DEVICE FOR VACUUM SEPARATION OF SPONGE ZIRCONIUM Russian patent published in 2010 - IPC C22B34/00 C22B5/04 

FIELD: metallurgy.

SUBSTANCE: device consists of retort-reactor and retort-condenser mounted above retort-reactor with it bottom up; retort-condenser is coupled with working cavity of retort-reactor and is equipped with water-cooled caisson. The retort-reactor has a false bottom on top covered with a sheet of a refractory metal inert to interaction with zirconium at temperature up to 1000°C. Also the device is equipped with a heat shield installed between connecting flanges of the retort-reactor and retort-condenser; the shield is furnished with a steam line and a branch for coupling with systems of vacuumising and inert gas filling. Additionally, the steam-line of the heat shield is made in form of a conic orifice with its point upward and with ratio of diametre at the point to diametre at the base within ranges from 0.2 to 0.7. Before input to the steam line on the side of the retort-reactor there is installed a tray forming a gap where steam flows through from the retort-reactor to the retort-condenser. A circular stop is secured in the working cavity of the retort-reactor adjoining the heat shield; the internal cavity of the circular stop is made in a shape of a conic orifice with its point upward to the bottom of the retort-condenser.

EFFECT: raised efficiency of device and upgraded quality of sponge zirconium.

1 dwg