Abstract:
An open bottom electric induction cold crucible with a slotted wall extending below one or more induction coils surrounding the partial exterior height of the crucible is used in an electromagnetic casting process for the production of ingots. A bottom magnetic shield is provided around the outer perimeter of the crucible's slotted wall in the vicinity of the bottom opening and the bottom termination of the wall slots and the bottom connecting member.
Abstract:
A method is provided for output control of a pulse width modulated power inverter used with a substantially resistive, single phase, ac load such as an electro-slag remelting furnace. In one application of the method, during each of the inverter's half cycle outputs, active switching devices are alternatively pulsed on and off during the half cycle so that only half of the switching transients in the half cycle are handled by one of the active switching devices.
Abstract:
Apparatus and method are provided for damping the induced fluid flow, particularly in the region of the base plate (14), in an electrically conductive material that is heated and melted in a cold crucible induction furnace (10). Damping is accomplished by establishing a dc magnetic field (99)such that flow of the electrically conductive liquid metal in that dc magnetic field (99) would induce eddy currents in the liquid metal (93) which would generate forces that tend to oppose the flow. The dc magnetic field (99) may be established by dc current flow in the ac induction coil (68) that induces current in the material, dc current flow in a separate dc coil (73, 75), or coils, constructed to prevent excessive induced losses, by discrete magnets, or a combination of any of the three prior methods.
Abstract:
An open bottom electric induction cold crucible with a slotted wall extending below one or more induction coils surrounding the partial exterior height of the crucible is used in an electromagnetic casting process for the production of ingots. A bottom magnetic shield is provided around the outer perimeter of the crucible's slotted wall in the vicinity of the bottom opening and the bottom termination of the wall slots and the bottom connecting member.
Abstract:
A cold crucible induction furnace (10) has a slotted-wall (12) with a slotted inner annular protrusion (11) that is disposed around the base (14) of the crucible's melting chamber. The protrusions (11) may be separated from the base (14) by a gap (18) that can be filled with an electrical insulating material. Slots may also be provided in the protrusions (11) and/or the outer perimeter of the base (14).
Abstract:
A method is provided for output control of a pulse width modulated power inverter used with a substantially resistive, single phase, ac load such as an electro-slag remelting furnace. In one application of the method, during each of the inverter's half cycle outputs, active switching devices are alternatively pulsed on and off during the half cycle so that only half of the switching transients in the half cycle are handled by one of the active switching devices.
Abstract:
Apparatus and method are provided for damping the induced fluid flow, particularly in the region of the base plate, in an electrically conductive material that is heated and melted in a cold crucible induction furnace. Damping is accomplished by establishing a dc magnetic field such that flow of the electrically conductive liquid metal in that dc magnetic field would induce eddy currents in the liquid metal which would generate forces that tend to oppose the flow. The dc magnetic field may be established by dc current flow in the ac induction coil that induces current in the material, dc current flow in a separate dc coil, or coils, constructed to prevent excessive induced losses, by discrete magnets, or a combination of any of the three prior methods. The dc magnetic field may also be established by dc current flow in one or more dc coils disposed around a magnetic pole piece located below the base of the furnace. One end of the magnetic pole piece is located adjacent to the bottom of the crucible base, so that the pole piece concentrates the dc field into the lower portion of the molten electrically conductive material.
Abstract:
A cold crucible induction furnace has a slotted-wall with a slotted inner annular protrusion that is disposed around the base of the crucible's melting chamber. The protrusions may be separated from the base by a gap that can be filled with an electrical insulating material. Slots may also be provided in the protrusions and/or the outer perimeter of the base.