A process to produce a continuous liquid metal stream for gas atomisation

The heating and melting of reactive alloys in a cold crucible are considered in this study to produce a continuous melt stream as feed to a gas atomiser. A pre-heated rod of material enters the crucible at a rate equal to the amount of mass leaving as a liquid stream through the outlet. An induction coil is used to melt the contents of the crucible, which then pours out as a stream to enter a gas atomizer. The outlet nozzle may be controlled using an induction valve, operating at a different AC frequency. The concept is tested through simulations using titanium and a nickel superalloy as model materials. Tables 1, Figs 10, Refs 8.