METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PERIMETER CLEANING IN COLD HEARTH REFINING

摘要

A cold hearth melting and refining arrangement (10) for reactive or refractory metals utilizes an electron beam (410) to automatically clean the perimeter of the pool of molten material (300) in the hearth (10). A programmable logic controller (420) is used to sweep the electron beam (410) along at least a portion of the perimeter (300). The electron beam (410) delivers energy to remelt or reevaporate volatile impurities that evaporate from the pool of molten material and redeposit on the perimeter (300).