Linear hearth furnace system and methods regarding same

A system for use in processing raw material, where the system comprises:

• a furnace apparatus having a linear preheat zone and linear reduction zone extending along a longitudinal axis and having a charging end and a discharging end;
• at least one of said preheat and reduction zones configured using multiple modular linear sections corresponding to the particular zone being configured to allow lengthening or shortening of the zone along the longitudinal axis;
• and
• section return apparatus capable of returning one or more empty sections to the charging end of the linear furnace apparatus to receive further raw material.

A system for use in processing raw material, where the system comprises:

• a furnace apparatus having a linear preheat zone, linear reduction zone extending along a longitudinal axis and having a charging end and a discharging end, together with a fusion zone,
• at least one of said preheat and reduction zones configured using multiple modular linear sections corresponding to the particular zone being configured to allow lengthening or shortening of the zone along the longitudinal axis,
• section return apparatus capable of returning one or more empty sections to the charging end of the linear furnace apparatus to receive further raw material, and
• the fusion zone being mechanically sealed to prevent infiltration of ambient air.