Method for producing an HTSC strip

1. A method of forming a high temperature superconductor in a furnace comprising:

(a) providing at least one substrate having a first surface and a second surface, wherein the first surface comprises a precursor layer;

(b) receiving a porous support within the furnace;

(c) drawing the at least one substrate through the furnace and across the porous support such that the second surface is positioned over the support;

(d) feeding a reaction gas into the support to form a vortex zone above the precursor layer; and

(e) continuously sintering the precursor layer in the presence of the reaction gas.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein (d) comprises: feeding reaction gas and fresh gas into the support at predetermined intervals to from the vortex zone.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising (f) heating the reaction gas to a predetermined temperature.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one substrate comprises a first substrate and a second substrate oriented generally parallel to the first substrate.

5. The method according to claim 1 further comprising (f) heating the support at least in a furnace region located proximate an entry side of the substrate.

6. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising (f) adjusting volume flow of the reaction gas so that friction between the support and the substrate is reduced by a flow of reaction gas exiting between the support and the substrate.

7. The method according to claim 1 further comprising (f) drawing off the reaction gas by applying suction above the support.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the suction is provided by a plurality of exhaust openings disposed in at least one row oriented parallel to the direction of drawing-through.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein:

the at least one substrate comprises a first substrate oriented parallel and in spaced to relation to a second substrate; and

at least one row of exhaust openings is assigned to each substrate.