Carbon-free induction furnace
Abstract
An induction furnace for melting and casting highly pure metals and alloys such as uranium and uranium alloys in such a manner as to minimize contamination of the melt by carbon derived from the materials and the environment within the furnace. The subject furnace is constructed of carbon free materials and is housed within a conventional vacuum chamber. The furnace comprises a ceramic oxide crucible for holding the charge of metal or alloy. The heating of the crucible is achieved by a plasma-sprayed tungsten susceptor surrounding the crucible which, in turn, is heated by an RF induction coil separated from the susceptor by a cylinder of inorganic insulation. The furnace of the present invention is capable of being rapidly cycled from ambient temperatures to about 1650.degree. C. for effectively melting uranium and uranium alloys without the attendant carbon contamination problems previously encountered when using carbon-bearing furnace materials.
- Inventors:
-
- Knoxville, TN
- Norris, TN
- Issue Date:
- Research Org.:
- Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
- OSTI Identifier:
- 865659
- Patent Number(s):
- 4550412
- Assignee:
- United States of America as represented by United States (Washington, DC)
- Patent Classifications (CPCs):
-
F - MECHANICAL ENGINEERING F27 - FURNACES F27B - FURNACES, KILNS, OVENS, OR RETORTS IN GENERAL
F - MECHANICAL ENGINEERING F27 - FURNACES F27D - DETAILS OR ACCESSORIES OF FURNACES, KILNS, OVENS, OR RETORTS, IN SO FAR AS THEY ARE OF KINDS OCCURRING IN MORE THAN ONE KIND OF FURNACE
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-7405-ENG-26
- Resource Type:
- Patent
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- carbon-free; induction; furnace; melting; casting; highly; pure; metals; alloys; uranium; manner; minimize; contamination; melt; carbon; derived; materials; environment; subject; constructed; free; housed; conventional; vacuum; chamber; comprises; ceramic; oxide; crucible; holding; charge; metal; alloy; heating; achieved; plasma-sprayed; tungsten; susceptor; surrounding; heated; rf; coil; separated; cylinder; inorganic; insulation; capable; rapidly; cycled; ambient; temperatures; 1650; degree; effectively; attendant; previously; encountered; carbon-bearing; uranium alloy; induction coil; vacuum chamber; ambient temperature; ceramic oxide; uranium alloys; highly pure; ambient temperatures; carbon contamination; pure metal; pure metals; minimize contamination; furnace comprises; conventional vacuum; induction furnace; carbon free; /373/219/
Citation Formats
Holcombe, Cressie E, Masters, David R, and Pfeiler, William A. Carbon-free induction furnace. United States: N. p., 1985.
Web.
Holcombe, Cressie E, Masters, David R, & Pfeiler, William A. Carbon-free induction furnace. United States.
Holcombe, Cressie E, Masters, David R, and Pfeiler, William A. Tue .
"Carbon-free induction furnace". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/865659.
@article{osti_865659,
title = {Carbon-free induction furnace},
author = {Holcombe, Cressie E and Masters, David R and Pfeiler, William A},
abstractNote = {An induction furnace for melting and casting highly pure metals and alloys such as uranium and uranium alloys in such a manner as to minimize contamination of the melt by carbon derived from the materials and the environment within the furnace. The subject furnace is constructed of carbon free materials and is housed within a conventional vacuum chamber. The furnace comprises a ceramic oxide crucible for holding the charge of metal or alloy. The heating of the crucible is achieved by a plasma-sprayed tungsten susceptor surrounding the crucible which, in turn, is heated by an RF induction coil separated from the susceptor by a cylinder of inorganic insulation. The furnace of the present invention is capable of being rapidly cycled from ambient temperatures to about 1650.degree. C. for effectively melting uranium and uranium alloys without the attendant carbon contamination problems previously encountered when using carbon-bearing furnace materials.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {1985},
month = {1}
}