Atomization assembly
AssigneeAP&C Advanced Powders & Coatings, Inc.
InventorsMatthieu Balmayer, Pierre-Alexandre Desrochers, Yannick Ouellet, Chady Al Sayed
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Abstract
An atomization assembly for heating a metal includes a copper crucible arranged to hold the metal, a copper nozzle extending beneath the copper crucible, the copper nozzle defining a downstream end, a side surface, an outer surface, and a groove extending from the side surface to the outer surface at the downstream end, a cooling system in thermal communication with the copper crucible and the copper nozzle, and an atomization fluid supply including an outlet disposed adjacent to the groove.
Claims20
An atomization assembly for heating a metal, the assembly comprising:
- a copper crucible arranged to hold the metal;
- a copper nozzle extending beneath the copper crucible, the copper nozzle defining a side surface, an outer surface, and a groove extending from the side surface to the outer surface at the downstream end;
- a cooling system in thermal communication with the copper crucible and the copper nozzle;
- and
- an atomization fluid supply including an outlet disposed adjacent to the groove.
A method for atomizing a metal, the method comprising:
- providing feedstock of a metal to a copper crucible;
- cooling the copper crucible and a copper nozzle below a temperature threshold;
- flowing a molten metal formed from the feedstock from the copper crucible through a copper nozzle and through an outlet defined by the copper nozzle;
- and
- flowing a stream from an atomization fluid supply along a groove of the copper nozzle to direct the molten metal downward.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.