furnace chamber comprising an electrically magnetic material;
- an at least one conveying element to advance the plurality of granules through the furnace chamber when the furnace chamber is rotated, the at least one conveying element attached to the interior of the furnace chamber;
- a one or more induction coils disposed around the exterior of the furnace chamber;
- a power supply having an output connecting to the one or more induction coils to supply an ac current through the one or more induction coils;
- and
- means for feeding the plurality of granules into the entry of the interior of the furnace chamber;
- whereby when the furnace chamber is rotated the plurality of granules are advanced through the interior of the furnace chamber while being heated from heat generated in the furnace chamber by inductive coupling of the furnace chamber with a magnetic field created when the ac current is supplied through the one or more induction coils.
An induction furnace for heating a plurality of granules comprising:
- a furnace chamber;
- an at least one conveying element to advance the plurality of granules through the furnace chamber when the furnace chamber is rotated about its axial length, the at least one conveying element attached to the interior of the furnace chamber;
- an electrically conductive material disposed around the exterior of the furnace chamber;
- a one or more induction coils disposed around the exterior of the electrically conductive material;
- a power supply having an output connecting to the one or more induction coils to supply an ac current through the one or more induction coils;
- and
- means for feeding the plurality of granules into the entry of the interior of the furnace chamber;
- whereby when the furnace chamber is rotated the plurality of granules are advanced through the interior of the furnace chamber while being heated from heat generated in the electrically conductive material by inductive coupling of the electrically conductive material with a magnetic field created when the ac current is supplied through the one or more induction coils.
A method of heating a plurality of granules comprising the steps of:
- rotating an electrically conductive furnace chamber having a one or more conveying elements attached to the interior of the furnace chamber;
- magnetically coupling a magnetic field with the electrically conductive furnace chamber to inductively heat the furnace chamber, the magnetic field generated by an ac current in a one or more induction coils disposed around the exterior of the furnace chamber;
- feeding the plurality of granules into the interior of the furnace chamber;
- and
- advancing the plurality of granules through the furnace chamber by the one or more conveying elements to heat the plurality of granules with heat conducted from the inductively heated furnace chamber.
A method of heating a plurality of granules comprising the steps of:
- rotating a furnace chamber having a one or more conveying elements attached to the interior of the furnace chamber;
- surrounding the exterior of the furnace chamber with an electrically conductive material;
- magnetically coupling a magnetic field with the electrically conductive material to inductively heat the electrically conductive material;
- the magnetic field generated by an ac current in a one or more induction coils disposed around the exterior of the furnace chamber;
- feeding the plurality of granules into the interior of the furnace chamber;
- and
- advancing the plurality of granules through the furnace chamber by the one or more conveying elements to heat the plurality of granules with heat conducted from the inductively heated electrically conductive material.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.