Method for atomizing liquid metal utilizing liquid flow rate sensor
AssigneeGeneral Electric Company
InventorsSteven A. Miller, Neil A. Johnson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method and apparatus for atomizing liquid metal are disclosed. A vessel supplies liquid metal through a pouring channel to an atomizing nozzle. A flow sensor provides at least one gas flow into the liquid metal, and determines a pressure difference from the gas flow. A processor determines the liquid metal flow rate through the nozzle from the pressure difference. A control adjusts the liquid metal flow rate in response to the determined liquid metal flow rate, and the liquid metal is atomized.
Claims30
A method for controlling the melt flow rate of a melt when atomizing liquid metal comprising the steps of:
- providing a liquid metal supply vessel coupled to a nozzle for directing a stream of the liquid metal therefrom;
- providing atomizing gas converging in the stream as it exits the nozzle;
- providing at least one gas flow into the liquid metal contained in the vessel;
- sensing a pressure difference between the gas flow and the pressure outside the vessel;
- calculating a flow rate of the stream from the pressure difference;
- providing a flow control, operatively connected to the gas flow in the liquid melt vessel, for adjusting the flow rate of the stream;
- and
- selectively adjusting the flow control in response to the determined pressure difference.
In a liquid metal atomizing system comprising an enclosure including a vessel containing a supply of the liquid metal operatively connected to a nozzle for directing a stream of the liquid metal into an atomization zone below the nozzle, a method for controlling the flow rate of the liquid metal through the nozzle to the atomization zone comprising the steps of:
- providing a regulated gas flow via a first tube, operatively positioned in the vessel, having an open end positioned below the level of the liquid metal in the vessel;
- providing means for sensing the pressure inside the enclosure and the pressure of the gas flowing in the first tube;
- measuring the difference between the sensed pressures;
- and
- determining the mass flow rate of the liquid metal from the nozzle into the enclosure.
In a liquid metal atomizing system comprising an enclosure including a vessel containing a supply of the liquid metal operatively connected to a nozzle for directing a stream of the liquid metal into an atomization zone below the nozzle, a method for controlling the flow rate of the liquid metal through the nozzle to the atomization zone comprising the steps of:
- providing a regulated gas flow via a first tube, operatively positioned in the vessel, having an open end positioned below the level of the liquid metal in the vessel;
- providing a second gas flow via a second tube operatively connected to the pouring channel and to a gas regulator;
- determining the pressure of the first and second gas flows;
- calculating the pressure difference between the first gas flow and the second gas flow;
- and
- adjusting the flow rate of the stream based upon the calculated difference in pressures.
A method of preventing freeze-off in the nozzle of a gas atomization apparatus, the apparatus comprising:
- an enclosure;
- a holding crucible for liquid metal positioned inside the enclosure;
- heating means, operatively positioned relative to the crucible, for heating the liquid metal;
- a pouring channel operatively connected to the crucible:
- and
- a nozzle having a melt guide tube, operatively connected to the pouring channel, for delivering a stream of liquid metal to an atomization zone, the method comprising the steps of:
- providing a first gas flow, operatively connected to a plenum and a first adjustable regulator, for selectively adjusting the atomizing gas pressure in the plenum so that a desired liquid flow rate through the melt guide tube is achieved;
- and
- providing an ambient overpressure for the liquid metal in the crucible inside the enclosure, operatively connected to a second adjustable regulator, for selectively adjusting the gas pressure in the crucible enclosure such that a desired flow rate through the melt guide tube is achieved.
In a liquid metal atomizing system comprising an enclosure including a vessel containing a supply of the liquid metal operatively connected to a nozzle for directing a stream of the liquid metal into an atomization zone below the nozzle, a method for controlling the flow rate of the liquid metal through the nozzle to the atomization zone comprising the steps of:
- providing a regulated gas flow, operatively connected to a plenum through a first regulator, for selectively adjusting the atomizing gas pressure in the plenum;
- providing an ambient overpressure in the enclosure operatively connected to a regulator;
- providing means to sense the atomizing gas pressure and the ambient overpressure;
- determining the overpressure and the atomizing gas pressure;
- determining the actual flow rate of the stream;
- comparing the determined flow rate to a reference value;
- and
- adjusting the flow rate of the stream based upon the calculated difference therebetween.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.