Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Design and evaluation of a Laval-type supersonic atomizer for low-pressure gas atomization of molten metals

  • Published:
International Journal of Minerals, Metallurgy, and Materials Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

A Laval-type supersonic gas atomizer was designed for low-pressure gas atomization of molten metals. The principal design objectives were to produce small-particle uniform powders at lower operating pressures by improving the gas inlet and outlet structures and optimizing structural parameters. A computational fluid flow model was developed to study the flow field characteristics of the designed atomizer. Simulation results show that the maximum gas velocity in the atomization zone can reach 440 m·s−1; this value is independent of the atomization gas pressure P 0 when P 0 > 0.7 MPa. When P 0 = 1.1 MPa, the aspiration pressure at the tip of the delivery tube reaches a minimum, indicating that the atomizer can attain the best atomization efficiency at a relatively low atomization pressure. In addition, atomization experiments with pure tin at P 0 = 1.0 MPa and with 7055Al alloy at P 0 = 0.8 and 0.4 MPa were conducted to evaluate the atomization capability of the designed atomizer. Nearly spherical powders were obtained with the mass median diameters of 28.6, 43.4, and 63.5 μm, respectively. Compared with commonly used atomizers, the designed Laval-type atomizer has a better low-pressure gas atomization capability.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. D.L. Zhang, Processing of advanced materials using high-energy mechanical milling, Prog. Mater. Sci., 49(2004), No. 3–4, p. 537.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. M. Zakeri, E. Hasani, and M. Tamizifar, Mechanical properties of TiO2-hydroxyapatite nanostructured coatings on Ti-6Al-4V substrates by APS method, Int. J. Miner. Metall. Mater., 20(2013), No. 4, p. 397.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. D. Atehortua, J. Gonzalez, H. Sanchez, W. Barona, and J. Portocarrero, Design, construction and evaluation of an ultrasonic gas atomizer for production of aluminium matrix composites by means of Osprey process, Rev. Latin Am. Metal. Mater., S1(2009), No. 4, p. 1403.

    Google Scholar 

  4. V.C. Srivastava and S.N. Ojha, Effect of aspiration and gas-melt configuration in close coupled nozzle on powder productivity, Powder Metall., 49(2006), No. 3, p. 213.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. I.E. Anderson, R.S. Figliola, and H. Morton, Flow mechanisms in high pressure gas atomization, Mater. Sci. Eng. A, 148(1991), No. 1, p. 101.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. N. Dombrowski and W.R. Johns, The aerodynamic instability and disintegration of viscous liquid sheets, Chem. Eng. Sci., 18(1963), No. 3, p. 203.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. H. Lubanska, Correlation of spray ring data for gas atomization of liquid metals, J. Met., 22(1970), No. 2, p. 45.

    Google Scholar 

  8. E.J. Lavernia and T.S. Srivatsan, The rapid solidification processing of materials: science, principles, technology, advances, and applications, J. Mater. Sci., 45(2010), No. 2, p. 287.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. A. Allimant, M.P. Planche, Y. Bailly, L. Dembinski, and C. Coddet, Progress in gas atomization of liquid metals by means of a De Laval nozzle, Powder Technol., 190(2009), No. 1–2, p. 79.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. O. Khatim, M.P. Planche, L. Dembinski, Y. Bailly, and C. Coddet, Processing parameter effect on the splat diameters of the droplets produced by liquid metal atomization using De Laval nozzle, Surf. Coat. Technol., 205(2010), No. 4, p. 1171.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. H.C. Man, J. Duan, and T.M. Yue, Design and characteristic analysis of supersonic nozzles for high gas pressure laser cutting, J. Mater. Process. Technol., 63(1997), No. 1–3, p. 217.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. H.F. Lu, X.L. Guo, W.J. Huang, K. Liu, and X. Gong, Flow characteristics and pressure drop across the Laval nozzle in dense phase pneumatic conveying of the pulverized coal, Chem. Eng. Process. Process Intensif., 50(2011), No. 7, p. 702.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. T. Van Holten, M. Heiligers, and A. Jaeken, Choking phenomena in a vortex flow passing a Laval tube: an analytical treatment, J. Fluids Eng., 131(2009), No. 4, p. 041201.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. A. Ünal, Production of rapidly solidified aluminium alloy powders by gas atomisation and their applications, Powder Metall., 33(1990), No. 1, p. 53.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. J. Mi, R.S. Figliola, and I.E. Anderson, A numerical simulation of gas flow field effects on high pressure gas atomization due to operating pressure variation, Mater. Sci. Eng. A, 208(1996), No. 1, p. 20.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. A. Ünal, Flow separation and liquid rundown in a gas atomization process, Metall. Trans. B, 20(1989), No. 5, p. 613.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. R. Ünal, Investigation on metal powder production efficiency of new convergent divergent nozzle in close coupled gas atomisation, Powder Metall., 50(2007), No. 4, p. 302.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. I.N. McCarthy, N.J. Adkins, Z. Aslam, A.M. Mullis, and R.F. Cochrane, High speed imaging and Fourier analysis of the melt plume during close coupled gas atomisation, Powder Metall., 52(2009), No. 3, p. 205.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Y. Zhou, S. Lee, V.G. McDonell, G.S. Samuelsen, R.L. Kozarek, and E.J. Lavernia, Size distribution of spray atomised aluminium alloy powders produced during linear atomisation, Mater. Sci. Technol., 15(1999), No. 2, p. 226.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. J. Ting, R. Terpstra, I.E. Anderson, and R.S. Figliola, A novel high pressure gas atomizing nozzle for liquid metal atomization, Adv. Powder Metall. Part. Mater., 1(1996), p. 97.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Shannxi Engineering Research Center for Digital Manufacturing Technology, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi’an, 710072, China

    Chao-run Si, Xian-jie Zhang, Jun-biao Wang & Yu-jun Li

  2. Institute of Applied Mechanics, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, D-52056, Germany

    Yu-jun Li

Authors
  1. Chao-run Si
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Xian-jie Zhang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Jun-biao Wang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Yu-jun Li
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jun-biao Wang.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Si, Cr., Zhang, Xj., Wang, Jb. et al. Design and evaluation of a Laval-type supersonic atomizer for low-pressure gas atomization of molten metals. Int J Miner Metall Mater 21, 627–635 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12613-014-0951-4

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12613-014-0951-4

Keywords

Search

Navigation