METHOD OF PRODUCING SPHERICAL GRANULES OF REFRACTORY AND CHEMICALLY ACTIVE METALS AND ALLOYS, DEVICE TO THIS END AND DEVICE TO FABRICATE INITIAL CONSUMABLE BILLET TO IMPLEMENT SAID METHOD Russian patent published in 2011 - IPC B22F9/06 F27B14/04 C22B9/22 

FIELD: process engineering.

SUBSTANCE: invention relates to powder metallurgy. In compliance with this method, initial consumable billet represents a metal rod produced in vacuum-plasma skull furnace. Plasma arc to melt initial consumable billet is excited between electric-arc plasma generator arranged at angle β to crucible rotational axis and current conducting crucible to generate plasma flame. Crucible edges are made from material that allows decreasing edge wetting angle and surface tension force holding drip on edge surface in crucible rotation. In smelting, plasma-forming gas flow rate, electric arc power and initial billet translation speed are adjusted. Device billet holder allows translation of initial consumable billet and its rotation, and comprises the device to vary the speed of billet longitudinal feed. Proposed device exploits vacuum plasma generator located at an angle to crucible vertical axis and on its periphery, outside melt surface. Note that furnace incorporates systems of vacuum plasma arc and electromagnetic mixing control systems made up of lower and upper groups of electromagnets.

EFFECT: homogeneous chemical composition spherical granules, powder higher strength and dispersion.

26 cl, 2 dwg, 1 ex