VACUUM ELECTRIC PIT-TYPE HEATING FURNACE FOR VACUUM-THERMAL PRODUCTION OF LITHIUM Russian patent published in 2012 - IPC C22B26/12 

FIELD: metallurgy.

SUBSTANCE: electric pit-type heating furnace features cylindrical shape and is connected with power supply via control unit. Proposed furnace houses retort accommodating olundum crucible for charge, detachanble top cover and lined bottom cover arranged at faces, lined sidewalls with heating elements and temperature pickups, vacuum and backing pumps. Said crucible is tightly closed at top face by conical condenser with top bore to be arranged above crystalliser condenser with cooling system. Condenser and crystalliser are secured on top detachable cover while diffusion vacuum and backing pumps are communicated sequentially via bottom cover with furnace inner space.

EFFECT: simplified design and process, no use of expensive inert gas.

1 dwg