Clogging of the delivery tube during preparation of copper powder by vacuum atomisation: coupling analysis of flow resistance and heat transfer

During the production of micro-fine powders using gas atomization technology, the problem of clogging of the delivery tube is often encountered. Flow resistance inside the delivery tube and heat transfer of the delivery tube is one of the critical factors causing the clogging of the delivery tube. In this paper, the volume of the fluid model (VOF) coupled with the discrete phase model (DPM) were used to simulate the delivery tube-clogging process of the delivery tube involved in atomizing copper powder. The results indicate that, with the increase in the length of the delivery tube, the flow resistance increased; Shortening the length of the tube reduces the flow resistance and increases the superheat of the melt, the atomization process is uninterrupted. The atomized powder was qualitatively determined by standard deviation to determine the number of satellite balls. This research has guiding value in understanding the continuity of the atomization process.