ELECTRIC ARC MELTING FURNACE, ELECTRODE UNIT AND ELECTRIC ARC MELTING PROCESS Russian patent published in 2002 - IPC

FIELD: processes and apparatuses for electric arc melting of metals and alloys, particularly for experimental production of alloys with special properties and also for their industrial production. SUBSTANCE: electric arc melting furnace includes vacuum chamber, electrode unit with rod-shaped non-consumable cathode, anode in the form of cooled crystallizer with sample of melt metal or alloy. Diameter of portion of rod-shaped cathode arranged in discharge space and remote from cathode end contacting with electric arc discharge is no more than 8 mm. Process of electric arc melting of metals and alloys comprises steps of igniting and sustaining electric arc discharge between end portion of rod shaped cathode and sample of metal or alloy. Melting is realized at automatically controlling pressure of plasma generating gas and gas consumption. Metal is melt by action of localized in space energy-separating electric-arc discharge at electric current value of arc discharge in range of 50-1000 A. Enhanced design of electrode unit and melting furnace operation process provide stable thermic emission mode of cathode at high values of arc discharge electric current, allow to increase energy value in discharge space, to localize energy separation of electric arc discharge in space and to enhance power efficiency of furnace due to optimization of size of rod-shaped cathode according to working range of discharge currents at predetermined pressure of plasma generating gas and predetermined spacing between cathode and melt metal sample. EFFECT: improved design of electrode unit, enhanced operational efficiency of furnace. 30 cl, 3 dwg