An electron beam melting furnace for producing tantalum niobium

Abstract

The application discloses an electron beam smelting furnace for producing tantalum niobium, and belongs to the technical field of electron beam smelting furnaces, which comprises a smelting furnace, a gas bin, a group of air pipes, a feeding assembly, an exhaust pipe, a group of flow guide assemblies, a hopper, a recessed structure, a cone, an elastic member, an elbow pipe, a discharging pipe and a hopper. The group of air pipes are arranged in the gas bin and are communicated with the bin; the feeding assembly is arranged on the gas bin and is communicated with the bin; the exhaust pipe is arranged on the right part of the gas bin; the group of flow guide assemblies are arranged in the bin; the hopper is arranged at the bottom of the bin; the connecting part of the bin and the hopper is of a recessed structure; the cone is arranged in the bin; the elastic member is arranged in the hopper; the bottom of the elastic member is connected with the elbow pipe; the elbow pipe is connected with the smelting furnace and penetrates through the hopper; the discharging pipe is arranged in the smelting furnace and is connected with the hopper. The inert gas in the smelting furnace can prevent the external air from entering the smelting furnace when feeding, and the powder in the tantalum niobium fragments can be discharged; the bottom of the bin can be automatically closed when the feeding is stopped, so that the external air cannot enter the smelting furnace.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention belongs to the field of electron beam melting furnace technology, specifically relating to an electron beam melting furnace for producing tantalum and niobium. Background Technology

[0002] Electron beam melting (EBM) is a vacuum melting method that converts the kinetic energy of a high-speed electron beam into heat energy under high vacuum to melt metals. This method is characterized by high melting temperatures, adjustable furnace power and heating speed, and high product quality. It includes a melting furnace, an electron gun, and a feeding device. The electron beam emitted by the electron gun melts the material entering the melting pool into a liquid state, which then falls into a crucible. It is mainly used for special steels and alloys, especially refractory metals, and tantalum-niobium ores. Tantalum-niobium ores are rare metal ores mainly containing tantalum and niobium metals. After mining and crushing, they are then smelted and purified.

[0003] Since the core component of an electron beam melting furnace is the electron gun, the electron beam emitted by the electron gun cannot be disturbed by oxygen to avoid disrupting the magnetic field. Therefore, the electron beam melting furnace needs to be under vacuum or purged with inert gas to remove air. Existing technologies using inert gas purging have the following drawbacks:

[0004] When inert gas is introduced into the electron beam melting furnace, it is discharged through the exhaust port on one side of the furnace body. This technology can only be used for closed feeding devices. Once the tantalum and niobium material in the feeding device is insufficient and needs to be replenished, the outside air will be mixed into the feeding device when the tantalum and niobium material is replenished, and then enter the furnace body, affecting the electron beam formation of the electron gun.

[0005] Because tantalum-niobium ore produces powder during the crushing process, when it is fed into the melting pool inside the furnace by the feeding device, the powder is scattered and does not fall into the melting pool. It cannot be melted by the electron beam and falls around or at the bottom of the furnace, gradually accumulating and causing blockages in the furnace, thus affecting its use. Summary of the Invention

[0006] To address the shortcomings of the prior art, the present invention provides an electron beam melting furnace for the production of tantalum and niobium.

[0007] An electron beam melting furnace for producing tantalum and niobium includes a melting furnace, an electron gun mounted on the melting furnace, a crucible inside the melting furnace, and a melting pool on the side wall of the melting furnace. The furnace is characterized by having a solenoid valve connected to it via a pipe, and a feeding device comprising a gas chamber, a hopper, and a material bin.

[0008] The air chamber is located above the material silo. A set of air pipes connected to the material silo are installed inside the air chamber. A feeding assembly that penetrates the air chamber and connects to the material silo is installed on the air chamber. An exhaust pipe is located on the right side of the air chamber.

[0009] The silo is equipped with a set of flow guiding components, and a hopper is located at the bottom of the silo. The connection between the silo and the hopper is a concave structure, and a cone is located inside the silo.

[0010] The hopper is equipped with an elastic element, and the bottom of the elastic element is connected to a bent pipe. The bent pipe passes through the hopper and is connected to the smelting furnace. The smelting furnace is equipped with a feeding pipe, which is connected to the hopper.

[0011] As a further optimization of the present invention, the feeding assembly includes a hopper, the bottom of which is provided with a feeding pipe, which passes through the air chamber and is connected to the material chamber.

[0012] As a further optimization of the present invention, the flow guiding component includes a flow guiding plate and a screen, wherein the screen is located on the upper side of the flow guiding plate.

[0013] As a further optimization of the present invention, the length of the flow guiding component at the bottom of the hopper is relatively short.

[0014] As a further optimization of the present invention, the elastic element includes a fixing block, the fixing block having a through hole connected to a bent pipe, a fixing ring fixed to the inner wall of the through hole, a spring on the fixing ring, and one end of the spring connected to a cone.

[0015] As a further optimization of the present invention, the silo and the smelting furnace are connected by support legs.

[0016] Compared with the prior art, the present invention has the following advantages:

[0017] During feeding, the solenoid valve opens, allowing inert gas to enter the melting furnace. The gas then passes through a bend into the elastic element, pushing open the cone and entering the hopper, then the storage bin. At this point, tantalum and niobium scraps enter the storage bin via the feeding assembly, and then pass through the guide assembly in stages. This causes the powder within the tantalum and niobium scraps to be lifted and carried upwards by the inert gas entering the storage bin. Because the feeding assembly forms a seal within the tantalum and niobium scraps during feeding, the air entering the storage bin along with the tantalum and niobium scraps, as well as the powder carried away by the inert gas, all enter the gas chamber through the gas pipe. The tantalum and niobium fragments, which are discharged through the exhaust pipe, enter the smelting furnace through the bottom of the hopper. After the tantalum and niobium fragments have been fed in, the solenoid valve is closed, and the inert gas supply to the smelting furnace is stopped. The elastic element rebounds, driving the cone to return to its original position and sealing the bottom of the hopper. This prevents external air from entering the smelting furnace when no material is being fed. This invention achieves the following: when feeding, the inert gas in the smelting furnace prevents external air from entering the smelting furnace, while also discharging the powder from the tantalum and niobium fragments. When feeding stops, the bottom of the hopper can be automatically sealed to prevent external air from entering the smelting furnace. Attached Figure Description

[0018] Figure 1 This is the structure of the present invention. Figure 1 ;

[0019] Figure 2 This is the structure of the present invention. Figure 2 ;

[0020] Figure 3 This is the present invention. Figure 2 A magnified view of a portion of point a;

[0021] Figure 4 This is a top view of the interior of the air chamber of the present invention;

[0022] Figure 5 This is a top view of the inside of the hopper of the present invention.

[0023] Attached Figures: 1. Smelting Furnace, 2. Electron Gun, 3. Crucible, 4. Smelting Pool, 5. Solenoid Valve, 6. Gas Chamber, 7. Material Chamber, 8. Hopper, 9. Gas Pipe, 10. Exhaust Pipe, 11. Cone, 12. Bend, 13. Feed Pipe, 14. Bucket Plate, 15. Feed Pipe, 16. Guide Plate, 17. Screen, 18. Fixing Block, 19. Through Hole, 20. Fixing Ring, 21. Spring, 22. Support Leg. Detailed Implementation

[0024] The technical solutions of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings of the embodiments of the present invention. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present invention, and not all embodiments. All other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art based on the embodiments of the present invention without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0025] Example

[0026] Please see Figure 1 and Figure 2 This embodiment provides an electron beam melting furnace for producing tantalum and niobium, including a melting furnace 1, an electron gun 2 mounted on the melting furnace 1, a crucible 3 inside the melting furnace 1, and a melting pool 4 on the side wall of the melting furnace 1. The furnace 1 is characterized by having a solenoid valve 5 connected to it via a pipe, and a feeding device comprising a gas chamber 6, a hopper 7, and a material bin 8.

[0027] The air chamber 6 is located above the material hopper 7. The air chamber 6 is equipped with a set of air pipes 9 that are connected to the material hopper 7. The air chamber 6 is equipped with a feeding assembly that passes through the air chamber 6 and connects to the material hopper 7. The air chamber 6 is equipped with an exhaust pipe 10 on its right side. The material hopper 7 is equipped with a set of flow guiding components. The bottom of the material hopper 7 is equipped with a hopper 8. The connection between the material hopper 7 and the hopper 8 is a concave structure. The material hopper 7 is equipped with a cone 11. The hopper 8 is equipped with an elastic element. The bottom of the elastic element is connected to a bent pipe 12. The bent pipe 12 passes through the hopper 8 and connects to the smelting furnace 1. The smelting furnace 1 is equipped with a discharge pipe 13 that is connected to the hopper 8.

[0028] In one embodiment, during feeding, the solenoid valve 5 is opened, and inert gas enters the smelting furnace 1. Then, it enters the elastic element through the bend pipe 12. The gas pushes open the cone 11 and enters the hopper 8, and then enters the silo 7. At this time, the tantalum and niobium scraps enter the silo 7 through the feeding assembly, and then pass through the guide assembly step by step, causing the powder in the tantalum and niobium scraps to be lifted and carried upward by the inert gas entering the silo 7. Since the tantalum and niobium scraps form a seal in the feeding assembly during feeding, the air entering the silo 7 along with the powder carried away by the inert gas enters the air chamber 6 through the air pipe 9 and is discharged through the exhaust pipe 10. The discharged tantalum and niobium scraps with powder enter the smelting furnace 1 through the bottom of the hopper 8. When the tantalum and niobium scraps are all fed, the solenoid valve 5 is closed, and the supply of inert gas to the smelting furnace 1 is stopped. The elastic element rebounds, driving the cone 11 back to its original position, sealing the bottom of the silo 7, so that external air cannot enter the smelting furnace 1 when no material is being fed.

[0029] In the improved embodiment, the connection between the hopper 7 and the hopper 8 is a concave structure, which makes the gap between the cone 11 and the inner wall of the hopper 7 larger after the cone 11 is lifted, thus preventing material jamming during material drop.

[0030] Please see Figure 1-5 The feeding assembly includes a hopper 14, and a feeding pipe 15 is provided at the bottom of the hopper 14. The feeding pipe 15 passes through the air chamber 6 and is connected to the material chamber 7.

[0031] In one embodiment, during material feeding, the solenoid valve 5 opens, allowing inert gas to enter the smelting furnace 1. The gas then passes through the bend 12 into the elastic element, pushing open the cone 11 and entering the hopper 8, then the silo 7. At this time, tantalum and niobium scraps enter the silo 7 via the feeding assembly, and then pass through the guide assembly step by step, causing the powder in the tantalum and niobium scraps to be lifted and carried upwards by the inert gas entering the silo 7. The tantalum and niobium scraps then enter the feeding pipe 15 via the hopper 14, and the tantalum and niobium scraps in the feeding pipe 15 enter the silo 7. At the same time, the inside of the feed pipe 15 is sealed, so that the air and powder carried away by the inert gas as the tantalum and niobium scraps enter the material 7 hopper are both put into the air hopper 6 through the air pipe 9 and discharged through the exhaust pipe 10. The tantalum and niobium scraps with discharged powder enter the smelting furnace 1 through the bottom of the hopper 8. When the tantalum and niobium scraps are fed in, the solenoid valve 5 is closed. At this time, the inert gas is stopped from being supplied to the smelting furnace 1. The elastic element rebounds and drives the cone 11 back to its original position, sealing the bottom of the material hopper 7, so that the outside air cannot enter the smelting furnace 1 when no material is being fed.

[0032] Please refer to the following: Figure 1-5 The flow guiding component includes a flow guiding plate 16 and a screen 17. The screen 17 is located on the upper side of the flow guiding plate 16. The flow guiding component at the bottom of the hopper 7 is relatively short.

[0033] In one embodiment, during feeding, the solenoid valve 5 opens, and inert gas enters the smelting furnace 1. It then passes through the bend 12 into the elastic element, pushing open the cone 11 and entering the hopper 8, then the silo 7. At this time, tantalum and niobium scraps enter the silo 7 through the feeding assembly, and then pass through the screen 17 step by step. As the tantalum and niobium scraps roll off the screen 17, the powder is sieved and falls onto the guide plate 16, where it is carried upwards by the inert gas entering the silo 7. Because the feeding assembly feeds tantalum and niobium scraps... A seal is formed within the feeding assembly, so that the air and powder carried away by the inert gas as the tantalum and niobium scraps enter the material hopper 7 enter the air chamber 6 through the air pipe 9 and are discharged through the exhaust pipe 10. The tantalum and niobium scraps with discharged powder enter the smelting furnace 1 through the bottom of the hopper 8. When the tantalum and niobium scraps are all fed in, the solenoid valve 5 is closed, and the inert gas supply to the smelting furnace 1 is stopped. The elastic element rebounds, driving the cone 11 back to its original position, sealing the bottom of the material hopper 7, so that external air cannot enter the smelting furnace 1 when no material is being fed.

[0034] In this improved embodiment, the length of the guide component at the bottom of the hopper 7 is relatively short, so that the tantalum and niobium fragments passing through the bottom screen 17 can fall at the center of the cone 11 and spread out around the cone 11, preventing the tantalum and niobium fragments from deviating to one place and getting stuck when falling.

[0035] like Figure 1-5As shown, the elastic element includes a fixing block 18, a through hole 19 is provided in the fixing block 18, the through hole 19 is connected to the bent pipe 12, a fixing ring 20 is fixed on the inner wall of the through hole 19, a spring 21 is provided on the fixing ring 20, one end of the spring 21 is connected to the cone 11, and the hopper 7 is connected to the smelting furnace 1 through a support leg 22.

[0036] In one embodiment, during feeding, the solenoid valve 5 opens, and inert gas enters the smelting furnace 1. It then passes through the bend 12 and the fixing ring 20 into the through hole 19. The spring 21 then pushes the cone 11 upwards, allowing it to enter the hopper 8 and then the silo 7. At this time, the tantalum-niobium scrap enters the silo 7 through the feeding assembly, and then passes through the guide assembly step by step, causing the powder in the tantalum-niobium scrap to be lifted and carried upwards by the inert gas entering the silo 7. Because the feeding assembly... The material forms a seal within the feeding assembly. As the tantalum and niobium scraps enter the material hopper 7, the air and powder carried away by the inert gas enter the air hopper 6 through the air pipe 9 and are discharged through the exhaust pipe 10. The discharged tantalum and niobium scraps, containing powder, enter the smelting furnace 1 through the bottom of the hopper 8. After the tantalum and niobium scraps are fed in, the solenoid valve 5 is closed, and the inert gas supply to the smelting furnace 1 is stopped. The spring 31 returns, causing the cone 11 to return to its original position, sealing the bottom of the material hopper 7, so that external air cannot enter the smelting furnace 1 when no material is being fed.

[0037] Based on the above embodiments, the specific working principle of one embodiment is as follows: During feeding, the solenoid valve 5 opens, and inert gas enters the smelting furnace 1. It then passes through the bend 12 and the fixing ring 20 into the through hole 19. The spring 21 then pushes the cone 11 upwards, allowing it to enter the hopper 8 and then the storage bin 7. At this time, tantalum and niobium scraps enter the feed pipe 15 through the hopper 14, and then pass through the screen 17 step by step. As the tantalum and niobium scraps roll off the screen 17, the powder is sieved and falls onto the guide plate 16, where it is carried upwards by the inert gas entering the storage bin 7. Because tantalum... The niobium scrap forms a seal inside the feed pipe 15. As the tantalum and niobium scrap enters the material hopper 7, the air and powder carried away by the inert gas enter the gas hopper 6 through the gas pipe 9 and are discharged through the exhaust pipe 10. The discharged tantalum and niobium scrap, containing powder, enters the feed pipe 13 through the bottom of the hopper 8 and then enters the melting pool 4, forming a liquid state that enters the crucible 3. When all the tantalum and niobium scrap has been fed in, the solenoid valve 5 is closed. At this time, the supply of inert gas to the melting furnace 1 is stopped. The spring 21 returns, driving the cone 11 back to its original position, sealing the bottom of the material hopper 7, so that external air cannot enter the melting furnace 1 when no material is being fed.

Claims

1. An electron beam melting furnace for producing tantalum and niobium, comprising a melting furnace (1), an electron gun (2) mounted on the melting furnace (1), a crucible (3) disposed inside the melting furnace (1), and a melting pool (4) disposed on the side wall of the melting furnace (1), characterized in that, The smelting furnace (1) is equipped with a solenoid valve (5) connected to the smelting furnace (1) via a pipe. The smelting furnace (1) is also equipped with a feeding device, which includes a gas chamber (6), a hopper (7) and a hopper (8). The air chamber (6) is located on the upper part of the silo (7). A set of air pipes (9) connected to the silo (7) are provided inside the air chamber (6). A feeding assembly that passes through the air chamber (6) and connects to the silo (7) is provided on the air chamber (6). An exhaust pipe (10) is provided on the right side of the air chamber (6). The hopper (7) is equipped with a set of flow guiding components. The bottom of the hopper (7) is equipped with a hopper (8). The connection between the hopper (7) and the hopper (8) is a concave structure. The hopper (7) is equipped with a cone (11). The hopper (8) is equipped with an elastic element, and a bent pipe (12) is connected to the bottom of the elastic element. The bent pipe (12) passes through the hopper (8) and is connected to the smelting furnace (1). The smelting furnace (1) is equipped with a feeding pipe (13), which is connected to the hopper (8). The elastic element includes a fixing block (18), which has a through hole (19) connected to a bend (12). A fixing ring (20) is fixed to the inner wall of the through hole (19), and a spring (21) is provided on the fixing ring (20). One end of the spring (21) is connected to the cone (11).

2. The electron beam melting furnace for producing tantalum and niobium according to claim 1, characterized in that, The feeding assembly includes a hopper (14), and a feeding pipe (15) is provided at the bottom of the hopper (14). The feeding pipe (15) passes through the air chamber (6) and is connected to the material hopper (7).

3. The electron beam melting furnace for producing tantalum and niobium according to claim 1, characterized in that, The flow guiding assembly includes a flow guiding plate (16) and a screen (17), with the screen (17) located on the upper side of the flow guiding plate (16).

4. The electron beam melting furnace for producing tantalum and niobium according to claim 1, characterized in that, The flow guide component at the bottom of the hopper (7) is relatively short.

5. The electron beam melting furnace for producing tantalum and niobium according to claim 1, characterized in that, The hopper (7) is connected to the smelting furnace (1) by a support leg (22).

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