METHOD FOR PRODUCING OF SPONGY TITANIUM AND APPARATUS FOR PERFORMING THE SAME Russian patent published in 2007 - IPC C22B34/12 

FIELD: non-ferrous metallurgy, in particular, production of spongy titanium by metal reduction of titanium tetrachloride.

SUBSTANCE: method involves heating reduction unit; melting condensate and draining condensate of magnesium chloride; feeding argon into unit and creating excessive pressure therein; discharging argon from said unit into vacuum-type crucible; pouring magnesium into unit from vacuum crucible under hermetically sealed mode while maintaining equal excessive pressure in unit and vacuum crucible; feeding titanium tetrachloride and providing reduction process while periodically pouring out magnesium chloride; after pouring out condensate of magnesium chloride, positioning magnesium level measuring device into branch pipe for feeding of titanium tetrachloride; pouring magnesium into device until magnesium comes into electric contact with electrode of level sensor; stopping feeding of magnesium when signal is generated by level indicator; removing level sensor from branch pipe and feeding titanium tetrachloride. Apparatus has reduction unit comprising retort with drain device, hermetical cover, titanium tetrachloride and argon feeding branch pipes positioned on cover, magnesium pouring branch pipe wherein drain pipe of vacuum crucible is located, compensating device, detachable magnesium level measuring device formed as signaling device and level sensor made in the form of electrode located within protective enclosure, said level sensor being positioned within titanium tetrachloride feeding branch pipe. Lower end of electrode is deepened into retort up to the level of magnesium so as to come into electric contact with it, and upper end of level sensor is connected to signaling device. Electrode is formed as rod made from stainless steel, its lower end is deepened by distance determined on the basis of ratio of distance from cover to magnesium level to diameter of apparatus of 1:(3.5-4.5). Protective enclosure for electrode is made from electrically isolating material such as asbestos on liquid glass. Retort is earthed relative to ground. Also, signaling device is provided with serviceability control button connected to power source. Signaling device has two signal lamps.

EFFECT: increased speed and hour capacity of apparatus, provision for producing of spongy titanium blocks having standard weight to simplify further processing thereof.

8 cl, 2 dwg