Heating and Melting of Materials by Electric Induction Heating of Susceptors

A method of heating and melting a composition non-electrically conductive in at least the solid state, the method comprising the steps of:

• placing at least a partially solid charge of the composition in a refractory-formed crucible having an array of discrete susceptor components vertically disposed within the interior volume of the crucible;
• and
• adjusting the output frequency of one or more alternating current power sources connected to one or more induction coils surrounding the exterior height of the crucible to selectively control the magnitude of induced heating to the array of discrete susceptor components.

A method of continuously supplying a molten composition non-electrically conductive in at least the solid state, the method comprising the steps of:

• supplying at least a partially solid charge of the composition to the top of an open bottom crucible having a plurality of susceptor rods vertically arrayed around the interior perimeter of the crucible and a susceptor tube centrally disposed within the interior of the crucible;
• and
• adjusting the output frequency of one or more alternating current power sources connected to one or more induction coils surrounding the exterior height of the crucible to selectively control the magnitude of induced heating between the plurality of susceptor rods and the susceptor tube to produce the molten composition at the opening at the bottom of the crucible.