Process and device for producing metal powder
AssigneeBohler Edelstahl GmbH
InventorClaes Tornberg
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Process and a device for producing metal powders from molten metal. The process includes directing at least three successive gas beams at a molten metal stream inside an atomization chamber, the at least three gas beams being oriented in different directions. The device includes a metallurgical vessel for holding molten metal provided with a nozzle element for discharging a molten metal stream into an atomization chamber as well as at least three gas nozzle elements for providing at least three gas beams of different orientation and directed at different points of the molten metal stream inside the atomization chamber.
Claims20
A device for producing metal powder from molten metal, comprising:
- a metallurgical vessel for holding molten metal provided with a nozzle element for discharging molten metal from the metallurgical vessel in the form of a molten metal stream;
- an atomization chamber in association with the metallurgical vessel for receiving the molten metal stream discharged from the nozzle element;
- and
- at least three gas nozzle elements for providing at least three gas beams of different orientation and directed at different points of the molten metal stream inside the atomization chamber;
- at least one of the at least three gas nozzle elements being capable of providing a gas beam which at least one of (a) deflects and widens and (b) divides the molten metal stream entering the atomization chamber;
- and at least one other gas nozzle element being capable of providing a gas beam which breaks down an at least one of (a) widened and thinned and (b) divided molten metal stream into droplets.
A device for producing metal powder from molten metal, comprising:
- a metallurgical vessel for holding molten metal provided with a nozzle element for discharging molten metal from the metallurgical vessel in the form of a substantially vertical molten metal stream having a width of from about 4.0 to about 8.0 mm;
- an atomization chamber in association with the metallurgical vessel for receiving the molten metal stream discharged from the nozzle element;
- and
- at least three gas nozzle elements for providing at least three gas beams of different orientation and directed at different points of the molten metal stream inside the atomization chamber, said at least three gas nozzle elements comprising at least one first gas nozzle element having a slot-shaped cross-section of its aperture for providing a first gas beam, at least one second or intermediate gas nozzle element for providing a second or intermediate gas beam;
- and at least one third or last gas nozzle element which comprises a Laval nozzle having a slot-shaped cross-section of its aperture for providing a third or last gas beam;
- the at least one first gas nozzle element being capable of providing a gas beam which at least one of (a) deflects and widens and (b) divides the molten metal stream entering the atomization chamber;
- and the at least one third gas nozzle element being capable of providing a gas beam which breaks down an at least one of (a) widened and thinned and (b) divided molten metal stream into droplets.
A metal powder produced by a process which comprises:
- providing molten metal in a metallurgical vessel having a nozzle element, the nozzle element being directed into an atomization chamber associated with the metallurgical vessel;
- allowing the molten metal to flow through the nozzle element of the metallurgical vessel into the atomization chamber whereby a molten metal stream is fed into the atomization chamber;
- directing at least three successive gas beams at the molten metal stream inside the atomization chamber wherein the at least three gas beams are oriented in different directions;
- whereby the molten metal stream is broken down into droplets, the droplets subsequently freezing into grains;
- and collecting the grains.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.