초록 ▼

An endothermic-base type heat treating furnace atmosphere is produced in an external generator by a partial oxidation between air and alcohol (e.g. ethanol). An alcohol-rich mixture is prepared and reacted at an elevated temperature to form a product gas comprising carbon monoxide, nitrogen, hydroge

An endothermic-base type heat treating furnace atmosphere is produced in an external generator by a partial oxidation between air and alcohol (e.g. ethanol). An alcohol-rich mixture is prepared and reacted at an elevated temperature to form a product gas comprising carbon monoxide, nitrogen, hydrogen, carbon dioxide, methane and water. The product gas is quickly cooled and any water that condenses is removed. The generator product gas is then introduced into a furnace within which it usually undergoes further reaction to provide a suitable nonoxidizing heat treating atmosphere. In one aspect of this invention, the generator gas is used for carburizing ferrous metal workpieces without additional increase of the carbon potential.

대표청구항 ▼

A method of producing a gaseous composition suitable for use as an atmosphere in heat treating metals, said composition being produced by a partial oxidation reaction between air and ethanol, said method comprising reacting a gaseous mixture consisting essentially of air and ethanol, the weight rati

A method of producing a gaseous composition suitable for use as an atmosphere in heat treating metals, said composition being produced by a partial oxidation reaction between air and ethanol, said method comprising reacting a gaseous mixture consisting essentially of air and ethanol, the weight ratio of air to ethanol being between 1.0 and 3.0, said mixture being heated at a temperature between 1400°F. and 1850°F. in a bed of particles providing a surface conducive to said reaction, said reaction being for a period of time to form a substantially soot-free gaseous product containing substantially no oxygen and comprising hydrogen, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, methane, and water, said product containing at least 5 percent by volume methane and at least 3 percent by volume carbon dioxide, cooling the product gas to a temperature below 100°F. to minimize soot formation, and removing any water that condenses and introducing said product gas into a furnace containing metal to be treated and maintained at a temperature at which metal is suitably heat treated, whereby said product gas undergoes further reaction within said furnace that lowers the methane and carbon dioxide concentrations to produce a nonoxidizing atmosphere suitable for heat treating said metal.