A smart plasma atomization powder making equipment

Abstract

This invention belongs to the field of metal powder preparation technology, and particularly relates to an intelligent plasma atomization powder preparation device, comprising a plasma powder preparation unit, a wire feeding unit, a vacuum unit, a protective gas supply unit, a water cooling unit, and an industrial control cabinet. The wire feeding unit is used to feed metal wires to the wire inlet end of the plasma powder preparation unit. The vacuum unit is used to exhaust air from inside the plasma powder preparation unit. The protective gas supply unit is used to supply protective gas to the inside of the plasma powder preparation unit. The water cooling unit is used to cool the protective gas. This invention can produce high-quality metal powder, improve wire feeding stability, avoid thermal bending of the metal wire, optimize droplet atomization effect, reduce defects such as irregularly shaped powder, large particles, satellite spheres, and microcracks, correct radial misalignment of the metal wire, and improve the sphericity, forming quality, and overall preparation quality of the metal powder.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention belongs to the field of metal powder preparation technology, and in particular relates to an intelligent plasma atomization powder preparation device. Background Technology

[0002] Plasma atomization powder preparation is an advanced preparation technology that uses high-temperature plasma as a heat source to directly melt and atomize metal or alloy raw materials into ultrafine droplets, which are then rapidly condensed into spherical metal powders. Its core advantage is the production of high-purity, high sphericity, low oxygen content, and narrow particle size distribution high-quality powders, making it a core raw material preparation process in the field of high-end additive manufacturing.

[0003] Plasma atomization powder making equipment typically includes a plasma generating component, a sealed atomization chamber, a wire feeding mechanism, an inert gas circulation system, and a powder collection and processing component. It relies on a circumferentially distributed plasma torch to generate an ultra-high temperature heat flow, which concentrates the heating and melting of the end of the vertically conveyed metal wire. Then, through a high-speed plasma jet combined with an inert protective gas in the sealed chamber, the molten metal droplets are sheared, broken, and rapidly cooled and solidified to produce spherical metal alloy powder.

[0004] However, in actual operation, the molten zone is in a high-temperature environment for a long time. The end of the metal wire is continuously subjected to high-temperature radiation and heat conduction. The heat is transferred upward along the wire, causing the metal wire in the suspended section below the wire feed nozzle to gradually soften. The structural rigidity and resistance to deformation decrease significantly. Furthermore, the flame pressure and flow rate of multiple plasma torches cannot be perfectly balanced, which will exert a continuous lateral thrust on the wire, pushing the softened metal wire to a radial displacement to one side. At this time, the melting range and droplet formation rate of the metal wire end become unstable and deteriorate. Local overheating or underheating occurs alternately, and the melting uniformity decreases significantly. Ultimately, this results in a large difference in droplet size and inconsistent atomization and breakup effects, which easily produces irregularly shaped powder, large particles, hollow powder, and agglomerated particles, affecting the sphericity, particle size uniformity, and overall product quality of the metal powder. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The purpose of this invention is to address the above-mentioned problems by providing an intelligent plasma atomization powder-making device.

[0006] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention adopts the following technical solution: an intelligent plasma atomization powder-making device, comprising a plasma powder-making unit, a wire feeding unit, a vacuum unit, a protective gas supply unit, a water cooling unit, and an industrial control cabinet. The wire feeding unit is used to feed metal wires to the wire inlet end of the plasma powder-making unit. The vacuum unit is used to exhaust air from inside the plasma powder-making unit. The protective gas supply unit is used to supply protective gas to the inside of the plasma powder-making unit. The water cooling unit is used to cool the protective gas. The industrial control cabinet controls the operation of the plasma powder-making unit, the wire feeding unit, the vacuum unit, the protective gas supply unit, and the water cooling unit. The plasma powder-making unit includes a tank and several plasma torches installed on the side wall of the tank, and further includes:

[0007] A water-cooling mechanism is installed on the top of the tank. The interior of the water-cooling mechanism is equipped with a heat-conducting soft sleeve. The metal wire conveyed by the wire feeding unit passes coaxially through the interior of the heat-conducting soft sleeve. The water inlet and water outlet of the water-cooling mechanism are both connected to the interior of the water-cooling unit.

[0008] An exhaust nozzle is located at the bottom of the heat-conducting soft sleeve. The exhaust nozzle has several baffles inside, which divide the interior of the exhaust nozzle into several exhaust zones corresponding to the positions of the plasma torch. A gas supply mechanism is installed on the top of the tank, and the gas supply mechanism is used to supply gas to each exhaust zone. The gas supply mechanism is connected to the protective gas supply unit.

[0009] Preferably, the protective gas supply unit includes at least a gas storage tank, a gas supply valve pipe, a return valve pipe, and a gas circulation mechanism. The gas supply valve pipe is connected to the interior of the gas storage tank, the inlet of the gas circulation mechanism is connected to the interior of the water cooling unit through the return valve pipe, and the outlet of the gas circulation mechanism is connected to the interior of the gas supply valve pipe.

[0010] Preferably, the water-cooling unit includes at least a tubular heat exchanger, a main inlet valve pipe, a main outlet valve pipe, a heat exchange inlet valve pipe, and a heat exchange outlet valve pipe. The main inlet valve pipe and the main outlet valve pipe are both connected to the interior of the tubular heat exchanger's outer shell. The heat exchange inlet valve pipe and the heat exchange outlet valve pipe are both connected to the interior of the heat exchanger's heat exchange tubes. The reflux valve pipe is connected to the heat exchange outlet valve pipe.

[0011] Preferably, the tank body includes an upper conical section, a lower conical section, and a transition connecting section. The upper and lower conical sections are symmetrically arranged on the upper and lower sides of the transition connecting section. The inner diameter of the upper conical section increases from top to bottom. The side walls of both the upper and lower conical sections are provided with a plurality of evenly distributed vent holes. An exhaust sealing cover connected to the vent hole on the same side is fixedly sleeved on the outer side wall of the upper conical section. An air inlet sealing cover connected to the vent hole on the same side is fixedly sleeved on the outer side wall of the lower conical section. The exhaust sealing cover is connected to the heat exchange air inlet valve pipe. The air inlet sealing cover is connected to the gas supply valve pipe. A detachable mounting part is installed on the top of the upper conical section, and the plasma torch is inserted into the side wall of the mounting part.

[0012] Preferably, the water-cooling mechanism includes a T-shaped sleeve inserted at the top of the tank, a heat-conducting soft sleeve fixed to the annular inner wall of the T-shaped sleeve, a water-cooling cavity provided inside the T-shaped sleeve, a cold water inlet pipe fixedly connected to the top of the water-cooling cavity, a cold water outlet pipe fixedly connected to the lower wall of the water-cooling cavity, the cold water inlet pipe being connected to the interior of the main inlet valve pipe, the cold water outlet pipe being connected to the interior of the main drain valve pipe, and a check valve installed inside the cold water outlet pipe.

[0013] Preferably, the gas supply mechanism includes a hollow ring fixed to the top of the tank, a split inlet pipe fixedly inserted into the top of the hollow ring and connected to the interior of the gas supply valve pipe, a plurality of split exhaust pipes fixedly inserted into the bottom of the hollow ring and connected to the corresponding exhaust area inside the exhaust nozzle, and a proportional solenoid valve electrically connected to the industrial control cabinet is installed inside the split exhaust pipe.

[0014] Preferably, the end of the heat-conducting soft sleeve is provided with several mounting grooves, and a pressure detector is provided inside the mounting groove. The pressure detector is fixed inside the T-shaped sleeve, and the industrial control cabinet controls the opening and closing degree of the proportional solenoid valve core according to the electrical signal fed back by the pressure detector.

[0015] Preferably, a material bucket is provided at the bottom of the tank, and the material bucket is detachably connected to the bottom of the tank.

[0016] Compared with existing technologies, the advantages of an intelligent plasma atomization powder production device are:

[0017] 1. Through the coordinated operation of the plasma powder preparation unit, wire feeding unit, vacuum unit, protective gas supply unit, water cooling unit, and industrial control cabinet, metal powder can be produced by molten spraying of metal wire using a plasma torch. The water cooling mechanism and heat-conducting soft sleeve inside the plasma powder preparation unit can enhance the circumferential limiting and support strength of the metal wire, constrain the radial deviation of the metal wire, and improve the wire feeding stability. At the same time, the water cooling mechanism can quickly remove the heat from the upper side of the molten end of the metal wire, reduce the working temperature of the suspended section of the metal wire, and prevent the metal wire from softening and losing rigidity due to high temperature, thus preventing thermal bending. This helps to maintain sufficient stability at the end of the metal wire, ensures that the molten state of the metal wire is uniform and stable, optimizes the droplet atomization and breakup effect, effectively reduces the generation of irregularly shaped powder and large particles, and helps to improve the sphericity and overall preparation quality of the finished metal powder.

[0018] 2. Through the coordinated operation of the air outlet, baffle, and gas supply mechanism inside the plasma powder making unit, a circumferentially enveloping downward protective air curtain can be formed around the metal wire, isolating it from high-temperature heat radiation in the molten area and inhibiting the upward backflow and accumulation of metal vapor. In addition, the pressure detector can monitor the offset pressure of the metal wire in real time during the powder making process, and based on this offset pressure, the exhaust volume of the air outlet in different directions inside the air outlet can be differentially adjusted to dynamically compensate for the difference in lateral force, and correct the radial offset and skew of the metal wire in real time, so that the end of the metal wire always remains in a centered state, further improving the stability of the end of the metal wire, thereby further improving the powder making quality.

[0019] 3. By designing the tank into an upper conical section, a lower conical section, and a transition connecting section, and by incorporating vents, exhaust seals, and intake seals, a lateral negative pressure suction and a lateral airflow upward force can be generated on the underside of the molten metal jet. The negative pressure suction can quickly expel impurities such as vapor generated during melting, while simultaneously causing some metal droplets to deviate outward from the jet, thus allowing the jet to diffuse. This helps to minimize defects such as satellite balls formed by the collision of metal droplets. Furthermore, the lateral airflow upward force can cool and decelerate the metal droplets, minimizing the risk of micro-cracks caused by their impact on the tank sidewall after cooling, thereby improving the forming quality of the metal powder. Attached Figure Description

[0020] Figure 1 This is a block diagram of the composition of an intelligent plasma atomization powder making device provided by the present invention;

[0021] Figure 2 This is a three-dimensional structural diagram of the plasma powder-making unit of an intelligent plasma atomization powder-making device provided by the present invention;

[0022] Figure 3This is a top view of the plasma powder making unit of an intelligent plasma atomization powder making device provided by the present invention.

[0023] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the internal structure of the tank of an intelligent plasma atomizing powder-making device provided by the present invention;

[0024] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the water cooling mechanism of an intelligent plasma atomizing powder-making device provided by the present invention;

[0025] Figure 6 This invention provides an intelligent plasma atomization powder making device. Figure 5 Enlarged view of the structure of section A;

[0026] Figure 7 This is a bottom view of the air outlet structure of an intelligent plasma atomizing powder-making device provided by the present invention.

[0027] Figure 8 This invention provides an intelligent plasma atomization powder making device. Figure 7 Enlarged view of the structure of section B;

[0028] Figure 9 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a heat-conducting soft sleeve for an intelligent plasma atomizing powder-making device provided by the present invention;

[0029] Figure 10 This is a scanning electron microscope image of metal powder produced by an intelligent plasma atomization powder preparation device provided by the present invention.

[0030] In the diagram: 1. Plasma powder preparation unit; 2. Wire feeding unit; 3. Vacuum unit; 4. Protective gas supply unit; 41. Gas storage tank; 42. Gas supply valve pipe; 43. Return valve pipe; 44. Gas circulation mechanism; 5. Water cooling unit; 51. Tubular heat exchanger; 52. Main inlet valve pipe; 53. Main drain valve pipe; 54. Heat exchanger inlet valve pipe; 55. Heat exchanger outlet valve pipe; 6. Control cabinet; 7. Tank body; 71. Upper conical section; 72. Lower conical section; 73. Transition connection section; 74. Vent. 75 Exhaust sealing cover, 76 Inlet sealing cover, 77 Mounting part, 8 Plasma torch, 9 Water cooling mechanism, 91 T-shaped sleeve, 92 Water cooling cavity, 93 Cold water inlet pipe, 94 Cold water outlet pipe, 95 Check valve, 10 Thermal conductive soft sleeve, 11 Gas outlet, 12 Baffle, 13 Gas supply mechanism, 131 Hollow ring, 132 Diverter inlet pipe, 133 Diverter exhaust pipe, 134 Proportional solenoid valve, 14 Mounting groove, 15 Pressure detector, 16 Material bucket. Detailed Implementation

[0031] 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.

[0032] like Figures 1-10 As shown, an intelligent plasma atomization powder making device includes a plasma powder making unit 1, a wire feeding unit 2, a vacuum unit 3, a protective gas supply unit 4, a water cooling unit 5, and an industrial control cabinet 6. The wire feeding unit 2 is used to feed metal wires to the wire inlet end of the plasma powder making unit 1. The vacuum unit 3 is used to exhaust the air inside the plasma powder making unit 1. The protective gas supply unit 4 is used to supply protective gas into the plasma powder making unit 1. The water cooling unit 5 is used to cool the protective gas. The industrial control cabinet 6 controls the operation of the plasma powder making unit 1, the wire feeding unit 2, the vacuum unit 3, the protective gas supply unit 4, and the water cooling unit 5.

[0033] The wire feeding unit 2 includes components such as a wire spool support, a wire feeding drive roller, a guide tube, a motor, an encoder, and bearings. It uses a motor to drive the wire feeding drive roller to rotate, thereby supplying metal wire.

[0034] Vacuum unit 3 includes components such as vacuum pump, vacuum tube, valve, and pressure gauge. The vacuum pump can pre-extract the air from inside tank 7.

[0035] The protective gas supply unit 4 includes at least a gas storage tank 41, a gas supply valve pipe 42, a return valve pipe 43, and a gas circulation mechanism 44. The gas supply valve pipe 42 is connected to the interior of the gas storage tank 41. The inlet end of the gas circulation mechanism 44 is connected to the interior of the water cooling unit 5 through the return valve pipe 43, and the outlet end of the gas circulation mechanism 44 is connected to the interior of the gas supply valve pipe 42. The protective gas supply unit 4 also includes components such as a temporary storage tank and a pressure gauge.

[0036] The water-cooling unit 5 includes at least a tubular heat exchanger 51, a main inlet valve pipe 52, a main drain valve pipe 53, a heat exchange inlet valve pipe 54, and a heat exchange outlet valve pipe 55. The main inlet valve pipe 52 and the main drain valve pipe 53 are both connected to the inside of the shell of the tubular heat exchanger 51. The heat exchange inlet valve pipe 54 and the heat exchange outlet valve pipe 55 are both connected to the inside of the heat exchange tubes of the tubular heat exchanger 51. The return valve pipe 43 is connected to the heat exchange outlet valve pipe 55. The water-cooling unit 5 also includes components such as a temperature sensor and a flow meter.

[0037] The plasma powder-making unit 1 includes a tank body 7 and several plasma torches 8 installed on the side wall of the tank body 7. The tank body 7 includes an upper conical section 71, a lower conical section 72, and a transition connecting section 73. The upper conical section 71 and the lower conical section 72 are symmetrically arranged on the upper and lower sides of the transition connecting section 73. The inner diameter of the upper conical section 71 increases from top to bottom. Several evenly distributed vent holes 74 are opened on the side walls of both the upper conical section 71 and the lower conical section 72. An exhaust valve connected to the vent hole 74 on the same side is fixedly sleeved on the outer side wall of the upper conical section 71. The sealing cover 75 has an air inlet sealing cover 76 fixedly sleeved on the outer wall of the lower conical section 72, which is connected to the vent 74 on the same side. The exhaust sealing cover 75 is connected to the heat exchange air inlet valve pipe 54, and the air inlet sealing cover 76 is connected to the gas supply valve pipe 42. A detachable mounting part 77 is installed on the top of the upper conical section 71. The plasma torch 8 is inserted into the side wall of the mounting part 77. A material bucket 16 is provided below the tank body 7, and the material bucket 16 is detachably connected to the bottom of the tank body 7. The material bucket 16 is used to receive the cooled metal powder.

[0038] The water-cooling mechanism 9 is installed on the top of the tank 7. A heat-conducting soft sleeve 10 is installed inside the water-cooling mechanism 9. The heat-conducting soft sleeve 10 is made of flexible graphite material, and its inner diameter is 0.05-0.1 mm smaller than the diameter of the metal wire, ensuring that the metal wire can contact the inner wall of the heat-conducting soft sleeve 10. The metal wire conveyed by the wire feeding unit 2 passes coaxially through the interior of the heat-conducting soft sleeve 10. The water inlet and outlet of the water-cooling mechanism 9 are both connected to the interior of the water-cooling unit 5. The water-cooling mechanism 9 includes a T-shaped sleeve 91 inserted into the top of the tank 7 and the heat-conducting soft sleeve 10. Fixed to the annular inner wall of the T-shaped sleeve 91, the T-shaped sleeve 91 is provided with a water-cooled cavity 92. The top of the water-cooled cavity 92 is fixedly connected to a cold water inlet pipe 93, and the lower side wall of the water-cooled cavity 92 is fixedly connected to a cold water outlet pipe 94. The cold water inlet pipe 93 is connected to the inside of the water inlet main valve pipe 52, and the cold water outlet pipe 94 is connected to the inside of the drain main valve pipe 53. A check valve 95 is installed inside the cold water outlet pipe 94. The check valve 95 can prevent water inside the drain main valve pipe 53 from flowing back into the cold water outlet pipe 94.

[0039] The vent 11 is located at the bottom of the heat-conducting soft sleeve 10. Several baffles 12 are installed inside the vent 11, dividing the interior of the vent 11 into several venting zones corresponding to the positions of the plasma torch 8. A gas supply mechanism 13 is installed on the top of the tank 7, supplying gas to each venting zone. The gas supply mechanism 13 is connected to the protective gas supply unit 4. The gas supply mechanism 13 includes a hollow ring 131 fixed to the top of the tank 7. A diversion inlet pipe 132 is fixedly inserted into the top of the hollow ring 131, and the diversion inlet pipe 132 is connected to the interior of the gas supply valve pipe 42. Several diversion exhaust pipes 13 are fixedly inserted into the bottom of the hollow ring 131. 3. The diversion exhaust pipe 133 is connected to the corresponding exhaust area inside the exhaust nozzle 11. The diversion exhaust pipe 133 is equipped with a proportional solenoid valve 134 that is electrically connected to the industrial control cabinet 6. Several mounting slots 14 are opened at the end of the heat-conducting soft sleeve 10. A pressure detector 15 is installed inside the mounting slot 14. The pressure detector 15 is fixed inside the T-shaped sleeve 91. The industrial control cabinet 6 controls the opening and closing degree of the valve core of the proportional solenoid valve 134 according to the electrical signal fed back by the pressure detector 15. The pressure detector 15 is a high-temperature resistant metal diaphragm pressure sensor with strong high-temperature resistance. The cold water passing through the T-shaped sleeve 91 can continuously cool the pressure detector 15 to prevent high temperature from affecting the pressure detector 15.

[0040] The operating principle of the present invention is explained as follows: The main inlet valve pipe 52 and the main outlet valve pipe 53 of the water cooling unit 5 are connected to the external cold water pipeline, and the metal wire to be processed is installed on the wire feeding unit 2. At the same time, the movable end of the metal wire is passed through the heat-conducting soft sleeve 10 and finally extended to the lower side of the air outlet 11. After preparation is completed, the industrial control cabinet 6 is started.

[0041] The industrial control cabinet 6 first controls the vacuum unit 3 to remove the air inside the tank 7. After the set vacuum pressure is reached, the industrial control cabinet 6 controls the valve inside the gas supply pipeline to open. At this time, the high-purity argon gas stored inside the gas storage tank 41 will enter the tank 7 through the gas supply valve pipe 42, the gas inlet sealing cover 76 and the vent 74, thereby forming a closed oxygen-free inert protective environment inside the tank 7.

[0042] Subsequently, the industrial control cabinet 6 controls the wire feeding unit 2 to start feeding the wire, and simultaneously activates each plasma torch 8. The plasma torch 8 generates a circumferentially inclined and converging high-temperature plasma jet, which is concentrated on the moving end of the metal wire. Relying on the ultra-high temperature, the wire end is continuously heated and melted. Then, the high-speed plasma jet shears, tears, disperses, and atomizes the molten metal droplets, thereby stably melting the continuously fed metal wire into liquid metal particles. The liquid metal jet moves downward under the action of jet pressure and gravity. During this process, argon gas inside the gas storage tank 41 continuously enters the tank body 7 through the vent 74 at the inlet sealing cover 76. At the same time, under the action of the gas circulation mechanism 44, its suction end passes through the return valve pipe 43, the heat exchange outlet valve pipe 55, the tubular heat exchanger 51, the heat exchange inlet valve pipe 54, and the exhaust sealing cover 75, making the vent inside the exhaust sealing cover 75 open. 74 generates negative pressure suction (gas circulation mechanism 44 includes components such as circulating fan, filter mechanism, valve, pipeline, etc.), which orderly extracts excess argon gas that has entered the tank 7. The gas is introduced through the lower vent 74 and vented through the upper vent 74, which can form a continuous lateral upward airflow inside the tank 7. This upward airflow fully contacts the falling metal droplets, which can uniformly cool the high-temperature droplets. At the same time, the directional upward airflow can uniformly disperse the atomized metal droplets, avoid local aggregation and collision of a large number of droplets, and effectively suppress the adhesion of small droplets to form satellite ball defects. In addition, the upward airflow can buffer the movement speed of the falling droplets, reduce the hard collision intensity between particles, and reduce the internal micro-cracks caused by rapid shrinkage and violent impact of metal powder, which is conducive to improving the forming quality of metal powder. Finally, the formed metal powder falls into the material bucket 16.

[0043] Part of the argon gas supplied by the gas supply valve pipe 42 enters the hollow ring 131 through the diversion inlet pipe 132, and then enters the respective outlet zones inside the outlet nozzle 11 through the diversion exhaust pipes 133. Finally, it is ejected downwards through the outlet of the outlet zone. The ejected argon gas can form a circumferential downward protective gas curtain at the molten end of the metal wire, which isolates local high-temperature heat radiation and inhibits the upward adhesion and accumulation of metal vapor generated by melting. At the same time, it forms a basic circumferential limiting protection for the metal wire. Meanwhile, when the metal wire is subjected to radial offset force due to high-temperature thermal softening, uneven force on the plasma flame, etc., the metal wire will squeeze the side wall of the heat-conducting soft sleeve 10 and form radial pressure. The pressure detector 15 captures the pressure fluctuation changes in real time, and the industrial control cabinet 6 accurately controls the proportional electrical circuits in each direction based on the pressure feedback signal. The opening degree of the solenoid valve 134 is as follows: when the pressure detector 15 detects the side with increased pressure, the industrial control cabinet 6 increases the valve core opening of the proportional solenoid valve 134 on that side. The greater the pressure difference, the greater the valve core opening. At the same time, the conduction opening of the solenoid valves on the other two sides is reduced. At this time, the airflow in the hollow ring 131 preferentially converges to the side with force offset. More argon gas is transported to the outlet area through the diversion exhaust pipe 133 on that side and sprayed downward at high speed. The enhanced directional argon gas jet on that side forms a reverse lateral balance thrust to offset the external asymmetrical load. This can correct the radial offset, end tilt and swing phenomenon of the metal wire in real time, dynamically maintain the center of the metal wire axis, avoid the wire body tilt causing local overheating or uneven melting, ensure the continuous stability of the plasma melting atomization process, and effectively reduce the probability of the generation of irregular powder and defective powder.

[0044] During the metal powder preparation process, the external cold water pipeline continuously supplies cold water to the tubular heat exchanger 51 through the main inlet valve pipe 52. The high-temperature argon gas discharged from the exhaust sealing cover 75 enters the heat exchange tubes of the tubular heat exchanger 51 through the heat exchange inlet valve pipe 54 and exchanges heat with the cold water entering through the main inlet valve pipe 52. The argon gas after heat exchange is drawn back by the circulating fan through the filter of the gas circulation mechanism 44 and transported to the gas supply valve pipe 42 for circulation. The cold water after heat exchange is discharged through the drain main valve pipe 53.

[0045] Meanwhile, after the cold water supplied by the external cold water pipeline enters the main inlet valve pipe 52, some of the cold water will enter the water cooling chamber 92 through the cold water inlet pipe 93. The heat conducted upward by the end of the metal wire will be conducted to the T-shaped sleeve 91 through the heat-conducting soft sleeve 10, and finally exchange heat with the cold water passing through the water cooling chamber 92. This can cool the upper part of the molten end of the metal wire in time, prevent the heat from spreading upward along the wire, prevent the metal wire from softening, reducing rigidity and bending under long-term high temperature radiation, reduce wire sway and radial displacement, improve the coaxial accuracy and running stability of the metal wire feeding, ensure that the end of the wire is always at the plasma flame convergence center, ensure uniform and stable melting state, and improve the atomization and crushing effect. The cold water after heat exchange enters the main drain valve pipe 53 through the cold water outlet pipe 94 and is discharged.

[0046] After the powder preparation is completed, the industrial control cabinet 6 shuts down the plasma torch 8 and the wire feeding unit 2 in sequence, and at the same time closes the gas supply valve of the gas storage tank 41 to keep the tank 7 sealed. Then, the high-temperature mixed argon gas remaining inside the tank 7 is extracted through the gas circulation mechanism 44, and after water cooling and filtration, it is stored in a temporary storage tank for later use. It will be recycled and reused in the next equipment operation. Then, the valve of the air supply pipeline of the tank 7 is opened to supply air into the tank 7. Finally, the material bucket 16 is removed from the bottom of the tank 7 to obtain the prepared metal powder. After testing, the sphericity of the metal powder can reach more than 96%, the particle size distribution is concentrated and uniform, the particle size is highly controllable, the oxygen content of the finished product is stably controlled within 150ppm, the surface of the powder particles is smooth and there is no obvious slag, the proportion of satellite balls and agglomerated irregular particles is controlled below 3%, the particles are dense and intact, and defects such as microcracks and pores are significantly reduced, with the proportion controlled below 5%.

[0047] The above description is only a preferred embodiment of the present invention and is not intended to limit the present invention. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, etc., made within the spirit and principles of the present invention should be included within the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. An intelligent plasma atomizing powder-making device, comprising a plasma powder-making unit (1), a wire feeding unit (2), a vacuum unit (3), a protective gas supply unit (4), a water cooling unit (5), and an industrial control cabinet (6), wherein the wire feeding unit (2) is used to feed metal wires to the wire inlet end of the plasma powder-making unit (1), the vacuum unit (3) is used to exhaust the air inside the plasma powder-making unit (1), the protective gas supply unit (4) is used to supply protective gas to the inside of the plasma powder-making unit (1), the water cooling unit (5) is used to cool the protective gas, and the industrial control cabinet (6) controls the operation of the plasma powder-making unit (1), the wire feeding unit (2), the vacuum unit (3), the protective gas supply unit (4), and the water cooling unit (5), wherein the plasma powder-making unit (1) comprises a tank (7) and a plurality of plasma torches (8) installed on the side wall of the tank (7), characterized in that, Also includes: A water cooling mechanism (9) is installed on the top of the tank (7). A heat-conducting soft sleeve (10) is provided inside the water cooling mechanism (9). The metal wire conveyed by the wire feeding unit (2) passes through the interior of the heat-conducting soft sleeve (10) coaxially. The water inlet and outlet of the water cooling mechanism (9) are connected to the interior of the water cooling unit (5). An exhaust nozzle (11) is located at the bottom of the heat-conducting soft sleeve (10). The exhaust nozzle (11) has several partitions (12) inside, and the partitions (12) divide the interior of the exhaust nozzle (11) into several exhaust zones corresponding to the position of the plasma torch (8). A gas supply mechanism (13) is installed on the top of the tank (7), and the gas supply mechanism (13) is used to supply gas to each exhaust zone. The gas supply mechanism (13) is connected to the protective gas supply unit (4).

2. The intelligent plasma atomization powder-making equipment according to claim 1, characterized in that, The protective gas supply unit (4) includes at least a gas storage tank (41), a gas supply valve pipe (42), a return valve pipe (43), and a gas circulation mechanism (44). The gas supply valve pipe (42) is connected to the interior of the gas storage tank (41). The inlet end of the gas circulation mechanism (44) is connected to the interior of the water cooling unit (5) through the return valve pipe (43), and the outlet end of the gas circulation mechanism (44) is connected to the interior of the gas supply valve pipe (42).

3. The intelligent plasma atomization powder-making equipment according to claim 2, characterized in that, The water-cooled unit (5) includes at least a tubular heat exchanger (51), a main inlet valve pipe (52), a main drain valve pipe (53), a heat exchange inlet valve pipe (54), and a heat exchange outlet valve pipe (55). The main inlet valve pipe (52) and the main drain valve pipe (53) are both connected to the interior of the outer shell of the tubular heat exchanger (51). The heat exchange inlet valve pipe (54) and the heat exchange outlet valve pipe (55) are both connected to the interior of the heat exchange tubes of the tubular heat exchanger (51). The return valve pipe (43) is connected to the heat exchange outlet valve pipe (55).

4. The intelligent plasma atomization powder-making equipment according to claim 3, characterized in that, The tank body (7) includes an upper conical section (71), a lower conical section (72), and a transition connecting section (73). The upper conical section (71) and the lower conical section (72) are symmetrically arranged on the upper and lower sides of the transition connecting section (73). The inner diameter of the upper conical section (71) increases from top to bottom. The side walls of both the upper conical section (71) and the lower conical section (72) are provided with several evenly distributed vent holes (74). The outer side wall of the upper conical section (71) is fixedly sleeved with a vent hole (74) on the same side. 74) A connected exhaust sealing cover (75), an intake sealing cover (76) connected to the same side ventilation hole (74) is fixedly sleeved on the outer side wall of the lower cone section (72), the exhaust sealing cover (75) is connected to the heat exchange intake valve pipe (54), the intake sealing cover (76) is connected to the gas supply valve pipe (42), a detachable mounting part (77) is installed on the top of the upper cone section (71), and the plasma torch (8) is inserted into the side wall of the mounting part (77).

5. The intelligent plasma atomization powder-making equipment according to claim 3, characterized in that, The water cooling mechanism (9) includes a T-shaped sleeve (91) inserted into the top of the tank (7), a heat-conducting soft sleeve (10) fixed to the annular inner wall of the T-shaped sleeve (91), a water cooling cavity (92) is provided inside the T-shaped sleeve (91), a cold water inlet pipe (93) is fixedly connected to the top of the water cooling cavity (92), a cold water outlet pipe (94) is fixedly connected to the lower side wall of the water cooling cavity (92), the cold water inlet pipe (93) is connected to the inside of the main inlet valve pipe (52), the cold water outlet pipe (94) is connected to the inside of the main drain valve pipe (53), and a check valve (95) is installed inside the cold water outlet pipe (94).

6. The intelligent plasma atomization powder-making equipment according to claim 2, characterized in that, The gas supply mechanism (13) includes a hollow ring (131) fixed to the top of the tank (7). A split inlet pipe (132) is fixedly inserted into the top of the hollow ring (131), and the split inlet pipe (132) is connected to the inside of the gas supply valve pipe (42). Several split exhaust pipes (133) are fixedly inserted into the bottom of the hollow ring (131), and the split exhaust pipes (133) are connected to the corresponding exhaust area inside the exhaust nozzle (11). A proportional solenoid valve (134) electrically connected to the industrial control cabinet (6) is installed inside the split exhaust pipe (133).

7. The intelligent plasma atomization powder-making equipment according to claim 6, characterized in that, The end of the heat-conducting soft sleeve (10) is provided with several mounting grooves (14), and a pressure detector (15) is provided inside the mounting groove (14). The pressure detector (15) is fixed inside the T-shaped sleeve (91). The industrial control cabinet (6) controls the opening and closing degree of the valve core of the proportional solenoid valve (134) according to the electrical signal fed back by the pressure detector (15).

8. The intelligent plasma atomization powder-making equipment according to claim 1, characterized in that, A material bucket (16) is provided below the tank (7), and the material bucket (16) is detachably connected to the bottom of the tank (7).

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