Estimates of the Melting Rate of a Consumable Electrode Using a Laser Range Finder for Control of Vacuum Arc Remelting

The paper suggests ways to determine the technological parameters of vacuum arc remelting. Usually, the remelting automated control systems measure only the quantities necessary for a direct control, which in certain cases cannot be used to estimate the reliably the technological parameters of melting. Maintaining of certain technological parameters during melting is a prerequisite for obtaining a quality ingot. These parameters include the melting rate. It cannot be measured directly and it is expected that, with certain values of the electrical power given to the furnace, it will be maintained within the technology described limits, which is not always a fact. The subject of this paper is the method for determination of the rate of melting of a consumable electrode, when, due to the design features of the vacuum arc furnace, it is not possible to measure the weight of the consumable electrode and the ingot. This problem can be solved by installation on the viewing window of the furnace of laser range finders, which in their turn help to determine the amount of the remelted electrode. Knowing the volume of the consumable electrode in the previous and current periods of time one can determine the rate of the going on remelting. Determination of the speed of measurement of the laser range finders is not the least task. The relevance of the data is very important. If measurements are done every four minutes, the system allows us to maintain the rate of melting at the desired level. Since the system of maintaining of the supply of electrical power to the furnace is reasonably stable and rapid heating of the electrode without increasing the power is not feasible, we can expect a stable speed of remelting without any significant deviations from the estimated value.

вакуумная дуговая печь, объем слитка, объем электрода, скорость переплава, лазерный дальномер, аппроксимация электрода, время замеров, высота слитка, масса слитка, радиус электрода, vacuum arc furnace, volume of ingot, volume of electrode, rate of melting, laser rangefinder, electrode approximation, time of measurements, height of ingot, weight of ingot, radius of the electrode

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