METHOD FOR IODIDE REFINEMENT OF ZIRCONIUM AND APPARATUS THEREFOR Russian patent published in 2014 - IPC C22B34/14 

FIELD: physics, computer engineering.

SUBSTANCE: group of inventions relates to iodide refinement of zirconium in closed metal apparatus and can be used in iodide refinement of other metals, e.g., titanium and hafnium. The method includes depositing metal on a red-hot zirconium filament based on a given volt-ampere characteristic (VAC). The required temperature of the material in the apparatus is maintained by air cooling the external wall of the apparatus and the central part by varying air flow rate. The zirconium deposition mode and the temperature of the material in the apparatus are controlled automatically via simultaneous correction of the VAC within a given range with frequency ranging from 20 times per second to once per minute and synchronised, gradual variation of the air flow rate at the external wall and in the central part of the apparatus in the range of 35-3500 and 10-1000 m³/h, respectively. Automatic control of operation of the apparatus is carried out by a system of standardised input/output modules and a controller with an operator panel, and an industrial computer is further used to control multiple apparatus. Automatic synchronous control of operation of the apparatus is carried out using a system of input/output modules with a NI CompactRIO, National Instruments, controller and an industrial computer, the software of which is developed in Lab View and enables to carry out the operating cycle of the apparatus without an operator.

EFFECT: invention increases output of the process and the apparatus by increasing speed owing to maintaining optimum temperature conditions in the apparatus and synchronous automatic control of cycles of supplying power to the deposition filament and air cooling of the apparatus.

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