METHOD FOR PRODUCING ULTRAFINELY DIVIDED POWDER AND APPARATUS FOR PERFORMING THE SAME Russian patent published in 2004 - IPC

FIELD: manufacture of ultra-fine powders of metals, their oxides, carbides, alloys and so on.

SUBSTANCE: method comprises steps of feeding and evaporating flow of powder like material in inert gas while acting upon it in field of centrifugal forces by means of electric arc discharge and plasma; further separation of non-evaporated part of material from vapor-gas flow; cooling, condensing it and separating ultra-finely divided powder on filter; then realizing secondary use of inert gas. According to invention method comprises steps of stabilizing temperature values along outer boundaries of centrifugal force field by means of cooling in common autonomous closed cooling system having circuits of outer water cooling of unit for feeding gas and powder, of evaporator, quenching unit, condenser, unit for discharging aerosol flow, refrigerator and inner flow-through water cooling of anode. Apparatus for performing the method includes cylindrical housing of evaporator, anode and cathode, unit for feeding gas and powder, accumulator of non-evaporated raw material, quenching unit, condenser, refrigerator, filters and receptacle of ultra-finely dispersed powder, cleaning members. Novelty is common autonomous closed temperature-stabilized cooling system in the form of water cooling circuits of units for feeding gas and powder, of evaporator, quenching unit, condenser, unit for discharging aerosol flow, refrigerator and inner flow-through cooling of anode. System also includes reservoir for accumulating water, pump, cooling tower, water ramp with measuring and monitoring instruments, means for emergency turning off power supply of apparatus. Outer cooling circuits of cylindrical housings of evaporator and condenser are provided with flow-through outer water cooling jackets. Anode has central cavity and it is provided with pipes for supplying and draining water in inner flow-through water cooling circuit.

EFFECT: increased time period of continuous operation, enhanced quality of powder, autonomous cooling system, improved effectiveness.

4 cl, 3 dwg, 3 ex