Method for production of titanium ingot using scrap and apparatus therefor

A method for production of titanium ingot in which titanium scrap is employed as a portion of raw materials of the titanium ingot,

• wherein the individual information for identification and process profile information are given to the titanium scrap, the individual information for identification consisting of one or more pieces of information selected from its chemical composition, weight, and other inherent information of the titanium scrap, and the process profile information consisting of processes already performed on the titanium scrap and additive information of the processing,
• the method comprising steps of:
• obtaining information of the individual identification and the process profile information by passing at least one kind of each titanium scrap through automatic reading means,
• transmitting information of obtained individual identification and process profile information to a data server computer and then storing therein,
• correcting chemical compositions from information of the individual identification by calculating means depending on variance of chemical composition of the titanium scrap which is assumed by the process profile information,
• calculating combination among the titanium scrap, titanium sponge and additives and feed rate of each of them by the calculating means so as to satisfy chemical composition and production rate of a target ingot by using information of the individual information for identification corrected and stored in the data server, during a preliminary step of the ingot production,
• transmitting electrical signals corresponding to calculated results of the combination and the feed rates from the calculating means to a feed rate controlling means of each feed means of the titanium scrap, titanium sponge, and/or additives and then starting supply of them, and
• reading actual producing rate of the ingot by a detecting means equipped at an extracting part of the ingot product, after the beginning step of the ingot production,
• wherein the calculating means controls feeding rate of the titanium scrap, titanium sponge, and/or additives based on the actual producing rate.

An apparatus for production of titanium ingot in which titanium scrap is partially employed as a raw materials of the titanium ingot, comprising:

• an automatic reading means obtaining individual information for identification given to each kind of titanium scrap,
• a data server storing the obtained individual information for identification,
• a calculating means calculating necessary combination among the titanium scrap, titanium sponge and additives and feed rate of each of them so as to satisfy chemical composition and production rate of a target ingot using the individual information for identification stored in the data server, during a beginning step of the ingot production,
• a feed means for the titanium scrap, titanium sponge, and/or additives,
• a feed rate controlling means for actuating each of the feed means of the titanium scrap, titanium sponge, and/or additives according to electrical signals corresponding to calculated results of the combination and the feeding rates of raw materials, and
• a detecting means for reading actual producing rate of the ingot product and equipped at an extracting part of the ingot product, after the beginning step of the ingot production,
• wherein the calculating means controls feed rates of the titanium scrap, titanium sponge, and/or additives based on the actual producing rate.

An apparatus for production of titanium ingot in which titanium scrap is partially employed as a raw materials of the titanium ingot, comprising:

• an automatic reading means obtaining individual information for identification and process profile information given to each kind of titanium scrap at least, the individual information for identification consisting of one or more information selected from its chemical composition, weight, and other inherent information of the titanium scrap, and the process profile information consisting of kind and times of processing already performed to the titanium scrap,
• a data server storing the obtained individual information for identification and process profile information,
• a calculating means correcting the chemical composition from the individual information for identification depending on variance of chemical composition of the titanium scrap which is assumed by the process profile information;
• and calculating combination among the titanium scrap, titanium sponge and additives and feed rate of each of them so as to satisfy chemical composition and production rate of a target ingot using the individual information for identification stored in the data server computer, during a beginning step of the ingot production,
• a feed means for feeding the titanium scrap, titanium sponge, and/or additives,
• a feed rate controlling means for actuating each of the feed means of the titanium scrap, titanium sponge, and/or additives according to electrical signals corresponding to calculated results of the combination and the feed rates, and
• a detecting means for reading actual producing rate of the ingot product and equipped at an extracting part of the ingot product, after the beginning step of the ingot production,
• wherein the calculating means controls feed rate of the titanium scrap, titanium sponge, and/or additives based on the actual producing rate.