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.
Claims18
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 which contact the molten metal stream inside the atomization chamber subsequent to each other;
- at least one first gas nozzle element being capable of providing a first gas beam which at least one of (a) deflects and widens and (b) divides the molten metal stream entering the atomization chamber;
- at least one third gas nozzle element being capable of providing a third gas beam which breaks down at least one of (a) a widened and thinned and (b) a divided molten metal stream into droplets;
- and at least one second or intermediate gas nozzle element being capable of providing a second gas beam which contacts the molten metal stream after it has been contacted by the first gas beam and before it is contacted by the third gas beam.
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.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.