ADJUSTABLE THERMAL PROFILE HEATED CRUCIBLE METHOD AND APPARATUS.

摘要

A heated crucible apparatus (10) allows the adjustment of a thermal profile within a combustion chamber (12) surrounding the crucible (15) by introducing a sub-stoichiometric or a super-stoichiometric mixture of fuel and oxidant into the combustion chamber (12) and varying the oxidant flow for sub-stoichiometric or fuel flow for super-stoichiometric mixture downstream of the initial combustion to control the release of heat in defined areas within the combustion chamber (12). The apparatus includes an oxidant (54) and fuel (25) supply at the primary injection point (32) followed by secondary injection of the remaining oxidant supply at specific intervals to achieve the desired thermal profile. An oxidant preheating heat exchanger (51) and a cooling heat exchanger (49) for material exiting the crucible may be provided.