Patent ID: 9587324
Date: 2017-03-07
CPC Classifications: C30B,F27B,F27D,Y10T

Claim:
1. An apparatus for processing a melt, comprising: a crucible configured to contain the melt, the melt having an exposed surface that is separated from a floor of the crucible by a first distance; a crucible heater disposed below the floor of the crucible and configured to deliver a heat flow to maintain the melt at or above a melting temperature of the melt; and a submerged heater comprising a heating element and a shell disposed between the heating element and the melt, wherein the heating element does not contact the melt, the heating element being disposed at a second distance with respect to the exposed surface of the melt that is less than the first distance, wherein the submerged heater is disposed above the crucible heater.