METHOD FOR CONTROL OF PROCESS CONDITIONS IN A CONTINUOUS ALLOY PRODUCTION PROCESS

摘要

A method for controlling process conditions in a continuous skull nozzle process is provided wherein one or more process parameters are controlled to maintain the opera- tion of the process within a process window derived using integral solutions and expressed in terms of dimensionless parameters, the process window defining a range of values within which a steady state solidified skull will be main- tained, and outside of which a steady state solidified skull will not be maintained. A pressure differential between the inside of a crucible holding the melt and outside the cru- cible is one process parameter which is controlled to adjust the melt discharge flow rate to maintain operation within the process window.