APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING A SINTERING PROCESS
An apparatus ( 150 ) for controlling a sintering process in a sintering furnace ( 100 ), includes a preheating zone ( 120 ) and a high heat zone ( 130 ), further comprising at least two measuring devices ( 151, 152, 153, 154 ), wherein the at least two measuring devices comprise at least one measuring device in the preheating zone ( 120 ) and at least one measuring device in the high heat zone ( 130 ) for analyzing a furnace atmosphere at the respective zone, and adjusting means ( 155, 156 ) for adjusting a composition of the furnace atmosphere based on measurement values acquired by the at least two measuring devices ( 151, 152, 153, 154 ) in the respective zones ( 110, 120, 130, 140 ).
1 - 12 . (canceled)
13 . An apparatus ( 150 ) for controlling a sintering process in a sintering furnace ( 100 ), comprising:
a pre-heating zone ( 120 ) and a high heat zone ( 130 );
at least two measuring devices ( 151 , 152 , 153 , 154 ), the at least two measuring devices comprising at least one measuring device in the pre-heating zone ( 120 ) and at least one measuring device in the high heat zone ( 130 ) for analyzing a furnace atmosphere at a respective one of the zones; and
adjusting means ( 155 , 156 ) for adjusting a composition of the furnace atmosphere based on measurement values acquired by the at least two measuring devices ( 151 , 152 , 153 , 154 ) in the respective zones ( 110 , 120 , 130 , 140 ).
14 . The apparatus ( 150 ) according to claim 13 , wherein the at least two measuring devices ( 151 , 152 , 153 , 154 ) comprise devices selected from the group consisting of oxygen analyzers ( 151 ), dew point analyzers ( 152 ), lambda probes ( 153 ), and hydrogen analyzers ( 154 ).
15 . The apparatus according to claim 13 , wherein the at least two measuring devices ( 151 , 152 , 153 , 154 ) are devices selected from the group consisting of an oxygen analyzer ( 151 ) in the high heat zone ( 130 ), and a dew point analyzer ( 152 ) in the pre-heating zone ( 120 ).
16 . The apparatus ( 150 ) according to claim 13 , wherein the adjusting means ( 155 , 156 ) are adapted to adjust the composition of the furnace atmosphere by altering humidity in the furnace atmosphere.
17 . The apparatus ( 150 ) according to claim 13 , wherein the adjusting means ( 155 , 156 ) are adapted to adjust the composition of the furnace atmosphere by altering at least one of concentrations of hydrogen, nitrogen and propane in the furnace atmosphere.
18 . The apparatus ( 150 ) according to claim 13 , wherein the adjusting means ( 155 , 156 ) are adapted to adjust the composition of the furnace atmosphere by altering humidity and at least one of concentrations of hydrogen, nitrogen and propane in the furnace atmosphere.
19 . The apparatus ( 150 ) according to claim 13 , wherein the adjusting means ( 155 , 156 ) are adapted to adjust the composition of the furnace atmosphere based on a carbon potential and an oxygen concentration in the furnace atmosphere.
20 . The apparatus ( 150 ) according to claim 13 , wherein the adjusting means ( 155 , 156 ) are adapted to adjust the composition of the furnace atmosphere based on a carbon potential, and a hydrogen ratio curve in the furnace atmosphere.
21 . The apparatus ( 150 ) according to claim 13 , wherein the adjusting means ( 155 , 156 ) are adapted to adjust the composition of the furnace atmosphere based on a carbon potential, an oxygen concentration and a hydrogen ratio curve in the furnace atmosphere.
22 . A sintering furnace ( 100 ), comprising an apparatus ( 150 ) for controlling a sintering process in a sintering furnace ( 100 ), the apparatus comprising:
a pre-heating zone ( 120 ) and a high heat zone ( 130 );
at least two measuring devices ( 151 , 152 , 153 , 154 ), the at least two measuring devices comprising at least one measuring device in the pre-heating zone ( 120 ) and at least one measuring device in the high heat zone ( 130 ) for analyzing a furnace atmosphere at a respective one of the zones; and
adjusting means ( 155 , 156 ) for adjusting a composition of the furnace atmosphere based on measurement values acquired by the at least two measuring devices ( 151 , 152 , 153 , 154 ) in the respective zones ( 110 , 120 , 130 , 140 ).
23 . The sintering furnace ( 100 ) according to claim 22 , wherein the sintering furnace ( 100 ) is a furnace selected from the group consisting of a sintering furnace for sintering metal injection molding parts, and a sintering furnace for powder metal sintering.
24 . A method for controlling a sintering process in a sintering furnace ( 100 ), comprising:
analyzing a pre-heating zone ( 120 ) and a high heat zone ( 130 ) of a furnace atmosphere by at least two measuring devices ( 151 , 152 , 153 , 154 ), the at least two measuring devices comprising at least one measuring device in the pre-heating zone ( 120 ) and at least one measuring device in the high heat zone ( 130 ); and
adjusting a composition of the furnace atmosphere based on measurement values acquired by the at least two measuring devices ( 151 , 152 , 153 , 154 ) in the respective zones ( 110 , 120 , 130 , 140 ).
25 . The method according to claim 24 , wherein the analyzing the furnace atmosphere comprises at least one of measuring an oxygen concentration, measuring a hydrogen concentration, measuring a dew point temperature, and measuring a lambda ratio.
26 . The method according to claim 24 , wherein the adjusting the composition of the furnace atmosphere comprises altering a humidity in the furnace atmosphere.
27 . The method according to claim 24 , wherein the adjusting the composition of the furnace atmosphere comprises altering at least one of concentrations of hydrogen, nitrogen and propane in the furnace atmosphere.
28 . The method according to claim 24 , wherein the adjusting the composition of the furnace atmosphere comprises altering a humidity and at least one of concentrations of hydrogen, nitrogen and propane in the furnace atmosphere.
29 . The method according to claim 24 , wherein the adjusting the composition of the furnace atmosphere is based on a carbon potential and an oxygen concentration in the furnace atmosphere.
30 . The method according to claim 24 , wherein the adjusting the composition of the furnace atmosphere is based on a carbon potential and a hydrogen ratio curve in the furnace atmosphere.
31 . The method according to claim 24 , wherein the adjusting the composition of the furnace atmosphere is based on a carbon potential, an oxygen concentration, and a hydrogen ratio curve in the furnace atmosphere.
32 . The method according to claim 24 , further comprising using the method for a process selected from the group consisting of sintering metal injection molding parts, and sintering powder metals.